Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah and the Modern Muslim World: Revisiting the Framework for Legal and Ethical Guidance

Abstract

This study explores the dynamic application of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah (objectives of Islamic law) in addressing the multifaceted challenges of the modern world. While classical jurists articulated these objectives within the framework of al-ḍarūriyyāt al-khamsah the five essentials: religion (dīn), life (nafs), intellect (ʿaql), lineage (nasl), and property (māl) contemporary realities demand a broader, more responsive understanding. Drawing upon the contributions of Muhammad Naguib al-Siddiqi and other modern scholars, the paper argues for the recognition of additional objectives such as human dignity, fundamental freedoms, social justice, poverty alleviation, environmental protection, and global peace. Through critical engagement with classical sources and modern challenges, this article proposes an evolved framework for Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, emphasizing its role in guiding ethical governance, socio-economic development, and intercultural cooperation in a globalized world.

Keywords: sunnah, globalized world, Qur’an, Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah (objectives of Islamic law)  , jurisprudence