Subject: Advance Islamic Studies

Topic: Objectives of Shariah

Teacher: Prof. Dr. Mtloob Ahmed

Ph. d Islamic Studies 1st semester spring 2024

Department of Arabic & Islamic studies

The University of Faisalabad
Objectives of Shariah (Maqasid al-Shariah)

Shariah, or Islamic law, is rooted in the Quran and Sunnah (traditions of the Prophet
Muhammad) and aims to ensure the well-being and harmony of society through justice,
mercy, and wisdom. The primary objectives of Shariah, known as Maqasid al-Shariah,
are to preserve five essential values: religion (deen), life (nafs), intellect (aql), progeny
(nasl), and property (maal). Here is a detailed note on these objectives, supported by
Quranic verses and Hadith:

1. Preservation of Religion (Deen)

The foremost objective of Shariah is to protect and promote the practice of Islam. This
includes ensuring freedom of belief and worship, and fostering a society where religious
values can thrive.

Quranic Verses:
٥٨ ‫ِإَّن ٱَهَّلل ُه َو ٱلَّر َّز اُق ُذ و ٱْلُقَّو ِة ٱْلَم ِتيُن‬
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Quran 51:56)

‫ٓاَل ِإْك َر اَه ِفى ٱلِّد يِن ۖ َقد َّت َبَّيَن ٱلُّر ْش ُد ِمَن ٱْلَغ ِّى ۚ َفَم ن َي ْك ُفْر ِبٱلَّط ٰـ ُغ وِت َو ُيْؤ ِم ۢن ِبٱِهَّلل َفَقِد ٱْس َت ْم َسَك ِبٱْلُعْر َو ِة ٱْلُو ْث َقٰى اَل ٱنِفَص اَم َلَه اۗ َو ٱُهَّلل‬
٢٥٦ ‫َسِم يٌع َع ِليٌم‬
“Let there be no compulsion in religion, for the truth stands out clearly from falsehood.”
(Quran 2:256)

Hadith:
‫َع ْن الَّن ِبِّي َص َّلى ُهَّللا َع َلْيِه َو َس َّلَم َقاَل َخ ْيُر ُك ْم َم ْن َت َع َّلَم اْلُقْر آَن َو َع َّلَم ُه‬
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, "The best of you are those who learn the Quran
and teach it." (Sahih Bukhari)

‫ َقاَل َس ِمْع ُت َر ُسوَل ِهَّللا ـ‬،‫ َع ْن َج ِّد ِه‬،‫ َع ْن َأِبيِه‬،‫ َح َّد َث ِني َك ِثيُر ْبُن َعْبِد ِهَّللا‬، ‫ َح َّد َث َن ا ِإْس َماِع يُل ْبُن َأِبي ُأَو ْي ٍس‬،‫َح َّد َث َن ا ُم َح َّم ُد ْبُن َي ْح َي ى‬
‫صلى هللا عليه وسلم ـ َي ُقوُل " َم ْن َأْح َي ا ُس َّن ًة ِمْن ُس َّن ِتي َقْد ُأِم يَتْت َب ْع ِدي َفِإَّن َلُه ِمَن اَألْج ِر ِم ْث َل َأْج ِر َم ْن َعِمَل ِبَه ا ِمَن الَّن اِس َال‬
‫َي ْنُقُص ِمْن ُأُجوِر الَّن اِس َش ْي ًئ ا َو َم ِن اْب َت َد َع ِبْد َع ًة َال َي ْر َض اَه ا ُهَّللا َو َر ُسوُلُه َفِإَّن َع َلْيِه ِم ْث َل ِإْث ِم َم ْن َعِمَل ِبَه ا ِمَن الَّن اِس َال َي ْنُقُص ِمْن‬
" ‫آَث اِم الَّن اِس َش ْي ًئ ا‬
"Whoever revives a Sunnah of mine that dies out after I am gone will have a reward like
that of everyone who practices it, without that detracting from their reward in the
slightest." (Sunan Ibn Majah)

2. Preservation of Life (Nafs)

Shariah places a high value on the sanctity of human life and mandates measures to
protect individuals from harm and ensure their safety and well-being.

