maqasid al-shariah

Maqasid al-shariah (Arabic) refers to the higher objectives or purposes underlying Islamic law.

Rather than focusing on specific rules, this concept identifies the broader goals that Sharia aims to protect: life, religion, intellect, lineage, and property.

Islamic scholars use maqasid to interpret law flexibly, weighing how rulings serve these fundamental purposes: The judge considered the maqasid al-shariah when ruling on the medical case.