Maṣlaḥa and the Purpose of the Law

Abstract

Focusing on writings of legal theory by leading jurisprudents from al-Jaṣṣāṣ (d. 370/980) to al-Shāṭibī (d. 790/1388), this study traces the Islamic discourse on legal change. It looks at the concept of maṣlaḥa (people?s well-being) as a method of extending and adapting God?s law, showing how it evolves from an obscure legal principle to being interpreted as the all-encompassing purpose of God?s law