Religion and Theology

After the Holy Prophets (PBUH) time, the era of the Great Sahabas came. During this time, the great companions or the Sahaba would give Fatwas. To do this, the Sahabah compare events with those that happened previously and for which judgments had been given from the Quran or the Sunnah (Usul Al Fiqh Al Islami). As a result, they referred to the sources and their implications to determine the meaning and legal significance of these judgments. After having had come to a decision, they would be explain to people how they arrived at it  whether from the text or from its implications, and then the people would follow them (Usul Al Fiqh Al Islami).

Therefore, in my opinion, the method of arriving at a Fatwa and its ultimate goal was the same for all the great companions they only had different faces. For example, AbuBakr would first refer to the text, then the Sunnah, then he would ask the people if they remembered anything from the Sunnah. If this did not work, he would talk to various leaders to arrive at a decision and then pass it. Umar, on the other hand, gave decisions that were in the best interests of the public. Usman would refer to the sources and the steps of the two Caliphs before him. Ali had great knowledge of the Quran and the Sunnah and would pass decisions based on his acumen.

All in all, if there were any disagreements between the Companions on a matter, it was not intentional and nor was it a lack of judicial aptitude. It was merely a difference in the personalities and the thinking of the Companions. Umar had great common sense while AbuBakr had great decision making abilities. If there were any disputes, it was because of different cognitions and perspectives. Both would be right in their own way, and according to their knowledge of things. However, they would just make decisions based on what they felt was right at the time, given a particular situation.