The Purpose of Self-Preservation in the "Jurisprudence of Waters"

Summary

This book presents a study in jurisprudence of purposes of Islamic law (fiqh al-maqāṣid) with focus on demonstrating the purpose of “self-preservation” in the jurisprudence of water, and in motivating a renewal in the study of jurisprudence of water in a way that contributes to fulfilling the purpose of “self-preservation” in the reality of contemporary societies.
In this book, the author answered the difficult and vexing question posed to qualified experts regarding the explanatory proverbs/examples in both juristic and maqāṣid teaching; the question being: why did these explanatory proverbs/examples in the area of water remain without renewal or change for so many centuries? What is the basis for continuing to reference these even today, without addition, reduction, or amendment, despite the fundamental changes occurring in social, economic, political, legislative, and cultural life?
The reader will also find that the author has intentionally drawn attention to an area that has not received worthy attention from contemporary researchers, i.e. the area lying between purposes (maqāṣid) and jurisprudence (fiqh). Furthermore, that jurisprudence is obliged to serve, and be governed by maqāṣid, and not rule over them, at both theoretical and practical levels. In addition, he intended to open the door to juristic effort (ijtihād) and renewal (tajdīd) in the jurisprudence of water in its contemporary elements, applying the standards of the universal purposes (al-maqāṣid al-‘āmah) of Islamic law that promote the right to liberty, glorify the right to life, and grant due care to collective communal benefits, with wisdom and vision, and without fear or leniency.