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

The Fuqahaa have divided in respect to the adoption or utilisation of Al-Masaalih Al-Mursalah into three groups:

1 – A group that does not see any Maslahah outside of the Nusoos As-Sharee’ah and these are those who deny Qiyaas. They therefore assert that there is no Maslahah except for what the text has brought and that we do not seek a Hukm from other than that.

2 – The second group seeks the Masaalih from the texts and so they make analogy with every subject in which the Maslahah is realised upon the subject that has a text including the Maslahah. It would take the same Hukm of the Maslahah mentioned within the text. They therefore do not look to the Maslahah unless it has a proof for it from a Daleel Shar’iy Khaass (specific). They consider the regulators in which this Maslahah is realised in most cases to be an ‘Illah of Al-Qiyaas.

3 – The third group view that the Masaalih Al-Mursalah are the Masaalih that are in line with the Maqaasid of the Shaari’ and do not have a specific origin in terms of consideration or cancellation (Al-Ilghaa). If there was a specific origin evidenced, then it would enter within the generalness of Al-Qiyaas and if there was a specific origin evidenced with Al-Ilghaa’ (cancellation), then it (the Maslahah) would be Baatil (invalid) and considered to be from the Masaalih Al-Mulghaah (Cancelled out interests) and taking them would be in violation and contrary to the Maqaasid of the Sharee’ah.

Al-Imaam Maalik was the main flag bearer in respect to taking and utilising Al-Masaalih Al-Mursalah and he stipulated four conditions (Shuroot) for it to be employed or referred to:

A – That the Maslahah Al-Mursalah is fitting and in line with the Maqaasid of the Shaari’ and so it does not oppose an Asl (origin) from its Usool (origins/fundamentals) of a Daleel from its Qat’iy Adillah (evidences). Rather it in agreement to the Masaalih that the legislator has intended to be achieved like the preservation of the life, the Deen, the wealth, the progeny and the mind.

B – That the Maslahah Al-Mursalah is Ma’qoolah (reasonable/rationally acceptable) in its self so that if it was presented to the people of intellect it would be received with acceptance.

C – That taking it removes the Haraj (difficulty/hardship) in the case where if it was not to be taken, in its context or place, the people would then be left (or find themselves) in difficulty or hardship. This is whilst Allah Ta’Aalaa has said:

D – That the Maslahah (benefit/interest) is ‘Aammah (for general public good) bringing the benefit to the people and repelling the harm from them and that it is not for a certain group, faction or person.

Additional points:

The Masaalih Al-Mursalah represent an Asl (origin) that is differed upon amongst the Muslim Fuqahaa and so the Hanafiyah and the Shaafi’iyah do not consider it to be an origin (Asl) in its own right whilst they include it within the Baab (chapter/area) of Al-Qiyaas. Consequently, if there doesn’t exist a Nass (text) for the Maslahah to indicate it, it would be rejected and be considered to be Mulghaah (cancelled). - As for the Masaalih Al-Mursalah in the view of the Maalikiyah and the Hanaabilah then it is considered and is taken as long as it fulfils the four conditions mentioned previously. It (in their view) represents the realisation of the Maqaasid of the Shaari’ and even if it doesn’t have a specific text for it (Nass Khaass).