The Principle of Raf` al-Haraj (Removing Hardship) and its Contemporary Applications in the Field of Worship

Abstract

This dissertation addresses the issue of removing the embarrassment from mature persons in the Islamic law. This Islamic law is characterized with forgiveness، convenience and easiness، unlike the previous religious laws. Also، it includes the removal of embarrassment in the matters of worship acts. It adopts the inductive and analytical approach in the contemporary applications in the matters of worship acts. The aim of the analytical study is to study the jurisprudential issues of worship acts in their contemporary reality and the impact of their relation to the modern technological aspects and issues of embarrassment removal from mature persons. This study will lead to a sound understanding for the rule of embarrassment removal in its contemporary applications. These applications include embarrassment removal in combining times of obligatory prayers for the people with excuses such as patients and people with emergency professions. They realize the principle of confidence in Zakat institutions in collecting Zakat and disbursing it to the beneficiaries so that the embarrassment is removed from those who are obliged to pay Zakat and those who deserve to need Zakah fund. Also، it seeks to remove the embarrassment from the patient who cannot perform obligatory fasting. The Islamic ruling giver (Mufti) can give his decision based on the specialist’s report about the patient’s inability of performing fasting. In addition، the embarrassment is removed from those who cannot perform Hajj and Umrah if he certainly thinks that he may be prevented from entering the holy land by any obstacle. This study concluded that it is necessary to consider the contemporary applications in removing embarrassment in the issues of obligatory prayers; and the medical matters relating to obligatory fasting; the Zakah and its disbursement; and entering the Holy lands for Hajj.