Harmonising Methodological Approaches Through Maqasid

Abstract

The historical development of the different schools (mazhab) of Islamic jurisprudence is an exemplary instance of ‘harmony in diversity’, both in the realms of scholarship and society. The diversity of opinions among the schools of thought stemmed from different methodological preferences, variances in legal resources, and case-specific circumstances. This article suggests that, despite their diverse and sometimes conflicting views on various Islamic juridical issues, the different schools maintained a degree of harmony between themselves because they shared a common goal: to achieve the higher purposes of Shari’ah (maqasid al-Shari’ah). Hence, this article explores the meeting points embedded in the inter-school perspective via the framework of maqasid al-Shari’ah. It aims to explain the historical discourse of the multiple schools and its inspiring example with regard to harmony and mutual respect.