---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today, the problem is that most…"
description: "\"“Today, the problem is that most contemporary proponents of the Shariah overlook these historical circumstances and insist on a literal implementation ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/mustafa-akyol-15064_goals_today-the-problem-is-that-most-contempor_1412352.png"
---

#  Today, the problem is that most contemporary proponents of…

![“Today, the problem is that most contemporary proponents of the Shariah overlook these historical circumstances and insist on a literal implementation that does not pay attention to its purposes. Imam al-Shatibi in the fourteenth century had sorted out the purposes, or “higher objectives,” of the…” quote by Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/mustafa-akyol-15064_goals_today-the-problem-is-that-most-contempor_1412352.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/mustafa-akyol-15064_goals_today-the-problem-is-that-most-contempor_1412352.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/mustafa-akyol-15064_goals_today-the-problem-is-that-most-contempor_1412352.png)

> ““Today, the problem is that most contemporary proponents of the Shariah overlook these historical circumstances and insist on a literal implementation that does not pay attention to its purposes. Imam al-Shatibi in the fourteenth century had sorted out the purposes, or “higher objectives,” of the Shariah, listing them simply as the protection of five fundamental values: life, religion, property, progeny, and the intellect.””

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote argues that modern Shariah advocates ignore its historical context and aim for literal application, whereas Imam al‑Shatibi identified its higher objectives as protecting five core values.

**In simple terms:** Modern Shariah is often applied without considering its original purposes, which are to safeguard life, faith, wealth, lineage, and intellect.

Key Takeaway

Apply Shariah with awareness of its protective goals.

Themes

law religion ethics history interpretation

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

theoretical policy‑oriented

When to use this quote

- legal reform
- interfaith dialogue
- educational curricula
- community governance

Key Concepts

Maqasid al‑Shariah jurisprudence public policy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies balance traditional law with modern values?
- What mechanisms ensure Shariah serves its protective purposes today?

A Different Perspective

Literalist approaches may clash with contemporary human rights standards.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/)

## Related quotes

> [“What is needed, then, is a rule of law whose purpose is to protect not the ruler or a privileged class but the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/what-is-needed-then-is-a-rule-of-law-whose-purpose-is-to-protect-not/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [“Other problems in the Shariah, such as misogyny, come from the fact that Islamic law incorporated a great many medieval attitudes, customs, and traditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/other-problems-in-the-shariah-such-as-misogyny-come-from-the-fact/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [“Moreover, unlike the classical period, in which the Shariah was a check on the powers of the executive, it now became an instrument of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/moreover-unlike-the-classical-period-in-which-the-shariah-was-a-check/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [The Shariah has many other functions but also protects the tarqiah; it protects the spiritual path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/the-shariah-has-many-other-functions-but-also-protects-the-tarqiah-it/)

[Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/)

> [Since the uprisings in the Middle East many scholars have come out saying that freedom comes first before the Shariah. There is also something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/since-the-uprisings-in-the-middle-east-many-scholars-have-come-out/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [So we want an Islamic state where Islamic law is not just in the books but enforced, and enforced with determination. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-bakar-bashir/so-we-want-an-islamic-state-where-islamic-law-is-not-just-in-the/)

[Abu Bakar Bashir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-bakar-bashir/)

> [“Now, we must understand that the real object of the Shariah is to discipline human beings in such a way that they may make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maulana-ashraf-ali-thanvi/now-we-must-understand-that-the-real-object-of-the-shariah-is-to/)

Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi

> [The earliest language was body language and, since this language is the language of questions, if we limit the questions, and if we only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/the-earliest-language-was-body-language-and-since-this-language-is/)

[Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/)

> [Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-attention-to-where-you-pay/)

[Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/)

> [If you want a Real Man sit up straight close your legs and pay attention :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/if-you-want-a-real-man-sit-up-straight-close-your-legs-and-pay/)

Frenchqueen

> [There is a nationwide shortage of drugs for Attention Deficit Disorder. The FDA says they're not sure how it happened. I guess somebody wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/there-is-a-nationwide-shortage-of-drugs-for-attention-deficit/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Only two to three per cent of an audience is interested in words and pays attention to lyrics; most of the rest of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stewart/only-two-to-three-per-cent-of-an-audience-is-interested-in-words-and/)

[Al Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stewart/)

> [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [Ripped across tha ditch, settled in dirt... Wear you like a stitch, yet I'm the one who's hurt... Pay attention to your twisted lil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ctate-sk/ripped-across-tha-ditch-settled-in-dirt-wear-you-like-a-stitch-yet-i/)

