Practicality in the Shariah

As science advances, it's incorporation into the Shariah may seem natural. Some examples would include detecting haram elements in food and drink such as alcohol and animal DNA, the calculation of astronomical movements for prayer times and the start and end of Islamic months, and paternity / maternity tests. In an effort to make things easier or "more accurate", scientific advancements or our current understanding of the natural world are sometimes applied. However, does this result in helping us "stay true" to our religion? Or does it cause confusion for the masses? Can science be used to over-rule some standing laws in the Shariah - or not?

In truth, instead of making things easier for Muslims, sometimes mis-applying science can cause more trouble: opening the door for waswasah. Islam is a practical religion, and while it may seem natural to include science when considering the Shariah, this should not always be the case, and this idea should be reconsidered. The Shariah is first, foremost and primarily based on the Qur'an and Sunnah. Other considerations like science is - and will always be - secondary. From a fiqh perspective, science is not even considered a secondary source of fiqh; it only plays a supporting role. Does this mean that Islam is "backward" for "rejecting" science? No. Rather, like we mentioned before, Islam is based on practicality.

Take for example, the issue of food. While rigorous tests and halal accreditations exist, they only serve as a source of reassurance for Muslims. But they are not absolute, nor exclusive. And that is to say, it does not mean all non-Halal-certified food is haram, nor will all Halal-certified food be absolutely Halal. There is a high chance that Muslims have unknowingly consumed alcohol, or haram meat-derivatives in their lives. And from the Shariah point of view, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, because it was not on purpose. I mean its very probable that somehow it found it's way into our food. Even bread or fruits for example, may naturally contain minute levels of alcohol. Does that mean we need to go around testing everything we eat? Absolutely not! Nowhere in Islam are we allowed to have such a level of scrutiny. Rather, it will be merely giving in to the waswasah of Shaytan, who tricks us into making our lives as Muslims difficult, until we abandon it all together. And we seek refuge in Allah from that.

And using this story, take the use of paternity tests as another practical example:

A couple had been married for 10 years, having 3 children. Both parents sacrificed much and raised their children lovingly. But a fated day came when, perhaps out of guilt, the wife confessed to her husband that she had an affair for 5 years during their marriage, and that all of their children were not biologically his. Devastated, the father divorced his wife, and performed a paternity test on all his children. Unfortunately, his greatest fear came true: none of them were his. Shortly after the divorce, and still distraught, he stopped giving his children the love that they deserved because he felt that they didn't "belong" to him. As such, the lives of all 5 of them were ruined.

Now, had the father not done a paternity test, he would still have been their "father". Under Shariah, all of them belong to him, and their biological father would have no claim on them whatsoever. Even if he had chosen to divorce his wife, he will still be able to raise the children with love - as a father would. And for the wife, had she have knowledge of the Shariah, she should have taken her secret to the grave, for it would have saved their marriage - and for declaring herself an adulterer, is now liable for being stoned to death.

Allah is the All-Knowledgeable. He knows every molecule of unlawful food in what you eat, every molecule of najasah on you when you pray, and every molecule that you swallow when you fast. But He wishes for His religion to be easy. And to be practical is from ease. Rather than reverting to scientific details, over-depending on accreditations and listening to the whispers of Shaytan, we should refer back to our scholars for guidance on such technical, everyday issues. To be clear of doubt would suffice (following the maxim that doubt does not overrule certainty). And this is not a "liberal" or "relaxed" point of view. Rather, it is the correct middle path.

And Allah knows best.

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