Fruitful Living
The Maqāṣid al-Sharī’ah: The Islamic framework for addressing contemporary social challenges
In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. We send peace and blessings upon the noble Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), his family, his companions, and all those who stand for justice until the Day of Judgment.
Introduction
We live in an era of rapid social transformation. Technological advancement, urbanization, changing family structures, health crises, unemployment, moral decadence, drug abuse, cybercrime, and weakening social bonds have created enormous challenges for Muslim communities across the world. The Muslim Ummah in Ghana is not immune to these realities.
Islam is not merely a religion of rituals. Islam provides guidance for every aspect of life— spiritual, social, economic, educational, political and health-related.
Allah said in the holy Quran “We have neglected nothing in the Book.” (Qur’an 6:38).
Before discussing the practical challenges facing our communities today, it is important to understand that Islamic law was revealed to achieve specific objectives known as Maqāṣid al-Sharī’ah (The Higher Objectives of Islamic Law).
The great scholar, Imam Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi, explained that all Islamic laws aim at securing benefit (Maslahah) and preventing harm (Mafsadah).
The scholars have summarized these objectives into five fundamental necessities known as:
Hifz ad-Din (Protection of Religion)
Islam seeks to preserve faith, worship, Islamic identity and moral values.
Allah said, “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me.”
(Qur’an 51:56)
Therefore, strengthening Islamic education, supporting the mosque, preserving family values, and protecting the next generation from immoral influences are all means of preserving the Islamic religion identity.
Today, social media abuse, drug addiction, pornography, cybercrime, and moral decay threaten the faith of many Muslim youth. The Muslim Ummah must equip itself with sound Islamic knowledge to preserve its religious identity.
Hifz an-Nafs (Protection of Life)
One of the greatest objectives of Islam is the preservation of human life.”And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah is Most Merciful to you.” (Qur’an 4:29)
This objective forms the basis for:
• Public health programmes
• Vaccination campaigns
• NHIS registration
• Hospital care
• Disease prevention
• Environmental sanitation
• Road safety
• Maternal and child healthcare
Every effort to save lives is an act of worship.
“Whoever saves a life, it is as though he has saved all mankind.” (Qur’an 5:32)
Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) provides affordable healthcare. By law (Act 852, 2012), every Ghanaian resident must belong to the NHIS by registering. Once registered, a family gains access to a wide range of medical services. From an Islamic perspective, having health coverage is part of fulfilling one’s social responsibility: the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) taught that
one who provides for a sick or needy person is like one who worships in solitude (in reward). An Imam might cite the hadith “Whoever relieves a believer’s distress of the distressful aspects of this world, Allah will rescue him from a difficulty of the difficulties of the Hereafter” (Muslim).
Encouraging congregants to obtain NHIS cards ensures children can get vaccines and families can afford clinic visits, fulfilling the Quranic ideal of community care. Imams can organise special registration drives after Jumu‘ah, so the poor and elderly receive help signing up, noting that Act 852 even allows community agents to assist citizens.
Introduction
We started last week with a series on “The Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Churches” and ended on the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet – “The Alpha and Omega.” Enjoy part two of the article this week and share it with others!
Pentecost
Pentecost is ultimately a story of redemption.
As the tongues of fire rested upon the disciples, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in languages they had never learned.
Since people from many nations were present in Jerusalem, everyone heard the message of God proclaimed in their own language. The barriers that often divide humanity were overcome through the power of the Spirit.
The crowd was astonished. Some were amazed. Others were confused.
A few even accused the disciples of being drunk because the sounds they heard seemed incomprehensible to them.
At that moment, Peter stood up and delivered the first sermon of the New Testament Church.
Peter’s Pentecost sermon
Peter explained that what the people were witnessing was the fulfillment of the prophecy spoken centuries earlier by the prophet Joel:
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
Peter declared that Jesus of Nazareth, whom many had rejected and crucified, was indeed the promised Messiah. Though He was put to death, God raised Him from the dead because death could not hold Him.
Peter further proclaimed that the risen Christ had been exalted to the right hand of God and had poured out the promised Holy Spirit upon His followers.
His sermon culminated in this powerful declaration:
“Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” (Acts 2:36)
The message pierced the hearts of the listeners.
The call to repentance
Convicted by Peter’s message, the people asked: “What shall we do?”
Peter responded: “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
This invitation was not limited to those standing before Peter that day.
The promise extended to:
- Their children.
- Future generations.
- People far away.
- Everyone whom God would call.
The gift of the Holy Spirit remains available today to all who place their faith in Jesus Christ.
The birth of the church
The Bible records that about three thousand people responded to Peter’s message and were added to the community of believers that day.
This remarkable harvest marked the birth of the Church.
For the first time, a Spirit-filled community emerged, united around the risen Christ and empowered to continue His mission.
These early believers were not creating a new religion. They understood Jesus to be the fulfillment of God’s promises and the long-awaited Messiah foretold by the prophets.
The Church began as a movement of people transformed by the Holy Spirit and committed to proclaiming the good news of salvation.
