Islam Protects Five Things

Islam came to safeguard five necessities (Ad-Darooriyyaat Al-Khams), known as the maqaasid of as-shariah, signifying the objectives of Shariah. These five categories are comprehensive, and any Islamic ruling can be categorized under one or more of these five.

1. Religion – This category encompasses all aspects of worship, such as prayers (salah) and remembrance of Allāh (dhikr). ¹
2. Life – Islam underscores the sanctity of life, with the Noble Qurʾān explicitly forbidding the killing of innocent individuals, prohibition of magic. Strict punishments, such as compensating the victim's family or imposing capital punishment, serve as deterrents against transgressing this fundamental principle. ^{2 3 4 5}
3. Honour – Islam safeguards the dignity and honor of individuals through various measures such as promoting modesty, advocating for the use of hijab, controlling the gaze, prohibiting gambling, and prohibiting the consumption of alcohol etc. ^{6 7 8}
4. Lineage – In Islam, recognizing and preserving lineage is a fundamental right of every child. This is achieved by prohibiting adultery (zinaa) and implementing various measures. For instance, in cases of adoption, it is necessary to ensure that adopted children are attributed to their biological father, emphasizing the importance of maintaining true lineage over foster relationships. ⁹
5. Wealth – Islam safeguards wealth by prohibiting usury (ribaa) and enforcing strict punishments, such as cutting off the hand of a thief. This is evident in societies that implement Shariah, like Saudi Arabia, where shopkeepers feel secure leaving their shops open unattended while they attend mosque prayers. ^{10 11}

Ibrahim Ibn Al-Shatibi wrote about the five fundamental necessities and their supportive evidence

The Muslim nation - or rather all nations - has collectively agreed on the fact that the shariah aims at the preservation of the five necessities, which are: religion, life, mind, offspring and property. Knowledge of this is an essential part of religion. This was not established through a specific textual evidence; rather, it was known to conform to the shariah through numerous pieces of evidence that cannot possibly be listed in one chapter.

Al-Muwafaqat Fi Usul Al-Sharai'a by Imam Ibrahim Ibn Al-Shatibi (d. 790 A.H)