SEPANG: The principles espoused in the Maqasid Syariah (the most important objectives of Syariah) concept were used by the government as the guiding principles in mobilising its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the decision by Perikatan Nasional administration to introduce and enforce several proactive measures including the implementation of the various phases of the Movement Control Order (MCO) to break the transmission chain within the community was proof of such application.
The measures, he said, had helped the government protect many people in the country from being infected by the deadly virus and that this was in line with the protection of life which was one of the five principles promoted by Maqasid Syariah.
"Following increasing number of confirmed cases as well as fatalities during the peak of the pandemic, the community certainly understands the importance of the principles of protecting lives.
"As a responsible leader, it is the duty of the government that is concerned over the wellbeing of the rakyat to prevent the spread of this dangerous outbreak which could result in the death of the people if it was left unchecked.
"On the surface, it is not visible that the principles of Maqasid Syariah had became the framework that guided the response by government against Covid-19.
"But in reality, Maqasid Syariah are the guiding principles in mobilising the efforts by the government in battling the pandemic," he said, in his speech at the opening of the Syariah Nusantara Law and Judiciary Conference 2020 here today.
Present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Balkri, his deputy Ahmad Marzuk Shaary, Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman and Syariah Judiciary Department Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar, who is also Chief Judge at the department.
The theme of the three-day conference, which will end on Thursday, is "The Application of Maqasid Al-Syariah Towards Embracing the New Norms in the Syariah Legal and Judiciary System".
The adoption of technology is promoted in embracing the new norms campaign, which is meant to mitigate the risk of the virus transmission while at the same time ensures the administration of the Islamic Judiciary system in the country could proceed as usual, which is also in line with one of the principles of Maqasid Syariah.
"In my opinion, the experience we had gained from the Covid-19 pandemic episode showed that the use of technology had become compulsory.
"Without technology, the administration of the Islamic judicial system can be hampered, which in turn, will prevent the implementation of justice as demanded by in our religion," he said.
The decision by the government to resume Friday and congregational prayers under strict adherence of the standard operating procedures during the Recovery MCO, he said, is also in line with the "hifzu al-din" (protection of religion) principle of the Maqasid Syariah.
"Although mosques and suraus are allowed to conduct congregational or Friday prayers, members of the congregation are required to comply with the new norms.
"This is to ensure those coming to the mosque to perform the prayer are not exposed to Covid-19."