Sistematisasi Epistemologi Istinbāṭ Hukum dalam Mazhab Hanafi

This study explores the legal reasoning (istinbāṭ al-ḥukm) methodology developed by Imam Abu Hanifah, one of the founders of the four major Sunni legal schools. The research focuses on his rational and systematic approach to deriving Islamic legal rulings, especially in cases where primary texts (the Qur’an and Sunnah) offer no explicit guidance. Known for prioritizing ra’y, qiyās, istihsān, and ‘urf, Imam Abu Hanifah constructed a legal framework that was both rooted in tradition and responsive to the socio-legal realities of Kufa. Utilizing library research and uṣūl al-fiqh analytical methods, this article examines the structure of his methodology alongside concrete case studies, such as rental contracts (ijārah), fasting exemptions (fidyah) for the elderly, and diyah rulings for pregnant offenders. The findings reveal that Abu Hanifah’s method integrates not only textual sources but also considerations of justice, social needs, and public interest (maṣlaḥah). This research fills an existing gap by offering a hermeneutical reading of classical ijtihād construction in the context of contemporary Islamic legal discourse.