An Analysis of the Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah and Qawāʿid Fiqhiyyah Discussed in Imdād al-Aḥkām

امداد الاحکام میں مذکور مقاصد شرعیہ اور قواعد فقہیہ کا جائزہ

Abstract

This research article examines the application of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah (the Objectives of Islamic Law) and Qawāʿid Fiqhiyyah (Islamic legal maxims) as reflected in the renowned fiqh compendium Imdād al-Aḥkām. The work comprises the juristic verdicts (fatāwā) of two eminent scholars of the Indian subcontinent, Mawlānā Ẓafar Aḥmad ʿUthmānī and Muftī ʿAbd al-Karīm Gumat̤hlawī. Their scholarly contributions represent a rich synthesis of Ḥanafī jurisprudence, Prophetic traditions, reports of the Companions, and foundational principles of Islamic legal theory. The study begins with an overview of Imdād al-Aḥkām, focusing on its compilation, structure, and the juristic methodologies adopted by its authors. It then presents an analytical examination of selected fatāwā in light of the five universally recognized objectives of the Sharīʿah: the protection of religion (ḥifẓ al-dīn), life (ḥifẓ al-nafs), intellect (ḥifẓ al-ʿaql), lineage (ḥifẓ al-nasl), and property (ḥifẓ al-māl). Through representative case studies, the article demonstrates how these objectives are consistently integrated into legal reasoning, ensuring a balance between adherence to textual sources and consideration of social welfare. Moreover, the research highlights the extensive use of major legal maxims—such as al-yaqīn lā yazūlu bi al-shakk (certainty is not removed by doubt)—in resolving complex juristic issues. This methodological reliance reinforces coherence, moderation, and consistency in legal verdicts. The findings reveal that Imdād al-Aḥkām is not merely a compilation of fatāwā but a comprehensive model of principled jurisprudence grounded in maqāṣid-oriented and rule-based reasoning. The study concludes by emphasizing the work’s continued relevance for contemporary Islamic legal discourse and recommends further academic research, curricular inclusion, and digital preservation of this significant juristic legacy.