Shawki Allam Explains Role of Public Interest in Following Established Juristic Views

Egypt’s former Grand Mufti, Dr Shawki Allam, has highlighted the importance of considering legally recognised public interest when applying established views in Islamic jurisprudence.

Allam said Islamic jurisprudence rests on two main pillars when addressing emerging issues. The first, he explained, is adherence to the authoritative opinion within the schools of Islamic law when it fulfils that recognised interest.

His remarks address the question of whether an established juristic opinion may be departed from if the intended benefit is not achieved. The condition he outlined links adherence to such an opinion with the interest recognised by Islamic law.

The available summary of his remarks does not detail the second pillar or specify the circumstances in which departing from an established opinion would be permissible.