Quranic Verses:

‫ِمْن َأْج ِل َٰذ ِلَك َكَت ْب َن ا َع َلٰى َبِنٓى ِإْس َٰٓر ِء يَل َأَّن ُهۥ َم ن َقَت َل َن ْف ًۢس ا ِبَغ ْي ِر َن ْف ٍس َأْو َفَس اٍۢد ِفى ٱَأْلْر ِض َفَك َأَّن َم ا َقَت َل ٱلَّن اَس َج ِم يًۭع ا َو َم ْن َأْح َي اَه ا‬
٣٢ ‫َفَك َأَّن َم ٓا َأْح َي ا ٱلَّن اَس َج ِم يًۭع اۚ َو َلَقْد َج ٓاَء ْت ُهْم ُرُس ُلَن ا ِبٱْلَب ِّي َن ٰـ ِت ُث َّم ِإَّن َك ِثيًۭر ا ِّم ْن ُهم َب ْع َد َٰذ ِلَك ِفى ٱَأْلْر ِض َلُمْس ِر ُفوَن‬
 “Because of that, we decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul
unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind
entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.”
(Quran 5:32)
٣٣ ‫َو اَل َت ْقُتُلو۟ا ٱلَّنْف َس ٱَّلِتى َح َّر َم ٱُهَّلل ِإاَّل ِبٱْلَح ِّق ۗ َو َم ن ُقِتَل َم ْظ ُلوًۭم ا َفَقْد َج َع ْلَن ا ِلَو ِلِّيِهۦ ُس ْلَط ٰـ ًۭن ا َفاَل ُيْس ِر ف ِّفى ٱْلَقْت ِل ۖ ِإَّن ُهۥ َك اَن َم نُصوًۭر ا‬
“And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right.” (Quran 17:33)

Hadith:
‫ " اْلُمْس ِلُم َم ْن َسِلَم اْلُمْس ِلُموَن ِمْن ِلَس اِنِه َو َيِدِه‬،
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “The Muslim is one from whose tongue and
hand the Muslims are safe.” (Sahih Bukhari)
. " ‫َر ُسوَل ِهَّللا صلى هللا عليه وسلم َقَض ى َأْن " َال َضَر َر َو َال ِض َر اَر‬
"There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm." (Sunan Ibn Majah)

3 Preservation of Intellect (Aql)

Protecting the intellect is crucial as it enables individuals to make sound judgments and
contribute positively to society. This includes prohibiting substances that impair the
mind, such as alcohol and drugs.

Quranic Verses:
٩٠ ‫َي ٰٓـَأُّيَه ا ٱَّلِذيَن َء اَم ُن ٓو ۟ا ِإَّن َم ا ٱْلَخ ْم ُر َو ٱْلَمْيِس ُر َو ٱَأْلنَص اُب َو ٱَأْلْز َلٰـ ُم ِر ْج ٌۭس ِّمْن َع َم ِل ٱلَّش ْي َط ٰـ ِن َف ٱْج َت ِنُبوُه َلَع َّلُك ْم ُتْف ِلُحوَن‬
“O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to
other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so
avoid it that you may be successful.” (Quran 5:90)

٣٢ ‫َو اَل َت ْق َر ُبو۟ا ٱلِّز َن ٰٓى ۖ ِإَّن ُهۥ َك اَن َفٰـ ِح َش ًۭة َو َس ٓاَء َس ِبياًۭل‬
“And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and
is evil as a way.” (Quran 17:32)

Hadith:
‫ " كل مسكر خمر وكل خمر حرام‬:‫ قال‬،‫" عن النبي صلى هللا عليه وسلم‬.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Every intoxicant is Khamr and every Khamr is
unlawful.” (Sahih Muslim)

‫َط َلُب اْلِع ْلِم َف ِر يَض ٌة َع َلى ُك ِّل ُمْس ِلٍم‬

“Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

4. Preservation of Progeny (Nasl)

Shariah aims to protect family values, ensuring the sanctity of marriage and the proper
upbringing of children within a stable and ethical environment.
Quranic Verses:

٢١ ‫َو ِمْن َء اَي ٰـ ِتِهٓۦ َأْن َخ َلَق َلُك م ِّمْن َأنُفِس ُك ْم َأْز َٰو ًۭج ا ِّلَت ْس ُكُنٓو ۟ا ِإَلْي َه ا َو َج َع َل َب ْي َن ُك م َّمَو َّد ًۭة َو َر ْح َم ًة ۚ ِإَّن ِفى َٰذ ِلَك َلَٔـاَي ٰـ ٍۢت ِّلَقْو ٍۢم َي َتَفَّك ُروَن‬

“And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find
tranquility in them; and He placed between your affection and mercy.” (Quran 30:21)

٣٢ ‫َو اَل َت ْق َر ُبو۟ا ٱلِّز َن ٰٓى ۖ ِإَّن ُهۥ َك اَن َفٰـ ِح َش ًۭة َو َس ٓاَء َس ِبياًۭل‬

“And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and
is evil as a way.” (Quran 17:32)

Hadith:

، ‫َقاَلْت َقاَل َر ُسوُل ِهَّللا ـ صلى هللا عليه وسلم ـ " الِّن َك اُح ِمْن ُس َّن ِتي َفَم ْن َلْم َي ْع َم ْل ِبُس َّن ِتي َفَلْي َس ِم ِّن ي َو َتَز َّو ُجوا َفِإِّن ي ُم َك اِثٌر ِبُك ُم‬
. " ‫اُألَم َم َو َم ْن َك اَن َذ ا َط ْو ٍل َف ْلَي ْن ِكْح َو َم ْن َلْم َي ِجْد َفَع َلْيِه ِبالِّص َي اِم َف ِإَّن الَّصْو َم َلُه ِو َج اٌء‬

