New Delhi: A symposium on Maqasid al-Shariah was organised at Iran Culture House here under the guidance of Agha Mehdi Mahdavipour and Cultural Counselor Dr. Fareed Asr. The event brought together several Sunni and Shia scholars to explore shared values within the framework of Islamic law. Distinguished attendees from Iran included Ayatollah Syed Abu al-Hasan Nawab, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Religions and Denominations, Hujjat al-Islam Moballeghi, and Hujjat al-Islam Abu al-Qasim Alidoust.
Agha Mehdi Mahdavipour welcomed the guests, emphasising that Islamic law is purpose-driven, just as every creation in the universe serves a definitive objective. He noted that scholars have long debated the objectives of Shariah, resulting in thousands of scholarly works on the subject.
In their addresses, Mufti Muhammad Qasim Bijnori and Maulana Taqi Barqai discussed the principles of jurisprudence and the importance of understanding the objectives of Shariah as distinct from its rules. They stressed that the unity of the Muslim community can only be achieved by aligning with these objectives – obedience to Allah and following the Prophet being the ultimate goals.
Dr. Husaini warned against the misuse of Shariah objectives for personal or ideological purposes and highlighted the need for scholars to clarify its meanings in legal, social, and philosophical contexts. He also referenced Islamic literature courses that explore the eternal and universal nature of Shariah.
Other speakers, including Mufti Shakir Rahmani, Ayatollah Ali Doust, and Mufti Rizwan Qasmi, emphasised that divine laws are aligned with human nature and remain unchangeable. Ayatollah Moballeghi provided in-depth insights on the topic.
The session was moderated by Maulana Mehdi Baqir Khan.
