Islamic Jurisprudence in Confronting Epidemics: A Jurisprudential Study in Light of the Higher Objectives of Islamic Law

Abstract

Pandemics and health crises represent among the gravest trials confronting human societies. Islamic jurisprudence has historically engaged these crises through a comprehensive methodology grounded in scriptural analysis, higher objectives of Islamic law (maqasid), and the principle of preventing harm. The COVID-19 pandemic reignited scholarly attention to this rich jurisprudential heritage and posed unprecedented challenges requiring extensive legal reasoning from jurists and Islamic jurisprudence councils worldwide.

This comprehensive study presents a systematic examination of Islamic jurisprudence in pandemic management, covering: historical frameworks from the Prophetic era to modern times; foundational legal principles and objectives governing pandemic responses; rulings on acts of worship, transactions, and family law during epidemics; and the jurisprudential analysis of mandatory vaccination, quarantine, and medical decision-making.