Converts and Immigrants in the West may benefit from understanding Islam through its Maqasid (Objectives). Using Maqasid allows us to examine Islam through its order of priorities. It’s like the idea of leaving an Optional Deed for an Obligatory Deed.

The Maqasid Shari’a that began developing around 1100 years ago state that Islam seeks to establish Allah’s Rahma through the Preservation of 5 thing: Deen, Life, Intellect, Lineage, and Property (Material Bounties)

It’s also like imagining that Allah ta’ala is Looking upon us: WHAT DOES HE PREFER US TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW ? The Qur’an gives us some hints, as some ayaat actually DEFINE the purpose of life for humanity, define Rasulullah’s objectives, and define what makes us Khair-ul-Umoom.

It’s also like understanding WHY Rasulullah postponed the Muslim right to make Hajj, accepted the Truce of Hudeybiya, continued his Da’wa, kept the peace, and Allah gave the Great Victory just a couple years later.

For my own actions and decisions, I prioritize my life according to 3 Maqasid by saying: “I must seek Allah’s Rida by 1) Opening the Doors of Islam for Humanity, 2) Building a Community that Secures the Mumineen and Preserves Islam, and 3) Adopting the Obedience of Allah and the Sunnah of Rasulullah for my own Rectification.

These 3 maqasid give me the a great sense of purpose through which I must always be making effort, and it allows me to prioritize my time and the spending of my assets.

It can be beneficial to read a concise and well-written book of Seera, like The Sealed Nectar, but looking at it to recognize Rasulullah’s Objectives and Wisdom.

Once Muslims adopt Objectives, then 1 Million questions become minor issues. It will take time for Muslims to develop a strong sense of identity. By focusing on the Maqasid of Deen, we can activate ourselves in the Service of Allah, while allowing minor issues and differences to be erased and forgotten, inshs Allah. IMO

Thank you all for your comments.

A fair few of the comments are answered (whether in my favour or Shaykh Abul Hasan’s) elsewhere in the four parts of the article.

The event referred to in the fourth part with Professor Jackson and Shaykh Akram Nadwi is available at the following link:

http://islamiccourses.org/courses/thewest/

Great analysis and I appreciate your incorporating Dr. Jackson’s work.Your conclusions remind me of Dr. Umar’s essay “Islam and the Cultural Imperative” from which I quote below:

“In history, Islam showed itself to be culturally friendly and, in that regard, has been likened to a crystal clear river. Its waters (Islam) are pure, sweet, and life-giving but—having no color of their own—reflect the bedrock (indigenous culture)over which they flow. In China, Islam looked Chinese; in Mali, it looked African. Sustained cultural relevance to distinct peoples, diverse places, and different times underlay Islam’s long success as a global civilization. The religion became not only functional and familiar at the local level but dynamically engaging, fostering stable indigenous Muslim identities and allowing Muslims to put down deep roots and make lasting contributions wherever they went” (p.1-2).

EXACTLY! Mashallah…Final analysis of the Shaykhs writings is spot on accurate! Some good and relevant, some not so good and/or irrelevant and some needing updating to current realities, deeper intellectual depth and more nuanced paradigms!