Islam Rediscovered
13. The Shariah and Its Application
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The background to the revelation provides the
answer. All the injunctions in the Quran have been
revealed on specific occasions. The traditions
dealing with the background of the verses tell us
which injunction was revealed on which occasion.
In this way, by a study of the background of the
verses, we can discover the first application of the
Quranic injunctions. And when the first application
is properly understood, having an exact knowledge
of the second application is greatly facilitated. A
proper understanding of the first application paves
the way for total correctness in the second
application.
Now what we have to do is, whenever we find
ourselves in any set of circumstances calling for
Quranic solutions, we must make a thorough study
of the traditions dealing with the background of the
verses. This will enable us to discover which of the
verses were revealed in the Quran (that is, which
injunction was given to them on that occasion)
when the companions of the Prophet were faced
with the same set of circumstances. In this way it is
the element of
similarity
between the two situations
which guides us as to which verse or verses are
