Inquiries on the Science of the Objectives of Sharia (Part 12)
Reasons for the Statements
There are many reasons given to prove and deny the purpose and cause of religious rulings. In this discourse, first, the reasons of those who affirm the purpose for rulings are stated, then the reasons of those who do not consider the Sharia and the actions of Allah to have a purpose and cause, and the reasons of those who deny the purposes are evaluated.
A: Reasons of the Affirmative Reasoners
To affirm the reason and purpose of religious rulings, the verses of the Holy Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah have been cited and argued, which are explained and examined below:
1. Quranic Verses
The proof of the cause for religious rulings has been inferred from numerous verses of the Holy Quran, including:
«وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ.» Meaning: “We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them except with truth.”
It also says in another verse: «وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَاعِبِينَ.» Meaning: “We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them in play and without purpose.”
The above verses indicate that the creation of the heavens and the earth and what is between them is not in vain and has a purpose and goal. Vanity and futility are far from the actions of Allah, and Allah is free from creating futility.
Similarly, Allah Almighty has linked causes to causes and has interpreted causes in religious and worldly matters as “wisdom” and has made denying causes an act that is contrary to reason and nature. Therefore, since all beings need causes, the Sharia is also based on them; as stated in the Holy Quran regarding the proof of causes, and Allah Almighty says: «فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ.» و «ذَلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاكَ.»
These verses refer to the chain of cause and effect, and every action is considered to have a goal and an end. Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “The greatest crime in matters of law, prophecy, and rulings is to deceive people by claiming that monotheism will not be complete without denying the causes.” Also, many verses in the Holy Quran are mentioned in the form of cause; as in Surah al-Hashr, the word “ki” is used to indicate the cause as follows: «مَا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَى فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ كَى لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَينَ الْأَغْنِياءِ مِنْكُمْ.» Meaning: “What Allah will return to His Messenger from the people of these settlements is from Allah, His Messenger, his relatives, the orphans, the needy, and the survivors, so that [this great property] will not be shared among the rich.”
In Surah Al-Ma’idah, the form (ajal) is mentioned as follows: «مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنما أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا.» Meaning: “That is why We decreed for the Children of Israel that whoever kills a person without committing murder or corruption on earth, it is as if he has killed all mankind, and whoever saves a person from death, it is as if he has saved all mankind.” The letter (lal) for preference and the object of the verb lah for the reason for the reason for the reason and the forms of command, prohibition, news, etc. are used to refer to the purposes and causes.
2. Prophetic Sunnah
To prove the cause and purpose in religious laws, the Prophetic Sunnah has been cited and argued. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has also referred to the causes of religious laws and their characteristics in his messages; as in the case of the cat’s droppings, Qatadah narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as follows: «انها لَيسَتْ بِنَجَسِ، إنها مِنَ الطَّوَّافِينَ وَالطَّوَّافَاتِ عَلَيْكُمْ» Meaning: “What a cat eats is not impure, because they often roam around your house.”
There are also more examples regarding the use of metaphors, similes, and the causes of things. For example, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said in response to a man who asked: “My sister had vowed to perform Hajj, but she died before performing Hajj.” «لَوْ كَانَ عَلَيْهَا دَينٌ أَكُنْتَ قَاضِيهُ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قَالَ: فَاقْضِ اللَّهَ، فَهُوَ أَحَقّ بِالقَضَاءِ» Meaning: “If your sister were in debt to someone, would you pay her debt?” The questioner replied: Yes. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Pay off the debt of Allah, for Allah, the Exalted, is more deserving of payment.”
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