Maqaid al-Shariah and effects of their negligence on religious extremism : a case study of Boko haram of Nigeria

Abstract EN

It is imperative to know that Allah didn’t create man except for specific goals and aims, nor did He send down His prophets except for performing special duties and functions.

Likewise, for the rulings of the Shariah, there are aimed objectives and noble goals.

Knowing these objectives will certainly aid the human beings to understand and implement the Shariah rulings, while being ignorant of them will cause the misunderstanding and violation of them.

Maqāsid al-Shari’āh, are the aims and objectives behind the legislation of Islamic rulings.

Scholars in the past and present discussed these objectives in their books, which will always remain as an important heritage for Islamic Shariah.

It has also been proven that religious extremism and worldwide terrorism, which mankind observes in the present times could be linked to the ignorance or negligence of the higher objectives of Islamic law.

The Boko Harām sect in Nigeria suffices as a case study on this claim.

This paper discusses the concept, kinds, areas and examples of the Maqāsid as discussed by classical and modern scholars of the field.

And at the end, it will discuss the effects of neglecting these objectives that have been occurring in the sect of Boko Haram.

The research methods employed in this research are historical and analytical.

Some recommendations are given in concluding the work.