Inquiries on the Science of the Objectives of Sharia (Part 32)
1. Five Objectives
In this topic, we will discuss the five essential objectives that are among the most important objectives of Islamic Sharia:
A. Preservation of Religion
The preservation of religion is not only considered one of the most important objectives of Sharia; it is also considered the soul, basis, and foundation of all objectives that originate from it. The need for this objective is akin to a necessity that follows a more primary principle. In terms of order, according to the consensus of noble scholars, it is at the top of the objectives.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah states: “Whoever rules over the blood and property of people and does not observe justice, his destiny is the torment of Hell. So, if someone rules over the beliefs and religion of people and does not observe justice or speaks on general issues of religion without knowledge and research, then what will be his destiny?”
First, the question arises: what is religion, and how is it protected?
Definition of Religion
The term “religion” in Arabic has several meanings:
1. Judgment and Punishment: One of the meanings of religion in Arabic refers to judgment and punishment. On this basis, the Day of Judgment, or the Hereafter, is called “Yom al-Din”, meaning the Day of Judgment. It is said: «كما تُدين تُدانُ» “As you punish, so you will be punished by your deeds.” Allah the Almighty has said: «أَءِنّا لَمَدِينُونَ» meaning “Will we be punished and held accountable?”
2. Obedience and Submission: Another meaning of the word religion is obedience and submission. As the Arabs say: «دانه دینا» meaning “He became its owner and ruler, took over its leadership and management, dominated it, held it accountable, and punished it.” Thus, the word religion, in this context, implies ownership and possession and pertains to concepts involving rulers, such as politics, management, governance, dominance, accountability, and punishment. In this sense, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The shrewd one is the one who calculates his soul and works for the life after death, while the weak one is the one who drags his soul after his desires, hoping in Allah.” This indicates that a vigilant and clever person is the one who controls their soul through self-assessment.
3. Work and Habit: Another meaning of the word religion is sustained work and habit, as the Arabs say: «مازال ذلك ديني ودیدنی، أى: عادتی» meaning “This is my longstanding and permanent habit.”
Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Daraz, a professor of beliefs and religions, states: “From the totality of the lexical meanings of the word ‘religion’ among the Arabs, we conclude that this word refers to a relationship between two parties: one who bows down and obeys the other. Thus, with regard to the first party, religion signifies submission and obedience, whereas regarding the second party, it connotes command and domination. The relationship itself denotes a command and a law that regulates interactions between the two parties.”
The Concept of Religion in Religious Terms
According to the interpretation of “Al-Menar”: “Religion is a divine law through which Allah has bestowed goodness upon people and conveyed it to them via the tongue of one of their prophets; one that does not involve human interference or is attained through mere consideration or learning.”
Another Islamic scholar has said: “In the view of Islamic thinkers, religion is a divine law that Allah has sent for the wise so that by following it, they may achieve goodness in this world and salvation in the Hereafter.” It is clear that what is meant by this religion is the true religion that Allah reveals to His prophets so that they can convey it to people, who will then believe in it and act accordingly.
Additionally, it is stated in the definition of religion that: “Religion consists of divine commandments across all domains—such as beliefs, worship, and transactions—that guide us toward the truth.”
Another religious scholar has noted that the purpose of the word religion encompasses three aspects: “Divine revelation delivered through the prophets, belief in Allah and the prophets, and the Day of Resurrection, as well as the religious commands that govern people’s lives.”
Of course, the religion referred to here is the religion of Islam that has been revealed to Muhammad, the Prophet of the End Times, peace and blessings be upon him. Allah the Almighty says in the Quran: «إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإسلام» meaning: “[Indeed], the accepted religion to Allah is Islam.” He does not accept any other religion from anyone. The religion that pleases Allah is Islam, meaning this religion is based on the monotheism of Allah the Almighty, and the great prophets, peace be upon them, who conveyed this message, were all in agreement on this principle. It is considered Allah’s plan for humanity, designed for intelligent individuals who choose it for happiness in this world and the Hereafter.
In another verse, it states: «وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ» meaning: “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, he will be among the losers.”
Therefore, Allah Almighty has established beliefs to create and realize this religion, such as the pillars of faith, and He has legislated commands to protect and support it, including jihad and the prohibition of sedition and corruption. As Allah Almighty says in this verse: «وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلَّهِ» meaning: “Fight them until there is no more fitnah and the religion is for Allah.” This is envisioned at a time when the disbelievers’ ability to obstruct people from the path of Allah has been completely dismantled, and every Muslim is secure in their faith as the religion is only that of Allah. The power and authority of false religions will be dismantled.
The term “religion” in this verse encompasses beliefs, worship, and righteous deeds, thus including all three.
Islamic law recognizes religion and its related values as among the most important human interests and objectives of legislative law. On one hand, it has legitimized and mandated specific programs and laws to establish and instill these values within individuals, fostering their growth in human society. On the other hand, it has legitimized additional laws to protect against corruption related to these values, ensuring their resilience from complications and dangers through a series of regulations established for this purpose.
Key Points and Conclusion
The objectives of Islamic law can be divided into several categories from various perspectives, including those that preserve Islamic law, categorized as necessities, needs, and praises. Among these, necessities—which are among the most important objectives of law—are further divided into five types: preserving religion, preserving the soul, preserving property, preserving reason, and preserving lineage. Preserving religion is prominently featured as one of the most important and necessary objectives of law.
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