Lesson 29

Juristic rules

Comprehensive Juristic Rules

The General Objectives of Shari`ah are to realize the interests of people: necessities,

needs, and welfare.

Necessities:

Necessities are the essentials of human life in order to preserve:

- faith,

- life,

- intellect,

- property,

- honor.

Needs:

Needs are what people need to avoid drudgery, and be able to tolerate the

hardships of commitments, responsibilities, and the burdens of life.

Welfare:

Welfare refers to those aspects that lead to the improvement of the living conditions, appearances of people, and their social

relations.

In legislation, these goals follow an order of precedence, i.e. necessity, needs, and

lastly welfare.

When examining the issue of necessities, several rules should be taken into

account:

a) Harm should be eliminated in a legal manner.

b) Harm should not be eliminated by another harm.

c) Individual harm should be tolerated to ward off a public harm.

d) Lesser harm can be tolerated to avoid a more severe one.

e) Repelling harm has precedence over bringing benefits.

f) Necessity knows no laws.

g) Necessity is weighed with its own standard.

Rulings for lifting restrictions in pursuing needs:

a) Hardships justify simplification as exemplified by the allowances ordained

by Allah, the Almighty, in cases of: travel, illness, compulsion, forgetfulness,

ignorance, prevalence of trials, tribulations, and insufficiency.

b) Legislation should lift restriction.

c) Needs are treated like necessities in permitting (some) prohibited things.

The deeds of competent persons:

The deeds of competent persons are either: Allah's Right, people's right, a

right of both.

Allah's Right is embodied in: acts of worship, Zakah (the poor's due) and

other financial obligations, punishments for adultery, larceny and robbery,

depriving the killer from inheritance and expiations.

The competent person's right is related to his financial rights over others

What combines the two rights (that of Allah and that of people) are the

punishment for slandering a woman with adultery and retaliation for killing.

Ijtihad (independent reasoning)

There is no room for Ijtihad (independent reasoning based on religious sources) for what has been ruled by a clear-cut text.

The Mujtahid (qualified scholar) must be:

- well-informed in the Arabic language,- knowledgeable of the sciences of the

Qur’an, - efficient in the sciences of the Sunnah,

and- expert in deducing analogical rulings.

Repealing

The gradation of legislation during the Prophet's life-time required the partial or total repeal of some rulings, but after

his death (peace be upon him) no repealing of a ruling in Qur’an or

Sunnah is accepted.

A ruling text can not be repealed except with another equal or stronger text. The

strongest of all is the Qur’an and the Sunnah, Mutawatir, then the Sunnah which is not Mutawatir, and finally

analogy.

Evidence from Qur’an and Sunnah

The aims of Islamic Legislation:Preserving Faith:

  Allah says: 

ي�ك�ون� ﴿ و� ت�ن�ة� ف ت�ك�ون� ال� ت�ى ح� ات ل�وه�م� و�ق�ان� ع�د�و� ف�ال و�ا انت�ه� إ ن ف� لله الد#ين�

الظ�ال م ين  ع�ل�ى ﴾إ ال� : [193البقرة]

This means: “And fight them until there is no more

Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah) and (all and every kind of) worship is for Allah (Alone). But if they cease, let there be no transgression

except against Azh-Zhalimun (the polytheists, and wrong-doers).”

(Al-Baqarah: 193)

And says:

﴿ ت�ل ال�ق� م ن� د+ أ�ش� ت�ن�ة� ال�ف ﴾و� : [191البقرة]

This means:

“And Al-Fitnah (temptation, to disbelieve after one has believed) is worse than

killing.”

(Al-Baqarah: 191)

Also:

﴿ ت�ل ال�ق� م ن� ك�ب�ر�أ� ت�ن�ة� ال�ف ﴾و�

: [217البقرة]

This means:

“And Al-Fitnah is worse than killing.”

