Al-Waadih Fee Usool ul-Fiqh by Muhammad Hussein Abdullah

We have previously mentioned a number of examples of the use of Al-Masaalih Al-Mursalah by those who regard it as a Hujjah previously and we will now present other examples to add to them: Example:

Al-Maalikiyah provided the verdict that it is permissible to appoint the best from the non-Mujtahideen as a Khalifah if there is no Mujtahid in addition to the permissibility to appoint a Khalifah when there is someone better or more merit than him present. That is because it is from the Maslahah of the Muslims for them to have a Khalifah for them and because the absence of a Khalifah leads to a Mafsadah.

Example:

They permitted the Shahaadah (testimony) of the boys against each other in respect to injuries (Jaraahaat) and that is due to the Maslahah. That is because, normally, no one other than them witnesses their playing together. This is even if the Shart (condition) of Buloogh (maturity) is not met in them as that is from amongst the conditions of ‘Adaalah (justness) in respect to the Shaahid (witness).

Example:

Ahmad Bin Hanbal (rh) gave the verdict of banishing the people of Fasaad (corruption) to a land which is secure or safe from their evil and that is due to the Maslahah and Dar‘u-l-Mafsadah (repelling the harm or detrimental matter).

Example:

And he permitted specifying some of the children (to the exclusion of others) for gifts for a specific Maslahah like if for instance he was sick, in need, a parent of children or student of knowledge.

Example:

It is the right of the Haakim (ruler) to compel those monopolising to sell what they have at a similar price (i.e. market price) when the people are in (dire) need of it (i.e. a Daroorah for them).

Example:

The opinion of Abu Haneefah (rh) in respect to the permissibility of damaging or destroying that which the fighters are incapable of carrying with them in terms of the booty or spoils of war like provisions and animals, so that the enemy cannot benefit from them and then use them against the Muslims. As such the goods and provisions are burnt, the animals are slaughtered and their meat is burnt.

Example:

Craftsmen guaranteeing what is destroyed under their hands (or supervision) in terms of the property of the people like cloth and wood unless the destruction or ruining was due to an overpowering force. This is despite their hands representing a hand of trust (Amaanah) and the Messenger of Allah (saw) saying:

In spite of that the Maslahah dictates this Hukm (ruling) so that they (the workers) are not lax in respect to safeguarding the property of the people.

Example:

The permissibility of imposing taxes upon the rich if the Bait ul-Maal (treasury) is empty of the required wealth to face the essential expenditures of the state, like meeting the needs of the soldiers for instance, until the time that wealth comes into the Bait ul-Maal or there is within it that which is sufficient.

Example: Al-Imaam Maalik permitted the beating or hitting of the one accused of theft to get him to talk and considered that to represent a Maslahah. Al-Imaam Al-Ghazaaliy responded to that saying: “This Maslahah is in opposition to another Maslahah and that is the Maslahah of the one who is being hit. It is possible that he is innocent of the crime and not hitting the guilty is less of a matter than striking the innocent”.