Influence of Islamic Legislation on Good Life

Abstract

     The current study,  "Influence of Islamic Legislation on Good Life" (al-Ḥayāt al-Ṭayyibah), addresses the intended meaning of the good life — defined as a life in which a person fulfills legitimate desires, refrains from committing sins, and seeks the pleasure of Allah Almighty. Opinions of select scholars regarding the nature of the good life are examined, and this study inclines toward the position that it encompasses both present life and the hereafter, substantiated through transmitted and rational evidences. Several means conducive to attaining the good life are identified, and it emerges that these are embedded in juridical rulings established by Islamic law as derived by scholars across successive generations.

Islamic legislation is identified as falling into two categories:

First: Direct Divine Legislation — its source being Glorious Quran. This requires sound selection among exegetical opinions of Quranic commentators, specifically those interpretations from which correct and valid juridical rulings may be properly derived.

Second: Indirect Divine Legislation — comprising what was issued by Noble Messenger (peace be upon him), as well as what was transmitted from members of his progeny (Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them). However, no instance from this source may be adopted without rigorous scrutiny of authenticity of its chain of transmission and textual content, in a manner analogous to the verification of sound exegetical opinion conforming to substance of Glorious Quran.

    Furthermore, the selected  jurisprudential models , as presented here, realize the good life across ethical, devotional, and judicial domains — all oriented, in their higher objectives, toward achieving the good life in both present world and the hereafter.