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Thus, first, in reality, human nature actually does not
change over time. Laws or guidance covering moral and ethical behavior shall
always remain the same, because what is damaging to the soul at one time will
always be damaging to the soul, again due to the fact that human nature does
not change. For example, lying and cheating are displeasing to the Lord and
harmful to the soul and shall forever remain that way. Thus, laws and guidance
related to issues of this nature remain fixed and completely applicable until
the Day of Judgment. Ritual acts of worship, which underline the foundation of
a human's character, also do not need to change. God alone knows how He is to
be worshipped, and if He has declared these acts as proper and acceptable to
Him until the Day of Judgment, no one can possibly say otherwise. In
describing these kinds of laws or guidance, one can say that Islamic Law is
rigid, but that is only because it should be rigid on these points. That, in
no way, affects its universality and practicality for all times and places.
Second, there are some harmful matters that humans must
avoid. These have also been explicitly and permanently forbidden. Alcohol and
intoxicants, for example, will always be harmful for humankind. Every now and
then, humans may find something beneficial about alcohol, as God also alludes
to in the Quran, but overall no society can rightly argue that alcohol
consumption is something good. One need only consider the social costs of
drinking in the United States alone. Many families are torn apart due to
alcohol abuse. Driving under the influence is recognized as a danger to
society, and although great steps have been taken to control it, numerous
people are still killed or severely injured due to alcohol. Many alcoholics
cannot hold down jobs and thus become dependent on the state, putting the
burden of their care on the rest of the citizens. When it comes to issues of
this nature, Islam forbids such a practice forever as there can be no serious
argument given that alcohol should be permitted. (Indeed, one can argue that
it is only permitted today because the cost of keeping people from this
addicting “drug” is prohibitive. This, in reality, is just another sign of how
dangerous and evil alcohol is.)
Third, beyond that, humans need only some
detailed laws but many general principles that allow them to guide their
lives in all times and places. This is exactly what Islamic Law provides for
them. Thus, God provides detailed laws about what kinds of food one may eat,
inheritance, who is legal as a spouse, international relations and so on. From
these detailed laws, a scholar is able to extract rulings for many new
occasions. From the general principles, a scholar can derive guidance for
various issues that did not occur during, for example, the time of the Prophet.
Fourth, in the realm of social contracts and business,
for example, the general principle is that everything is permissible unless
there is evidence to show otherwise. Hence, Islamic Law actually allows for a
great deal of freedom within the Law. In business dealings, for example, Islam
has prohibited interest, overly risky transactions, gambling, fraud, deception,
sale or purchase of illegal items and coercion. In general, these are the
harmful aspects that have been prohibited. In other words, the guidance is
such that when new forms of business dealings are developed, as in modern
times, one can determine which are acceptable according to Islamic guidelines
and which are not. Thus, Islamic Law has been proven to be feasible for over
1400 years and, according to Islamic beliefs, will continue to be feasible
until the Day of Judgment. Two businessmen are able to come up with any form
of contract they wish, as long as the basic forbidden and harmful aspects are
avoided. One cannot even imagine how many types of transactions are therefore
permissible under Islamic Law.
Finally, it must be recognized that this complete and
comprehensive guidance that will remain viable until the Day of Judgment is a
great blessing from God, and is another sign that humans must turn to God for
guidance. Humans on their own would never be able to find a way of life that
is suitable even for just one place and time, not to speak of something that
would be good for centuries or millenniums—although humans would try to latch
on to what they were following in the past. Sayyid Qutb has eloquently noted
this point when he wrote,
When a human being tries to
construct a metaphysical concept or a system of life through his own efforts,
this concept or system cannot be comprehensive. It can only be partially valid,
good for one time and place but not for other times and other places, and
appropriate for one set of circumstances but not for another. Furthermore,
even in tackling a single problem, he is incapable of looking at it from all
possible sides and of taking into consideration all the consequences of the
proposed solution, since very problem extends in space and time and is
connected with precedents and antecedents beyond the scope of observation and
comprehension of human beings.
We therefore conclude that
no philosophy and no system of life produced by human thought can have the
characteristic of “comprehensiveness.” At most, it can cover a segment of
human life and can be valid for a temporary period. Because of its limited
scope, it is always deficient in many respects, and because of its
temporariness it is bound to cause problems that require modifications and
changes in the original philosophy or system of life. Peoples and nations
basing their social, political and economic systems on human philosophies are
forever confronted with contradictions and “dialectics.”
One need only look at one example which has been much debated
recently to understand how applying God’s guidance at all places and times is
what is best for humanity. Circumcision is a well-known and established
practice in Islam. In the past few decades, doctors and scientists—due to
humans’ very limited understanding of the reality of humans as a whole—keep
going back and forth concerning circumcision. One decade they are in favor of
it while the next they say that it is useless and harmful to the child. Now
they have found—or they think they have found, as perhaps they could be wrong
again—that circumcision is a great defense against HIV AIDS. Now, they are
rushing to circumcise many of the men in different parts of Africa.
Perhaps, after so many cases like this, more and more
humans will realize that there is guidance, complete and perfect, that has come
from God that is exactly what all humans need and require, regardless of time
and place.
The Guidance is Complete and Sufficient Forever
In sum, the guidance is complete and suitable for all
times and places. It is all that the Muslims need for happiness in this world
and in the Hereafter. It cannot be improved upon. It is, therefore, in no
need of additions, alterations or deletions. Those who think that they can
improve upon what God has revealed are arrogant in the purest sense and going
beyond what they can possible ever achieve. For this obvious reason, the
Prophet gave very strong warnings about innovations, heresies and changes to
the faith. Such things are not needed at all and they will simply take away
from the beauty and perfection of Islam. Thus, the Prophet said:
“The worst matters are invented ones. And every
innovation is a going astray.” (Saheeh Muslim)
He also said:
“And every going astray is in the hell fire.” (al-Nasaai)
The Prophet also said:
“Whoever introduces anything into this affair of
ours that does not belong to it will have it rejected.” (Saheeh al-Bukhari and
Saheeh Muslim)
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