A comparative study of the theories of Imam al-Shatibi and Imam Izz al-Din ibn al-Salam on the objectives of Shariah Maqasid al-Shariah

Abstract

The title of this article is "A comparative study of the theories of Imam al- Shatibi and Imam Izz al Din ibn al- Salam on the objectives of Shariah Maqasid Shariah". This research offers a comparative analysis of the theories of two great scholars in the field of Maqasid al-Shariah (Objectives of Islamic Law): Imam Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi (Maliki) and Imam Izz al-Din ibn Abd al-Salam (Shafi'i). Both were foundational figures in legal reasoning and the derivation of rulings in Islamic jurisprudence. Imam al-Shatibi, in his masterpiece Al-Muwafaqat, systematized the theory of Maqasid, emphasizing the five essential objectives (hifdh al-din, nafs, aql, nasl, mal) and providing a framework for understanding the purposes of rulings. Conversely, Imam ibn Abd al-Salam further organized Maqasid by linking them with the concept of Maslaha (public interest), delving deeper into the philosophy behind rulings, thereby adding a new dimension to jurisprudential reasoning, especially in highlighting the "objective" as a primary source of Shariah. This study highlights the similarities and differences in their theories, points out their intellectual evolution, and underscores their enduring contribution to the understanding of Islamic law.