The Qur’aan itself announces that it was revealed to reform human conditions. Islaam did not erase all pre-Islamic customs and practices. Instead, it removed every facet of corruption and cancelled all customs which were harmful to the society. Consequently, Islamic legislation forbade interest because it takes unfair advantage of the less fortunate members of society; fornication was forbidden due to its exploitation of women and the destruction of family bonds; and alcohol was prohibited because of the physical, psychological and spiritual damage which it inflicts on both the individual and society as a whole. Trade practices were reformed by making the basis of trade mutual consent, and by disallowing all deceptive business transactions. The existing system of marriage was organized by confirming certain forms and prohibiting others which were, in fact, fornication of something close to it. The basis of divorce was also recognized, but its pronouncements were limited.

Because Islaam did not come to destroy human civilization, morals and customs, in order to build on it a new civilization with new morals and customs, it looked at everything from the perspective of human welfare; what was harmful was removed and what was beneficial was confirmed.

Allaah says in the Qur’aan:

Islaam is fundamentally system of building and not one of destruction as its goal is reformation and not merely control and government. It should be noted, however, that Islaam’s confirmation of some Arab customs does not mean that it has taken its laws and principles from other sources, nor does it mean that those practices which it confirmed are not a part of divine law. Whatever Islaam confirmed is considered an integral part of the divine code for the following reasons: a) Some of the practices were inherited from earlier generations to which prophets had been sent. A good example of this is Hajj which was instituted by prophet Abraham and Ishmael.

b) Islamic principles do not contradict human reason nor are they unintelligible. Instead they free the human intellect from irrationality. Consequently, they recognize the useful results of human intellectual activity.

c) If the confirmed practices were not present, Islaam would have instituted them due to the existing human need for them.

Nevertheless, the number of confirmed practices were, in fact, quite few in proportion to the many which were cancelled. And, further-more, even the title that was confirmed was not kept in its existing form. Only its foundation remained untouched.26 In order for Islamic legislation to achieve its goal of reformation, it has enacted a series of legal commandments and prohibitions, which make up the rules of conduct governing the social system of Islaam. However in the enactment of laws, the Qur’anic revelations have taken into consideration the following four basic principles:

The system of Islaam has been revealed for man’s benefit. It provides him with guidance in all walks of life in order to ensure for him a righteous lifestyle within a just society committed to the service of God. Islamic laws are not meant to be a burden, creating difficulties for man in order for him to grow spiritually, as some systems may claim, They are designed to facilitate mankind’s individual and societal needs.

As such, among the pillars on which Islaam is based is the removal of unnecessary difficulties wherever possible.

Evidence to support the fact that Islamic law is based on the concept of removal of difficulty can be found throughout the Qur’aan. The following verses from the Qur’aan are only a few examples:

Because of this principle, Allaah has enacted along with the divine laws a variety of legal concessions, like the permission to break fast, and shorten and join prayers during travel. More over, the consumption of prohibited substances (e.g., pork and alcohol) in cases of dire necessity was also permitted.

The Prophet (s.w.), who was the prime example of how Islamic law was to be implemented, was himself described as always choosing the easier path whenever a choice was given to him between two possible paths, as long as the easier path was not sinful.32 He was also reported to have said to some of his followers on the occasion of their dispatchment/ departure as governors of Yemen, “Make things easy (for the people) and do not make them difficult.”33 Islamic legal scholars unanimously consider this concept an indisputable fundamental principle followed by God in the enactment of laws. Consequently, in their implementation of the divine laws, they have deduced many secondary laws on this basis. 34

A number consequence of the previous principle is that the total number of legal obligations should be relatively few.

Accordingly, the prohibited acts and substances in Islamic legislation are quite few in comparison to those which are allowed by direct command or by the absence of any command of prohibition. This principle can be clearly seen in the method by which the Qur’aan deals with prohibitions and permissions. In the case of prohibitions, the sub-categories are named and listed, while in the case of permissions, a general allowance is given due to the great number of categories included in it. For example, with regard to women with whom marriage is forbidden, Allaah states,

After completing the prohibited categories, Allaah says,

As for foods, the forbidden categories are also listed in detail.

The Qur’aan states,

On the other hand, in regard to the permissible foods, Allaah states,

Furthermore, in spite of the fact that the things which have been forbidden are quite few in comparison to those which have been permitted, the sin of one who is forced to take forbidden substances has also been lifted, as was mentioned previously. Allaah states this concession in a number of places in the Qur’aan. For example:

It is also worth nothing that the laws, on the whole, do not contain so many details as to create difficulty for those who wish to strictly follow the teachings of the Qur’aan. Among the verses of the Qur’aan which indicate the existence this principle is the following:

The prohibited questions concern issues about which Allaah has chosen to enact prohibitions due to their questions.

And, if they did not ask about them, they would have been left with a choice between doing them and not doing them.

Included in this category is the Prophet’s (s.w.) response to repeated question concerning whether Hajj was compulsory every year.41 He said, “If I sad yes, it would have become compulsory. Leave me alone concerning things which I have left up to you, for certainly those before you were destroyed because of their many unnecessary questions and their arguments and disagreements with their prophets.”42 In another narration, he was reported to have said, “If I have prohibited you from doing something, avoid it totally. But, if I command you to do something, do as much of it as you can.”43 He was also reported to have said, “The Muslims who have committed the gravest offense against Muslims are those who asked about things which were not prohibited, because of their questions.”44 A good Example of limitation of details can be found in the Qur’anic treatment of business transactions. The laws in this regard have not at all been detailed. Instead, general precepts suitable for all circumstances have been legislated.

