ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Jurisprudence and Its Principles Translator's Introduction In the Name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate The importance of the holy Shari'ah of Islam is crucial. By means of it, human beings know exactly how to live in harmony with his or her Creator, with the rest of mankind, and with the rest of creation.

If we look at the proceedings of the material universe, we realize that the planets and forces of nature are all bound by fixed laws that ensure the material creation's symmetry. The animal world is also bound by such laws, and, even though animals are motivated only by their natural, "base", "worldly", "material" instincts, they too contribute to the symmetry and harmony of this planet. The world of human beings, however, is a general exception to these observations.

Reflection on the proceedings and the methods of human beings in the world shows that they are in no way in harmony with the symmetry of the universe around them. On the contrary, it shows them to be all but striving to disturb and disrupt that symmetry.

To the religiously minded, therefore, it should come as no surprise that God has provided, for those of His human creatures who desire to worship Him and serve Him, an orderly system whereby their lives can match the order and symmetry of the rest of creation, especially when it is borne in-mind that, now and in the future more than ever, the symmetry of the rest of creation depends on symmetry in the life of human beings.

That is, if human beings do not quickly adopt the system wherein lies the means of their life becoming orderly, the system which Islam calls the Shari'ah, much of the order of the creation will vanish. The Shari'ah of Islam in as much as it is a Shari'ah, or a system of legislation is not particular to Islam; rather in its earlier stages it was a part of the other divinely-founded religions.

Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, upon them all be peace, were all commanded to convey to their followers the Shari'ah that had been perfected to the point suitable for their respective times and locations. The Shari'ah of Islam is particular to Islam, however, in that it was entrusted to the Holy Prophet for him and his followers to follow, and in that it will remain unchanged and binding on God's servants until the day of judgment.

In the Qur’an, the Holy Prophet, and, tacitly, mankind, is told: " Then we placed you on a Shari'ah of the affair (religion), so follow it.