Department of Sharia Discusses the Objectives of Sharia in Preserving the Five Essential Necessities
The Department of Sharia at the College of Islamic Sciences, University of Samarra, organized a scientific seminar entitled “The Objectives of Sharia in Preserving the Five Essential Necessities.”
The seminar addressed the topic of Maqasid al-Sharia (the higher objectives of Islamic law) in safeguarding the five essential necessities as one of the fundamental pillars of Islamic legislation. Through this framework, Sharia seeks to realize human welfare and protect life in its religious, humanitarian, social, and economic dimensions.
The seminar clarified the concept of Maqasid al-Sharia and its significance, then highlighted the manifestations of preserving the five essentials—religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property—in light of Qur’anic texts. It further emphasized their practical impact in building a balanced individual and achieving security, stability, and social justice. The speakers affirmed that the maqasidi methodology enables Islamic law to respond effectively to contemporary challenges, maintaining its relevance across time and place while contributing to societal advancement and civilizational development.
The seminar aimed to achieve several academic and educational objectives, most notably: introducing the concept of Maqasid al-Sharia and its status within Islamic legislation; clarifying the meaning and importance of the five essential necessities in preserving the order of human life; highlighting the Qur’anic foundations for protecting religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property; deepening the objectives-based understanding of legal rulings and connecting them to individual and societal realities; demonstrating the role of Maqasid in achieving security, stability, and social justice; and affirming the capacity of Islamic law to address contemporary challenges through its objectives-oriented methodology.
The seminar concluded with several key findings, including that the five essential necessities constitute the foundational basis of Islamic legislation, and that no legal ruling is devoid of consideration for them, directly or indirectly. It also affirmed that the Holy Qur’an explicitly underscores the objectives of Sharia through numerous clear texts, reflecting their centrality within the legislative framework. Furthermore, societal security and stability are closely linked to the preservation of these necessities, and the development of a balanced and righteous individual requires the integration of safeguarding religion, intellect, life, lineage, and property. The seminar also emphasized that the maqasidi approach grants Sharia flexibility and the capacity for ijtihad in contemporary issues without compromising its constants, and that the revival and progress of the Muslim Ummah depend on a sound understanding and practical activation of the objectives of Sharia rather than mere formal application of legal rulings.
