Author Dr. Ahmad Raysuni is a prominent scholar and specialist in
the field of Maq¥|id al-Shari¢ah (the higher objectives and intents of
Islamic Law). Knowledge of al-maq¥|id, translated here as “higher

objectives” or “intents,” is a prerequisite to address and resolve con-
temporary issues challenging Islamic thought. Such knowledge can assist

in developing an objectives-based fiqh, and helps us understand and
appreciate the concept of divine wisdom underlying Islamic rulings.
In the early Islamic period, scholars saw a rift between the teachings
and principles of Islam and Muslims’ daily life and practices. To help
humans achieve benefits and avoid harm or corruption, they elucidated
Islam’s objectives and legal rulings, as well as the intentions, goals, and
functions of Shari¢ah, or Islamic Law. These scholars showed how these
intentions, higher objectives, and causes are contained explicitly in the
texts of the Qur’an and the Sunnah or illuminated by comprehensive

ijtihad (independent reasoning). Today, a dynamic, purposeful aware-
ness of these major objectives will only become possible through ongoing

academic efforts to clarify them.
The Sunnah inspires solutions, laws, practical concepts, and social
systems to achieve the objectives of Islam and to enlighten the Ummah.

This book presents a distinctive model relevant to methods of under-
standing, drawing upon the Qur’an and the Sunnah and their inspira-
tion and guidance. Imam Ab‰ Is^¥q al-Sh¥~ibÏ (d. 790 AH/1388 CE),

the subject of this book, illustrated and inspired studies on the princi-
ples and objectives of Islamic Law. His methods produce a sound, well-
founded understanding of the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

An interest-based interpretation should be the foundation for our
understanding of such texts’ meanings and the rulings we derive from
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them. This book highlights the importance of relying on legislative uni-
versals and allowing these universals to mediate our understanding and

use of particular texts. Since the universal principles and objectives of
Islamic Law are unshakable foundations for every act of ijtihad and
for Islamic thought, the importance of these principles and objectives
must be re-established.
A salient manifestation of the crisis of the Muslim mind is its imbalance
of standards and priorities. Our academic and practical lives have been

afflicted by many such imbalances and reversals in values and priori-
ties. Attention is given to appearances and formalities while objectives

and essences are overlooked. Particulars rule the day while universals
are, for all practical purposes, forgotten. This is an issue with major
importance for Muslim scholars and thinkers and those who invite
others to embrace the Islamic faith. The solution is to reorder priorities
and rebuild Muslims’ system of standards and values.
The author presents a comprehensive theory of the objectives of Islamic
Law in its various aspects and studies objectives-based thought as
pioneered by the father of objectives-based jurisprudence, Ab‰ Is^¥q

al-Sh¥~ibÏ. The author extracts “objectives-related principles” from al-
Sh¥~ibÏ’s writings and shows how we can discern the objectives of the

Lawgiver. We urgently need the ability to engage in objectives-based
ijtihad and objectives-based jurisprudence. This book shows examples
of “living jurisprudence” along with the principles and norms that form

its basis. Islamic jurisprudence can establish legal norms for a contem-
porary Islamic life.

Book Imam alShatibi’s : Theory of the Higher Objectives and Intents of Islamic Law author : Ahmad AlRaysuni
With the end of the early Islamic period, Muslim scholars came to sense that a rift had begun to emerge between the teachings and principles of Islam and Muslims daily reality and practices. The most important means by which scholars sought to restore the intimate contact between Muslims and the Quran was to study the ...