ISLAAMIC PRINCIPLES #
1
THE PRINCIPLE OF PERMISSIBILITY
"The principle regarding acts of worship is
one of prohibition, except if the Sharee'ah
(Divinely Prescribed Law) relates a prescription for it. And the principle
regarding customary behaviour is permissibility,
except when the Sharee'ah relates a
prohibition for it." (Al-aslu
fil-'ibaadat al-hadhru illaa ma waradah 'anish-shar'ee tashree'ahu.
Wal-aslu fil-'aadaat al-ibaahah illaa ma waradah 'anish-shar'ee tahreemahu).[1]
The above principle is an important
principle that Islaam teaches. Thus, with regards to matters of 'aadaat (day-to-day actions), such as eating, drinking
and wearing clothes, then everything is allowed in this regard, except if there
is a clear and authentic evidence restricting or prohibiting its allowance.
However, when it comes to 'ibaadaat (acts of
worship), then the opposite is the true. Here, nothing
can be established as an act of worship, except if there is a clear and
authentic text to allow it. So the basic principle for 'aadaat
is ibaahah (permissibility), whereas the basic
principle for 'ibaadaat is tahreem
(prohibition).
Shaykhul-lslaam
Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H)- rahimahullaah
- said: "Peoples' sayings and actions are of two kinds: 'ibaadaat (acts of worship) by which their Religion is
established, and 'aadaat (customary practices)
which are required for day-to-day living. From the principles of the Sharee'ah (Divinely Prescribed Islaamic
Law) we know that acts of worship are those acts which have been prescribed by
Allaah or approved by Him; nothing is to be affirmed here, except through the Sharee'ah. However, as far as worldly activities of
people are concerned, they are necessary for everyday life. Here the principle
is freedom of action; nothing may be restricted in this regard except what
Allaah - the Mort Perfect - has restricted. This is the case because commanding
and prohibiting are both in Allaah's Hands. As far as
worship is concerned, there has to be a command from Him concerning it. Thus,
when it requires a command from Allaah to establish something, how can we say
that something is restricted without His command? This is why Ahmad bin Hanbal (d.241H) and other jurists who base their judgements upon ahaadeeth
(Prophetic narrations) say: In relation to acts of worship, then the principle
is tawqeef (limitation); that is to lay, nothing can
be legislated in this regard except what Allaah legislates. To do otherwise is
to incur the risk of being included in the meaning of the Aayah (verse):
"Do they have partners with Allaah who prescribe for them in the
Religion that for which Allaah has not given any permission."
[Soorah ash-Shooraa 42:21].
However, as far as living habits are
concerned, the principle here is freedom, because nothing can be restricted in
this regard except what Allaah has prohibited. To do otherwise is to be
included in the meaning of His saying:
"Say: Do you see what Allaah has sent down to you for sustenance?
Yet you have made some part of it halaal
(lawful) and some part haraam
(prohibited)."
[Soorah Yoonus
10:59].
This is a great and beneficial principle, on the
basis of which we can say that buying, selling, leasing, giving gifts, and
other such matters are necessary activities for people, as are eating, drinking
and the wearing of clothes. Thus, if the Sharee'ah
(Divinely Prescribed Islaamic Law) says something
about these day-to-day matters, it is in order to teach good behaviour. Accordingly, it has prohibited whatever leads to
corruption, has made obligatory that which is essential, has disapproved of
that which is superfluous, and has approved of that which is beneficial. All
this has been done with due consideration of the magnitude and properties of
the various types of activities involved. Since this is the position of the Sharee'ah, people are free to buy, sell and to lease
just as they wish, just as they are free to eat and drink what they like - as
long as it is not haraam (unlawful). Even though some of these things
may be disapproved, they are still free in this regard, since the Sharee'ah does not go to the extent of prohibiting
them - and thus the original principle (of permissibility) remains."
[2]
