Legal Basis of the Maxim “Necessity Renders Prohibited Things Lawful” and Scope of Its Applications
This work intends to review the legal basis of the maxim “al-Ḍarūrātu tubīḥ almaḥẓūrāt” (Necessity renders prohibited things lawful) and the scope of itsapplications. The work started by defining the concept of maxim and its classification.The maxim, al-Ḍarūrātu tubīḥ al-maḥẓūrāt (Necessity renders prohibited things lawful)is introduced as well as its meaning and legal basis. Conditions required for theapplication of the maxim was also presented with necessary examples. These conditionswill safeguard against any abuse in the application of the maxim. Using inductive,doctrinal and hermeneutical methodologies, the authors have attempted to reviewseveral applications of the maxim in both classical and contemporary matters. Thefinding of the works is that it is not objective of Islam to create difficulty to its followersand that in cases of necessity things that are otherwise prohibited can be legalised. Theresearch concluded by recommended that in fatwas, implications of the maxim alongwith its conditions should be taken into cognizance in order to not to create difficultyto Muslims nor fall into the slippery slope of extending the maxim beyond its legalscope of applications.  

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