Maxims of Islamic Law explained

The Maxims of Islamic Law were established after representatives of all schools of thought regarding Muslim Jurisprudence came together to reach a consensus.^[1] Maxims refer to a body of abstract rules that were produced after a detailed study of the fiqh. They’re theoretical guidelines corresponding to different areas of fiqh, which may be dealing with anything from evidence to matrimonial law.^[2] The fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence, through the human interpretation of Islamic law.

The five Normative Maxims of Islamic law

• : Acts are judged by the intention behind them
• : Harm must be eliminated
• : Certainty is not overruled by doubt
• : Cultural usage shall have the weight of law
• : Hardship begets facility^[3]

Notes and References

1. Abd-Allah, Umar Faruq. "Islam and the cultural imperative." CrossCurrents (2006): 357-375. http://www.artsrn.ualberta.ca/amcdouga/Hist347/additional%20rdgs/article%20culture%20imperative.pdf
2. Kamali, Mohammad Hashim. Principles of Islamic jurisprudence. The Islamic Text Society, 1991., https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single2/en_Principles_of_Islamic_Jurisprudence.pdf
3. Web site: Godlas. Alan. The five Universal Maxims of Islamic Law. Islamic Studies- University of Georgia. 16 November 2016. 4.