(Al-Baqarah: 217)

Allah says:

ظ�ل�م�وا ﴿ ال�ذ ين� يب�ن� ت�ص ال� ت�ن�ة5 ف وا ات�ق� و�ة5 اص� خ� نك�م� ﴾م

: [25األنفال]

This means:

“And fear the Fitnah (affliction and trial, etc.) which affects not in particular (only)

those of you who do wrong (but it may afflict all the good and the bad people).”

(Al-Anfal: 25)

Allah says:

اد� ﴿ و�ف�س� ض ر�األ� ف ي ت�ن�ة� ف ت�ك�ن� ع�ل�وه� ت�ف� إ ال�

﴾ك�ب ير� : [73األنفال]

This means:

“If you (Muslims of the whole world collectively) do not do so, there will be

Fitnah (wars, battles, polytheism, etc.) and oppression on earth, and a great mischief

and corruption (appearance of polytheism).”

(Al-Anfal: 73)

 Preserving the lives of the people:

Allah says:

﴿ � إ ال الله� م� ر� ح� ال�ت ي الن�ف�س� تـل�وا ت�ق� و�ال�ق# ﴾ب ال�ح�

: [151األنعام]

This means:

“And kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause

(according to Islamic law).”

(Al-An`am: 151)

And says:

و�ل ي ﴿أ� ي�ا ي�اة� ح� اص ص� ال�ق ف ي ل�ك�م� و�

ون� ت�ت�ق� ل�ع�ل�ك�م� : ﴾األ�ل�ب�اب [179البقرة]

This means:

“And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al-Qisas (the Law of Equality in

punishment), O men of understanding, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the

pious).”

(Al-Baqarah: 179)

Preserving the mind:

Allah says:

ر� ﴿ ي�س ال�م� و� ر� م� ال�خ� ا ن�م� إ ن�وا آم� ال�ذين ا ي+ه�� أ ي�ا

ل ع�م� م#ن� ر ج�س� الم� و�األ�ز� اب� و�األ�نص� * ا ن�م� إ ون� ل ح� ت�ف� ل�ع�ل�ك�م� ت�ن ب�وه� اج� ف� ط�ان ـيـ� الش�ة� ال�ع�د�او� ب�ي�ن�ك�م� ع� ي�وق أن ط�ان� ـيـ� الش� ي�ر يد�

ع�ن د�ك�م� ي�ص� و� ر ي�س ال�م� و� ر م� ال�خ� ف ي اء� ال�ب�غ�ض� و�ون� نت�ه� م+ نت�م

� أ ل� ه� ف� الة الص� و�ع�ن الله ﴾ذ ك�ر : [91-90المائدة]

This means: “O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al Ansab, and Al Azlam (arrows

for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaytan's (Satan)

handiwork.

So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful .

Shaytan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants

(alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah

and from As-Salat (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?” (Al-Ma’idah: 90 - 91)

  Preserving property:

Allah also says:

﴿ ب ال�ب�اط ل ب�ي�ن�ك�م ال�ك�م و� م�أ� ت�أ�ك�ل�وا و�ال�

5 ر يقا ف� ل ت�أ�ك�ل�وا ك�ام ال�ح� ل�ى إ ا ب ه� ت�د�ل�وا و�ت�ع�ل�م�ون� نت�م�

� أ و� ب اإل ث�م الن�اس و�ال م�أ� ﴾م#ن�

: [188البقرة]

This means: “And eat up not one another's property unjustly (in any illegal way e.g. stealing, robbing, deceiving, etc.), nor give bribery

to the rulers (judges before presenting your cases) that you may knowingly eat up a part of the property of others sinfully.”

(Al-Baqarah: 188)

And says:

ع�ل� ﴿ ج� ال�ت ى �ل�ك�م� وا م�أ� اء� ه� ف� الس+ ت�وا ت�ؤ� و�ال�ا ي�ام5 ق ل�ك�م� ﴾ الله�

: [5النساء]

This means:

“And give not unto the foolish your property which Allah has made a means of support

for you.”

