The Role of the Nation-State in Preserving the Five Essential Objectives of Islamic Law:

The United Arab Emirates as a Contemporary Model

Hasan Al-Mansoori

 

Abstract: This article critically evaluates the implementation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of the five objectives of Islamic law (Masjid al-Shari’ah al-Khammash), also known as the five universals (Kulliyyah), or the five necessities (Darūriyāt), namely, the preservation of (al-Din), life (al-Nafs), intellect (al-ʿAql), wealth (al-Māl), and lineage (al-Nasl). The collective aim of preservation and application of these Maqāsid al-Shari’ah, as viewed by Islamic legal scholars, intellectuals and politicians, is to safeguard human life and regulate society in a manner that effectuates justice and stability. This article argues that in the modern era, the nation-state, as exemplified by the United Arab Emirates, stands out as the entity responsible for safeguarding these necessities and ensuring their fulfilment through its various departments and institutions. The article concludes that despite an advanced legislative framework, various factors, including the rapid turn toward digitalisation, technological advancement and virtual spaces, have exposed individuals, especially younger generations, to risks that undermine the Maqāsid al-Shari’ah.