Khalid Zaheer
“I am convinced about the veracity of my opinions, but I do consider it likely that they may turn out to be incorrect. Likewise, I am convinced about the incorrectness of the views different from mine, but I do concede the possibility that they may turn out to be correct.” — Imam Shafa’i
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The Importance of Logic in following Islamic Injunctions

Question:
Do we need to follow the injunctions of Islam even when we don't understand the logic behind them?

Response:
Indeed whatever the Almighty asks us to do has some logic behind it. In many cases, He lets us know of it. In others, we have to dig it out. However, after we have accepted the Almighty as our Creator and the prophet, alaihissalaam, as our guide - His sole representative to let us know of His will - we have to follow whatever we get from the prophet.

Having said that, I must emphasize that what the prophet, alaihissalaam, has given us is found in the Qur'an, the sunnah, and ahadith. Some part of what we find in these sources is binding, some is optional, some was only meant for the time when it was mentioned, and some had nothing to do with religion. It is, therefore, an important task for all Muslims to know what is religiously binding in the message we have received from the prophet, alaihissalaam, and what is not. We can differ with each other in deciding about these matters. Nobody has a right to doubt the intentions of others when it comes to the question of 'who understands what' in religion.

However, my understanding is that knowing the logic behind an injunction of shari'ah is not a necessary condition for one to follow it. If we know for sure that God Almighty has required us to do a certain act, we have to do it. Until very recently, I didn't know the reason why the meat of pig was prohibited. However, I had to stay away from consuming it despite my lack of understanding.

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