For example, Allaah states:

Because the laws of Islaam were primarily enacted for the general good of all mankind, the Prophet (s.w.) was a universal prophet sent to all people till the end of time . Allaah stated that in the Qur’aan in no uncertain terms:

The existence of abrogation within Islamic legislation is among the manifestations of human welfare considerations in Islamic legislation. God may prescribe a law suitable to people at the time of its enactment, or it may serve a particular limited purpose.

However, its suitability may later disappear or its unique purpose may have been achieved. In such circumstances, the need for the law ceases to exist and its validity becomes cancelled. The following are only a few of many such examples which may be found recorded in both the Qur’aan and the Sunnah.50 Bequest (Waseeyah): In pre-Islamic Arab culture, his children inherited the property of the decease, and parents would only inherit if a bequest were made.51 Thus, in the early stages of Islaam, Allaah made the writing of a bequest for parents and relatives compulsory, in order to teach the new community of Muslims the importance of family rights with regard to their wealth.

However, after the community willingly accepted this law and they began to strictly put it into practice, Allaah replaced it by revealing in the Qur’aan a clearly defined system of inheritance laws. And the Prophet (s.w.) further confirmed the abrogation of the old laws by stating, “Surely Allaah has given everyone with a right (to inheritance) his right, so there should be no bequest for inheritors.”53 Mourning Period: The widow’s mourning period was originally a full year, and it was compulsory for her husband to leave in his will provision for maintenance and housing during that whole period the Qur’aan states:

Then the waiting period was reduced to four months and ten days.

This law was later abrogated in the Qur’aan by the setting of a particular exemplary punishment.

Furthermore, the Prophet (s.w.) applied the punishment of stoning to death for those who committed adultery58 and set the death penalty for homosexuals without specifying the method.59 A review of the abrogated verses indicates that the early law may be replaced by a more severe law, as in the case of the law for fornication which changed from confinement and punishment to lashes or stoning to death; or it may be replaced by a less severe law as in the case of the mourning period for widows; or it may be replaced by a similar but more suitable law. At any rate, in all cases, the abrogated law was suitable for the time and circumstances under which it was revealed. When the situation changed, a new law was enacted in order to realize Allaah’s intent in the earlier legislation.

Were it not for the situation of the Muslim community earlier, the abrogating law would have been enacted from the beginning. For Example, in the case of the widow who was at first required to wait in her deceased husband’s house in mourning for the period of one year during which she could not get married, it was the custom of the Arabs to confine widows and prevent them from marriage for indefinite periods, lasting from a year to the remainder of their lives.

And, during the period of confinement, they were obliged to wear their worst clothes.60 If the waiting period were reduced to four months and ten days along with the permission for them to leave their houses if they wished, the early Muslims would have had great difficulty in accepting it. Consequently, a year of mourning was set along with the cancellation of the confinement and the obligation of maintenance. Shortly after they had accepted the change and adjusted to it, the new law was revealed reducing the period of mourning.

Thus, abrogation contained in it consideration for human conditions and their welfare during the era of the prophet hood which ended with the death of the Prophet (s.w.), for there can be no abrogation after his time.61 Legislative consideration of human welfare after the era of prophet hood can be found in the fact that Islamic laws were enacted for reasons, many of which were clearly mentioned.

The following verses of portions of verses from the Qur’aan are among the many cases where the purposes for the enactment of laws were explained:

The Prophet (s.w.) often made mention of the rationale behind his legal pronouncements. For example, in the case of the abrogation of the prohibition of visiting graveyards, he was reported to have said, “I had forbidden you from visiting the graveyards, however, permission has been given to me to visit the grave of my mother. So, visit them, for they do remind one of the next life.”65

The explanation of the reasons for laws indicates that the presence of absence of laws depends on the existence or nonexistence of their causes. If the benefit for which the law was enacted continuous, then the law is continuous; but if it has changed due to a change in circumstances, the law must also change; otherwise there would not be any benefit in its continued existence. On the basis of this principle, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab cancelled the distribution of the portion of Zakaah assigned for the encouragement of non-Muslims to accept Islaam which the Prophet (s.w.) used to give out. As he explained, the need for their encouragement existed during the time when Islaam was on the rise and in need of support, however, in his time the Islamic state was already firmly established.

Legislative consideration of human needs can also be found in the methodology of legislation. In the case of laws wherein human benefit will not change with time or conditions, Allaah has spelled out the details very clearly. For example, in the case of religious rites, family laws of marriage, divorce and inheritance, laws against crimes whose harm will not change with the passage of time, like murder, fornication and adultery, theft, and slander. As for things whose benefit or harm may vary from place to place, Allaah has legislated general laws of universal benefit, which may be implemented by those in authority according to human needs.

Examples of this category can be found in the laws concerning business transactions and the structuring of the society. For example, Allaah said, “Oh you who believe, obey Allaah and obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you.”66

The Prophet (s.w.) himself was reported to have said, “If a maimed Abyssinian slave is appointed over you and he conducts your affairs according to the Book of Allaah, you should listen to him and obey (his orders).”67 Legislative consideration can also be found in the giving of precedence to the general welfare over individual benefit, and to the prevention of a greater harm over a similar one.68 A good example of such a principle can be found in Islaam’s confirmation of the almost universal practice of plural marriage (polygyny). Islaam limited the maximum number of wives to four and outlined the responsibilities of those involved. Although sharing a husband may be painful to most women, the need for plural marriage in most societies evidenced by the corruption which results from its official prohibition demand its legislation. Therefore, for the general welfare of both men and women, Islaam recognized limited polygyny thereby giving precedence to the good of society over that of the individual woman. 69