What are the five necessities that the Wise Lawgiver commanded us to preserve?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, we begin this episode with a message received from a listener of the program. The listener, Sa'd from Qina Governorate, Naqwa Center, Arab Republic of Egypt, asks: What are the five necessities that the Wise Lawgiver commanded us to preserve?
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. It is well known that this Islamic Shari'ah came to secure benefits or perfect them, and to avert harms or reduce them. This is a general principle that encompasses everything a person needs in matters of his religion and his worldly life. The matter is not limited to the five necessities mentioned by the questioner; rather, it is general for every benefit, whether it relates to the soul, wealth, body, intellect, or religion. Indeed, anything that achieves a benefit or perfects a benefit is a desirable matter. If it is something that is indispensable, it is on the path of obligation. If it is something less than that, it is on the path of recommendation. And anything that entails harm in any matter is prohibited, either on the path of the obligation to leave it, or on the path of what is better and more complete.
This great principle cannot be limited to its details, and it is beneficial for the student of knowledge because it is a true and straight balance. This is indicated by verses from the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and hadiths from the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Among this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:219] Here, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) indicated that in intoxicants and gambling there is a great sin and multiple benefits for people, but the sin is greater than the benefit. Therefore, the complete Shari'ah came with the prohibition of both, a firm prohibition, in the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Ma'idah 5:90-91] From this, we know that among the rulings for which Allah prohibited intoxicants, gambling, the sacrificial stones, and the arrows of divination is that they cause enmity and hatred between people. This is a social harm, in addition to the other harms in them, such as the impairment of the intellect and the impairment of the religion. For the sacrificial stones and the arrows of divination—the arrows of divination lead to taking risks in advancing and retreating, and the sacrificial stones are shirk (associating partners with Allah), being objects of worship other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
Among this is also the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:29] This is a command to preserve the soul and protect it from all harm.
Among this is also the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Ma'idah 5:6] So he commanded tayammum (dry ablution with clean earth) in this state, out of fear of harm or the continuation of harm due to illness, where the use of water is feared. And among this is the saying of Allah the Exalted in the verse of fasting: [Al-Baqarah 2:185].
The Sunnah in this matter is also abundant, among which is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2413Sahih (Darussalam).
Among this is also his rebuke of those who said, one of them said, "I will fast and not break my fast," and the second said, "I will stand in prayer and not sleep," and the third said, "I will not marry women." So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1401.
In summary, this complete Shari'ah came to secure benefits or perfect them, and to avert harms or reduce them. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. It is well known that this Islamic Shari'ah came to secure benefits or perfect them, and to avert harms or reduce them. This is a general principle that encompasses everything a person needs in matters of his religion and his worldly life. The matter is not limited to the five necessities mentioned by the questioner; rather, it is general for every benefit, whether it relates to the soul, wealth, body, intellect, or religion. Indeed, anything that achieves a benefit or perfects a benefit is a desirable matter. If it is something that is indispensable, it is on the path of obligation. If it is something less than that, it is on the path of recommendation. And anything that entails harm in any matter is prohibited, either on the path of the obligation to leave it, or on the path of what is better and more complete.
This great principle cannot be limited to its details, and it is beneficial for the student of knowledge because it is a true and straight balance. This is indicated by verses from the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and hadiths from the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Among this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit."
يسألونك عن الخمر والميسر قل فيهما إثم كبير ومنافع للناس وإثمهما أكبر من نفعهما(90) O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. (91) Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?
يا أيها الذين ءامنوا إنما الخمر والميسر والأنصاب والأزلام رجس من عمل الشيطان فاجتنبوه لعلكم تفلحون * إنما يريد الشيطان أن يوقع بينكم العداوة والبغضاء في الخمر والميسر ويصدكم عن ذكر الله وعن الصلاة فهل أنتم منتهونAmong this is also the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful.
ولا تقتلوا أنفسكم إن الله كان بكم رحيماAmong this is also the saying of Allah the Exalted:
But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it
وإن كنتم مرضى أو على سفر أو جاء أحد منكم من الغائط أو لامستم النساء فلم تجدوا ماء فتيمموا صعيدا طيبا فامسحوا بوجوهكم وأيديكم منهand whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship
ومن كان مريضا أو على سفر فعدة من أيام أخر يريد الله بكم اليسر ولا يريد بكم العسرThe Sunnah in this matter is also abundant, among which is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As:
Ubu Juhaifah narrated from his father who said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) made a bond of brotherhood between Salman and Abu Ad-Darda. Salman went to visit Abu Ad-Darda, and saw Umm Ad-Darda wearing shabby clothes, So he said: 'Why are you wearing such shabby clothes?' She said: 'Your brother Abu Ad-Darda has no interest in the world.' So when Abu Ad-Darda arrived, he prepared some food for him (Salman) and said: 'Eat, for I am fasting.' He said: 'I shall not eat until you eat.'" He said: "So he ate. When night came Abu Ad-Darda started to leave and stand (in prayer), but Salman said to him: 'Sleep.' So he slept. Then he went to stand (in prayer) but he said to him: 'Sleep'. So he slept. When the morning (Fajr) came,Salman said: 'Get up now.'So he got up to perform Salat. Then he (Salman) said: 'Indeed your self has a right upon you, your Lord has a right upon you, your guest has a right upon you, and your family has a right upon you. So give each the right they are due. The Prophet (s.a.w), and that was mentioned to him, so he said: 'Salman has told the truth.'"
إن لنفسك عليك حقا وإن لربك عليك حقا وإن لأهلك عليك حقاAmong this is also his rebuke of those who said, one of them said, "I will fast and not break my fast," and the second said, "I will stand in prayer and not sleep," and the third said, "I will not marry women." So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
I observe fast and suspend observing them; I marry women also? And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with Me
أنا أصوم وأفطر وأقوم وأنام وأتزوج النساء فمن رغب عن سنتي فليس منيIn summary, this complete Shari'ah came to secure benefits or perfect them, and to avert harms or reduce them. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.