\n
\n
Muslim thinkers maintain that God, as a Law-giver, does not prescribe anything except for the best interests of humankind.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0That which is conducive to protect religion, life, property, and dignity will characteristically make man reaches God in the state of prosperity and ultimate Happiness.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the best interest of the condition of their worldly lives, mankind indispensably has to order its community by a system of law.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No human group thus has passed away without any law regulating it.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAs the pursuit of well-being is an essential of animals,\u201d Ibn al-\u2018Arabi (d. 638\/1240) rhetorically states, \u201cwhat more of the human race, the possessor of the reflective faculty (al-fikr wa l-rawiyah<\/em>)!\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is not irrelevant to note Ibn al-\u2018Arabi\u2019s observation that, since mankind must define and fix the limits of its rulings in a precise manner, every legal system consists of five kinds of rulings that make something either obligatory, recommended, prohibited, reprehensible or permissible.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Those rulings are enforced on the community by their leader and law-maker.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Be that as it may, Ibn al-\u2018Arabi cautions that the best interest and well-being of this worldly life can only be determined by mankind based upon observable reality.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In other words, judgment as to what is the best interest of this worldly life, and subsequently the decision as to how to pursue that well-being, are dependent on the information supplied by nothing but rational sciences that are acquired by unaided reason.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In this context, man-made laws, however prudently postulated, are created and practiced by man\u2019s \u201cimperfect\u201d intelligence. \u201cImperfect\u201d, as it is genuinely ignorant of non-observable realities like God and life after death that consists of, among others, Paradise and Hell. These kinds of realities cannot be known except by divine communication.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In contrast with man-made law, Divine Law is sourced from the sacred message, on the end-values of man.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Divine Law springs from the Revealed Scriptures and the Prophetic Traditions that not only teach divine gnosis but also prescribe the deeds whereby one can become nearer to God, be prosperous and attain the ultimate happiness (al-sa\u2018adah<\/em>).<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hence, if unassisted man-made law is enacted for the well-being of this ordinary worldly life only, the Divine Law is so revealed and established for the absolute goodness and the best interests of the other-worldly life as well.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Divine Law aims to liberate man from being so absorbed in selfish, narrow and material concerns; its aim is that man heeds the \u201cends\u201d of life (al-akhirah<\/em>) and not violating moral law.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In short, the Divine Law, contrary to the modern sense of the term \u2018law\u2019, comprises the whole social, political, domestic, private and ritual life of mankind, whether relating to the world to come or the present world, whether relating to the soul, body or external circumstances.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Indeed, the term\u00a0shar\u2018<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0shari\u2018ah<\/em>\u00a0literally mean a resort, track, road or way to a watering place\u2014from which animate beings derive the element indispensable to their life\u2014that is permanent and apparent to the eye, like the water of rivers for one who seeks drink.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hence a signification of revealed religion, as the\u00a0shari\u2018ah<\/em>, is a way or law to the means of eternal life.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This means that, in the long-range, in the hereafter, those who believe in God and truly obey His Law will achieve the ultimate happiness, and those who deny His truth and disobey His Law will experience the misery (al-shaqa\u2019<\/em>).<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ibn al-\u2018Arabi reminds that man is not destined for this world; all of his predicaments, sayings and deeds in the present world are indeed aimed at the afterlife.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As Fazlur Rahman (d. 1988\/1408) puts it, \u201cthe essence of hereafter consists in the long-range results of man\u2019s endeavors on earth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s no wonder then that each and every human being aims for happiness (al-sa<\/em>\u2018<\/em>adah<\/em>) in the afterlife.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ultimate happiness is desired by each and every soul and by people of all religious traditions.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nonetheless, due to their ignorance, they lost the path leading to this true happiness.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0People of all religious sects and traditions (dhi nihlah wa millah<\/em>) imagine that theirs is the path leading to happiness.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The invectives that had occurred between people of religious traditions and denominations (ahl al-milal wa \u2019l-nihal<\/em>) are pertained to the path that they walk upon in order to reach happiness, not pertained to their destination i.e., happiness itself.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If the one at fault knew of his error in religion, he would not insist on his path.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nonetheless, Ibn al-\u2018Arabi warns that this Deliverance cannot be attained without following the path that leads to it.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He warns us not to have wishful thinking of God while walking upon a path that will not reach the ultimate happiness and everlasting felicity and bliss.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The path of happiness, thus, is essential (dhati<\/em>) for its attainment; the ultimate Happiness cannot be attained except by this path.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This path of happiness, according to Ibn al-\u2018Arabi, is the Divine Law (al-shar\u2018<\/em>).<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In other words, the Sacred Law (al-shar\u2018<\/em>) is conveyed to mankind so that they may truly obey Allah as the\u00a0\u00a0sole object of worship who has no partner in His divinity, and consequently attain the ultimate success and happiness.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Indeed, it is by divine rulings (ahkam al-shar\u2018<\/em>) that we may evaluate all doings of mankind and differentiate between the blessed and the wretched.<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Muslim thinkers maintain that God, as a Law-giver, does not prescribe anything except for the best interests of humankind. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0That which is conducive to protect religion, life, property, and dignity will characteristically make man reaches God in the state of prosperity and ultimate Happiness. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the best interest of the condition of their worldly lives,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_analytify_skip_tracking":false,"_wpzoom_pinterest_image_url":"","_wpzoom_pinterest_hidden_image":"0","_wpzoom_pinterest_description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[220],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-star","category-220","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21391"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21391\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ikim.gov.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}