Are people's rights established in the conscience by the predominance of conjecture, or is certainty necessary?
Predominant conjecture (al-ẓann al-ghālib) is permissible to act upon in matters where certain knowledge cannot be attained. Thus, for that whose true nature cannot be known, the ruling is based on the predominant opinion and is treated as if it were certainty. Some scholars hold that conjecture can be acted upon in all matters of religious law. However, doubt does not remove certainty. Therefore, whoever doubts having performed a pillar or condition of an act of worship is obligated to perform it, because the original state is that it remains outstanding. But if one doubts whether something became obligatory upon them, or doubts a debt or anything else, nothing is binding upon them, because the original state is the acquittal of their liability.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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