The Objective of Preserving the Deen

Aṭ-Ṭāhir b. ‘Āshūr (d. 1973) says:

فحفظ الدين معناه حفظ دين كل أحد من المسلمين أن يدخل عليه ما يفسد اعتقاده وعمله اللاحق بالدين، وحفظ الدين بالنسبة لعموم الأمة هو دفع كل ما من شأنه أن ينقض أصول الدين القطعية

The preservation of religion means protecting the religion of every Muslim from whatever could corrupt his creed and acts of worship. The preservation of religion for the generality of the Ummah is to avert anything that would undermine the definitive fundamentals of the religion. (Ibn ‘Āshūr, Maqāṣid ash-Sharī‘ah, p. 303)

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Next time you see people passionately justifying their stances by discussing maqasid ash-Shari’ah (the objectives of the Shari’ah), ask yourself whether the conclusion and outcome of whatever it is they are campaigning for meets the above condition for preserving the deen.

Disregard all the fancy terminology they use. Ignore all the impressive footnotes and bibliographies. Pay no heed to the list of authorities they cite (or misquote). Look at the outcome. Does it result in the strengthening and proliferation of mainstream Islamic teachings and a spiritually stronger ummah or not? Look at the reality on the ground before looking at their ‘impressive’ resumes.