Tarjih
*Tarjih* is preferring one view or piece of evidence over another for a clear reason — a scholar's task, not the asker's.
What it means for me: When you see 'the weightier view is...' in a piece of research, someone already did this work of weighing. Your task is not to weigh two scholars' opinions yourself. It is choosing carefully whom to ask. Read Two scholars disagree, whom do I follow?.
Example: A research paper lays out three views with their evidence, then closes: what appears weightier is this. That closing line is the author's own conclusion. It does not erase the other two views from the page.
Do not confuse with: *Mu'tamad*, the relied-upon view. Tarjih is one scholar's own weighing of the evidence; mu'tamad is the view a whole school has settled on for its followers.
If scholars differ: Scholars agree that tarjih only applies when two pieces of evidence cannot both be reconciled. They differ on which of the recognized ways of weighing should come first. The difference is named here as a difference and not decided; the mufti is the reference.
See the term in context
Is it obligatory to act upon what is most preponderant? And who is it that preponderates among the different sayings? And is it permissible for someone who is not among the people of ijtihad and tarjih to preponderate for the Muslims? And does the well-versed student call the common folk to his preponderant views?
Acting upon the preponderant (rajih) evidence in jurisprudential matters is obligatory according to the majority of scholars. The act of giving preference (tarjih) is for the mujtahid (independent jurist) or the…
Is it permissible for a student of knowledge who is unable to make a choice (tarjih) to follow a specific madhhab, knowing its evidence, especially if the truth has not become clear to him, even if it is considered less preponderant by many?
It is permissible to adhere to one of the followed madhhabs (schools of thought), provided there is no fanaticism towards that madhhab, and one returns to the evidence whenever the truth appears to be contrary to it.…
Is the preference (tarjih) in the science of Hadith terminology merely a deception to negate the contradiction between hadiths, and can other religions adopt the same approach?
The questioner, who harbors doubts about the science of Hadith, is akin to someone doubting a magnificent edifice. The immense effort expended by Hadith scholars to meticulously document details about thousands of…
Questions that use it
What is the acceptable degree of a Hadith when citing it as proof, and does the degree differ based on the Imam who narrated it?
What is the meaning of "As for whoever is among those capable of examination and preference, it is not permissible for him to contradict what he has come to prefer" in Fatwa no. 188223? Does this mean the permissibility for the questioner to exercise ijtihad in choosing what he deems preferable from the evidence and sayings, rather than following dispensations? Is it permissible to seek fatwas from those on websites without knowing their knowledge and piety, and merely relying on their presentation of evidence?
Is the Adhan with 13 phrases (repeated twice without tarji') valid, and what should one do if they wish to gain the reward of repeating after the mu'adhdhin in this case?