One of the categories of maslaha or human needs that corresponds to basic necessities of life, including food, shelter, clothes, education and health care. Shari’a scholars are of the opinion that basis necessities are not limited to those designed to secure the Muslim’s physical existence but also encompass those that are key to protect faith (din or aqeedah), progeny (nasl), intellect (aql), and property (mulkiyah)/ wealth (mal). In general, the assurance of the essentials is “one of the first objectives of the religion of Islam”*. Dharuriyyat (pl. of dharurah) are vital for the proper administering of divine and earthly-bound affairs of Muslims such that if not satisfied, normal order in society will be disrupted and malfunctioning.
* Al-Ghazali, Al-Iqtisad fil I’etiqad.
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