(An-Nisa’: 5)

And:

ال�ك�م ﴿ و� م�أ� ت�أ�ك�ل�وا ال� ن�وا آم� ال�ذ ين� ا ي+ه�

� أ ي�اع�ن ة5 ار� ت ج� ت�ك�ون� ن

أ� إ ال� ب ال�ب�اط ل ب�ي�ن�ك�مالله� إ ن� ك�م� س� أ�نف� ت�ل�وا ت�ق� و�ال� نك�م� م# اض[ ت�ر�

5 يما ح ر� ب ك�م� ﴾ك�ان� : [29النساء]

This means: “O you who believe! Eat not up your

property among yourselves unjustly except it be a trade amongst you, by mutual

consent. And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most

Merciful to you.” (An-Nisa’: 29)

Allah says:

ت�ت�ب�د�ل�وا ﴿ و�ال� م� ال�ه� و� م�أ� ال�ي�ت�ام�ى وآت�وا

م� ال�ه� و� م�أ� ت�أ�ك�ل�وا و�ال� ب الط�يـ#ب ب يث� ال�خ�

5 ك�ب يرا وب5ا ح� ك�ان� ن�ه� إ ال ك�م� و� م�أ� ل�ى ﴾إ

: [2النساء]

This means:

“And give unto orphans their property and do not exchange (your) bad things for (their) good ones; and devour not their

substance (by adding it) to your substance. Surely, this is a great sin.”

(An-Nisa’: 2)

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), during the Farewell Pilgrimage,

said:

“Verily your blood and property are as sacred and inviolable as the sanctity of

this day of yours, in this month of yours, and in this city of yours. Behold! Have I

conveyed this message to you?”

Preserving the honor of the people:

Allah says:

ي ف ة� اح ش� ال�ف� يع� ت�ش أ�ن ب+ون� ي�ح ال�ذ ين� إ ن�الد+ن�ي�ا ف ي �ل يم أ ع�ذ�اب� م� ل�ه� ن�وا آم� ال�ذ ين�

نت�م� � أ و� ي�ع�ل�م� الل�ه� و� ة ر� و�اآلخ

ت�ع�ل�م�ون� [19النور: ] ال

This means: “Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah

knows and you know not.” (24, An-Nur: 19)

Allah says:

ال�غ�اف الت ن�ات ص� ال�م�ح� م�ون� ي�ر� ال�ذ ين� إ ن�ل�ع ن�وا ن�ات ؤ�م ال�م�

ع�ظ يم� ع�ذ�اب� م� ل�ه� و� ة ر� و�اآلخ الد+ن�ي�ا ف ي]23النور: [

.1This means: “Verily, those who accuse chaste women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity and are good believers, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter, and for them will be a

great torment.” (24, An-Nur: 23)

Removing restriction:

Allah says:

]ج ر� ح� م#ن� ع�ل�ي�ك�م ع�ل� ل ي�ج� اللcه� ي�ر يد� ا م�ك�م ر� ل ي�ط�ه� ي�ر يد� ك ن لـ� ]6المائدة: [ و�

This means: “Allah does not want to place you in any restriction, but He wants to

purify you, and to complete His Favor on you ”.

(5 ,Al-Ma’idah: 6)

Allah says:

الد#ين ف ي ع�ل�ي�ك�م� ع�ل� ج� ا و�م� ت�ب�اك�م� اج� و� ه�ج[ ر� ح� م ن�

]78الحج: [

This means: “He has chosen you (to convey His Message of Islamic Monotheism to

mankind by inviting them to His religion, Islam), and has not laid upon you in

religion any restriction.” (22, Al-Hajj: 78)

Allah says:

ب ك�م� � ي�ر يد� و�ال� ر� ال�ي�س� ب ك�م� اللcه� ي�ر يد�ر ال�ع�س�

]185البقرة: [

This means: “Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things

difficult for you.” (2, Al-Baqarah: 185)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“No harm (should be done to others) nor wrong (in retaliation) ”.