Usooli giants such Imam Juwaini, Imam Ghazzali, Imam Razi, Imam Aamidi, ibn al-Qayim al Jawziyah , Imam Shatibi and Ibn Ashur, all cite the importance of Maqasid in their works. It is an established norm amongst the vast majority of scholars in the science of usul al fiqh particularly related to ijtihad and fatwa and nothing to do with ‘modernism’. I’m sure these scholars had nothing to do with ‘pleasing the kuffar’ or ‘contradicting the texts’

“Shari’ah is based on wisdom and achieving people’s welfare in this life and the afterlife. Shariah is all about justice, mercy, wisdom, and good. Thus any ruling that replaces justice with injustice, mercy with its opposite, common good with mischief, or wisdom with nonsense, is a ruling that does not belong to the Shariah, even if it is claimed to be so according to some interpretation” (Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya, I’lam Al-Muwaqqeen).

Jazakallahu khair for your comments, may Allah swt increase you to that which is pleasing to Him alone.

1. Salah-uddin memorised the Quran, studied fiqh, hadith, literature and poetry, trained in horsemanship, martial arts and war strategy. He moved with Kings and princes and was fully involved in the politics of his day. MOST IMPORTANTLY he worked in and around the society he found himself in.

2. ‘Immediate realities’ are not an obstacle rather an opportunity to work for the sake of Allah, in a place and time that He has put you in, in a society that you understand and that you have obligations towards. Immediate realities are only obstacles if your only programme for Muslims minorities throughout he world is to make ‘hijrah’ or to go and fight somewhere, and even then I don’t see it as a real obstacle.

3. “I can’t see what is wrong with muslims who percieve the above issues through the interpretation of quran and sunnah.”

I totally agree with you. This is exactly what many leading shaykhs such Sh. Al-Qaradawi, Sh. bin Bayyah, Sh. Salman Aloudah and the European Fiqh Council as well as countless others have done.

4. “At the heart of this dangerous philosophy is ………….”

This ‘dangerous philosophy’ (ie Maqasid, context etc) is an integral part of Shariah overall, it doesn’t have to be an independent source of shariah to affect Fatwas. Most fears around maqasid are unfounded arising from a lack of shariah literacy and the way source texts are interpreted within the frameworks of usul-alfiqh, qawaaid fiqhiyah, maqasid al-shariah etc. Yes there maybe a few people who try to abuse this but alhamdulillah the room to manoeuvre within the principals and frameworks are clearly laid down as to expose any charlatans.

“Tackling doubts about Islam, crime, sexual promiscuity, drug and alcohol abuse amongst the youth, mental health, marriage breakdown, as well as other major issues in our communities deserve our immediate attention…”

This clearly makes the point that life for western muslims since the first wave of migration (for material purposes generally) to the west has gotten worse in some ways. Especially in respect to the condition of their faith and their preserving their identity.

Why do you seek to sever the western muslims from their ties to the rest of the ummah and the serious issues that the majority of the ummah are facing? After all, the muslims living in the UK are a mere minority in comparison to the rest of the ummah living in the muslim world.

It would seem rather unislamic to do so and selfish to say, ‘to them their problems, to us our own’.

Bottom line is, it is those who are the ‘qaa’idoon’, far from the sufferings of their brethren that are paralysed by inaction. (please be more sensible than to say “go on then… YOU make hijrah”) They wish to stay inside the comfort zones and maintain the status quo by presenting “immediate realities” as an obstacle.

It isn’t going to be easy. Nobody is saying that. No doubt, these things entail sacrifice and hardship. Just like it did for the early muslims. Infact it is much easier for us thanks to globalisation, communications and technology.

Can anyone tell us what proactive/positive work that al muhajiroon do apart from fuelling hate to non muslims (creation of EDL&SDL) towards muslims and presenting a harsh, intolerant and extreme image of Islam. It will be very interesting to know. We sometimes become shortsighted, a bit impatient and be influenced by these groups. The Quran wasn’t revealed in one go, but it took 23 years and the prophet (saw) implemented it accordingly. We know that our prophet (saw) and his companinons suffered sevear persecution but still they didn’t retaliate untill they migrated to madina and then ordered by Allah (read tafsir of sura Muhammed(SAW) by Mawdudi (R) in Towards Understanding the Quran. The prophet (saw) did tawaf of the holy Kaba and prayed there when there was approximately 360 idols in it. Does that mean he (nawuzubillah) contradicted the Quran and (nawuzubillah) worshipped Idols. NO!. And so that is why understanding the context is very important.

The Muslim Ummah has degenerated so much that they dont care or take heed of even the fundementals of Islam. Also living in the West ha allowed them to indulge in materialism and have ingrained in them the greed for money. So our strategy of dawah to muslims and non muslims will defer according to country and the social environment but also keeping in line with Quran and Sunnah.

At the heart of this dangerous philosophy is
1. avoiding displeasing the kuffaar
2. avoiding any and all forms of harm or negative consequences. i.e. ensuring a life of no test, tribulation or difficulty or hardship.

It seeks to argue that such points have a place in the sharee’ah. No dispute there. However in applying these as the primary sources of evidence and in contradiction to quraan and…