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Marry those who are loving and fertile, for I will
boast of your great numbers before the other nations on the Day of Judgment.” (Sunan
Abu Dawood)
‫ «َأال ك ْم راٍع وك ْم مسؤوٌل َع ْن َر ِع َّيِتِه اِإْلَم اُم ا ِذي َع ى‬:‫ َق اَل َر ُسوُل ِهَّللا َص َّلى ُهَّللا َع َلْيِه َو سلم‬: ‫َو َع ْن َع ْبِد ِهَّللا ْب ِن ُع َمَر َق اَل‬
‫َل‬ ‫َّل‬ ‫َف‬ ‫ُّلُك‬ ‫ُّلُك‬
‫الَّن اِس َر اٍع َو ُه َو مسؤوٌل َع ْن َر ِع َّيِتِه َو الَّر ُجُل َر اٍع َع َلى َأْه ِل َبْيِتِه َو ُه َو مسؤوٌل َع ْن َر ِع َّيِتِه َو اْلَم ْر َأُة َر اِع َي ٌة َع َلى َبْيِت َز ْو ِجَه ا‬
‫»وولِدِه َو ِهي مسؤولٌة َع ْن ُهْم َو َع ْبُد الَّر ُج ِل َر اٍع َع َلى َم اِل َسِّيِدِه َو ُه َو مسؤوٌل َع نُه َأال فكُّلُك ْم راٍع وكلُك ْم مسؤوٌل َع ن رعيِته‬
"Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock." (Sahih
Bukhari)

5. Preservation of Property (Maal)

Shariah seeks to protect personal and communal wealth, ensuring fair distribution and
ethical management of resources, and forbidding theft, fraud, and usury.

Quranic Verses:
١٨٨ ‫َو اَل َت ْأُك ُلٓو ۟ا َأْم َٰو َلُك م َب ْي َن ُك م ِبٱْلَب ٰـ ِط ِل َو ُتْد ُلو۟ا ِبَه ٓا ِإَلى ٱْلُح َّك اِم ِلَت ْأُك ُلو۟ا َفِر يًۭق ا ِّمْن َأْم َٰو ِل ٱلَّن اِس ِبٱِإْلْث ِم َو َأنُتْم َت ْع َلُموَن‬
“O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in
bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the
wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].” (Quran 2:188)
‫َٰذ‬
‫ٱَّلِذيَن َي ْأُك ُلوَن ٱلِّر َب ٰو ۟ا اَل َي ُقوُموَن ِإاَّل َك َم ا َي ُقوُم ٱَّلِذى َي َتَخ َّب ُط ُه ٱلَّش ْي َط ٰـ ُن ِمَن ٱْلَم ِّس ۚ ِلَك ِبَأَّن ُهْم َقاُلٓو ۟ا ِإَّن َم ا ٱْلَب ْيُع ِم ْث ُل ٱلِّر َب ٰو ۟ا ۗ َو َأَح َّل ٱُهَّلل‬
‫ٱْلَب ْي َع َو َح َّر َم ٱلِّر َب ٰو ۟ا ۚ َفَم ن َج ٓاَء ُهۥ َم ْو ِع َظ ٌۭة ِّمن َّر ِّبِهۦ َفٱنَت َه ٰى َفَلُهۥ َم ا َس َلَف َو َأْم ُر ُهٓۥ ِإَلى ٱِهَّللۖ َو َم ْن َع اَد َفُأ۟و َلٰٓـِئَك َأْص َح ٰـ ُب ٱلَّن اِر ۖ ُه ْم ِفيَه ا‬
٢٧٥ ‫َخ ٰـ ِلُد وَن‬

“Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest.” (Quran 2:275)
Hadith:
‫ أال هل بلغت‬،‫ في بلدكم هذا‬،‫ في شهركم هذا‬،‫ وأعراضكم حرام عليكم كحرمة يومكم هذا‬،‫ وأموالكم‬،‫” "إن دماءكم‬
‫"إن‬
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Your blood, your property, and your honor are
sacred to you like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this city of
yours.” (Sahih Bukhari)
The translation of "Do not sell what you do not possess." from Sunan Abu Dawood into
Arabic is:

"‫اَل َت ِبْع َم ا اَل َت ْم ِلُك‬."

"Do not sell what you do not possess." (Sunan Abu Dawood)

Conclusion:
The objectives of Shariah aim to foster a just and moral society by safeguarding these
five essential values. Through adherence to these principles, individuals and
communities can achieve a balanced and harmonious existence, reflecting the divine
wisdom and mercy of Islamic teachings.