The Fixed Religious Text and the Changing Reality

Ali Hatam Al-Alawi

Summary

The interplay between constancy and change represents a dynamic dialectic that has emerged, even among those within religious contexts, significantly influencing their approach to interpreting religious texts. In some cases, this perspective has led to the excessive generalization of change across the entire legislative system, leaving no fixed foundation to rely upon. This, in turn, undermines the establishment of a stable legal framework capable of addressing human needs and contributing to both personal development and collective progress. To prevent such distortion, it is essential to articulate the relationship between change and the principle of constancy that underpins doctrinal, ethical, and legislative domains. This balanced approach allows change to enhance the legislative system rather than destabilize it. We have established that the stability of legislative principles remains intact from their inception until the Day of Judgment. Change, however, is limited to specific cases, such as the evolving perception of societal customs concerning particular issues or the reclassification of topics under different legal rulings due to shifts in time, place, and social context. These adaptations arise from changes in the environment and societal structures but should not be misconstrued as alterations to the foundational legal framework.

Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)