Islamic laws are based on logic and reasoning: Dr. Jasser Auda

Every Islamic law has been incorporated with strong logics and philosophies and the best way to find out that philosophy is by questioning – Why? Even the Holy Quran has also given answers to every possible question of human mind. These views were expressed by Dr. Jasser Auda, Deputy Director Centre for Islamic Legislation and Ethics, Qatar Foundation, while speaking in a public meeting on “Philosophy of Islamic law” on 14 February at Headquarters of Students Islamic Organisation of India in the National capital. 

He said that as far as Ta’abbudiyaat—principles related to worship the Almighty and the way in which it is being performed—are concerned we cannot rationalise it. But when it comes to implementing Shari’ah rule, which is meant for the purification of the society from the curse of evils and crimes and which is directly related to the actions of a common man, one must ask the question ‘why this specific law or what objective lie in it or whether the objective can be achieved easily through other means.’ Citing an example from the Hadith of the Prophet (S) where He has said that Miswak cleans the tooth, Dr. Auda asked whether it is necessary, even in this era, to use the same tool to brush our teeth or utilise the modern tooth-brush which has taken place of the Miswak of his time and does the same job as the Miswak did in past.