CTate SK

> [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/)

[Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/)

## More by Mustafa Akyol

> [“Gerber, who studied seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Ottoman court decisions, points to examples of Ottoman muftis (official jurists) who, despite being paid by the government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/gerber-who-studied-seventeenth-and-eighteenth-century-ottoman-court/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [“As Islamic liberalism waned, and resistance arose against the West and its influence, that very resistance started to replace genuine religiosity as the basis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/as-islamic-liberalism-waned-and-resistance-arose-against-the-west-and/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [I think forcing people to uncover their head is as tyrannical as forcing them to cover it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/i-think-forcing-people-to-uncover-their-head-is-as-tyrannical-as/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [“The medieval Islamic world . . . offered vastly more freedom than any of its predecessors, its contemporaries and most of its successors. —Bernard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/the-medieval-islamic-world-offered-vastly-more-freedom-than-any-of/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [“According to Gerber, the Shariah principle here was unmistakably individualist: “The rights of the state are depicted as opposed to the rights of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/according-to-gerber-the-shariah-principle-here-was-unmistakably/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [“Moreover, unlike the classical period, in which the Shariah was a check on the powers of the executive, it now became an instrument of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/moreover-unlike-the-classical-period-in-which-the-shariah-was-a-check/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [Turkey has never been colonized, so it remained as an independent nation after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/turkey-has-never-been-colonized-so-it-remained-as-an-independent/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [The Qur'an not only lacks any earthly punishment for someone who abandons Islam, it even includes verses that imply that such a change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/the-qur-an-not-only-lacks-any-earthly-punishment-for-someone-who/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [“The Qur’an promoted work and trade and defined commercial profit as “God’s bounty.”38 The Prophet, himself a merchant, is on the record with such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/the-qur-an-promoted-work-and-trade-and-defined-commercial-profit-as/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [In the 19th century, when Muslims were looking at Europe as an example, they were independent; they were more self-confident. In the early 20th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/in-the-19th-century-when-muslims-were-looking-at-europe-as-an-example/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [“The Prophet brought a message relevant for all ages, in other words, but he lived a life of his own age.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/the-prophet-brought-a-message-relevant-for-all-ages-in-other-words/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [“Other problems in the Shariah, such as misogyny, come from the fact that Islamic law incorporated a great many medieval attitudes, customs, and traditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/other-problems-in-the-shariah-such-as-misogyny-come-from-the-fact/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [“The Christians’ “exaggerated fear of sex” continued until modern times, whereas Islamdom remained more sex-friendly until, again, modern times. Even the more conservative scholars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/the-christians-exaggerated-fear-of-sex-continued-until-modern-times/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [“Some liberal theorists have seen a parallelism between this function of Islamic law and the “natural law” tradition of Europe, on which the liberal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/some-liberal-theorists-have-seen-a-parallelism-between-this-function/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

> [The Arab Spring has heightened the ideological tension between Ankara and Tehran, and Turkey's model seems to be winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/the-arab-spring-has-heightened-the-ideological-tension-between-ankara/)

[Mustafa Akyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

[Explore all 44 Mustafa Akyol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/)

## More Goals quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/)

[Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/)

[Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/)

> [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/)

[John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/)

> [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/)

[Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/)

[Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/)

> [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/)

[C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/)

[Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Today, the problem is that most contemporary proponents of the Shariah overlook these historical circumstances and insist on a literal implementation that does not pay attention to its purposes. Imam al-Shatibi in the fourteenth century had sorted out the purposes, or “higher objectives,” of the Shariah, listing them simply as the protection of five fundamental values: life, religion, property, progeny, and the intellect.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mustafa Akyol"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/today-the-problem-is-that-most-contemporary-proponents-of-the-shariah/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Goals"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/today-the-problem-is-that-most-contemporary-proponents-of-the-shariah/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/mustafa-akyol-15064_goals_today-the-problem-is-that-most-contempor_1412352.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/mustafa-akyol-15064_goals_today-the-problem-is-that-most-contempor_1412352.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/mustafa-akyol-15064_goals_today-the-problem-is-that-most-contempor_1412352.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Today, the problem is that most contemporary proponents of the Shariah overlook these historical…” — Mustafa Akyol",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mustafa Akyol",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-akyol/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Today, the problem is that most...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/today-the-problem-is-that-most-contemporary-proponents-of-the-shariah/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-akyol/today-the-problem-is-that-most-contemporary-proponents-of-the-shariah/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
