Ali Engineer, Asghar2019-09-252019-09-252012-01-12http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/182646"As time passes new challenges arise, and it is only the spirit of ijtihad which can keep the Sharia dynamic and enable it to meet new challenges. A stagnant law becomes a burden for the people rather than resulting in their welfare. That is why reform movements became necessary from time to time. In the 19-20th centuries radically new situations arose and many eminent Islamic thinkers launched reform movements. Jamaluddin Afghani, Mohammed Abduh, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Mohammed Iqbal were among them. What is most important in the Sharia is the principles and values given by the Quran. If we keep that in mind and protect these principles and values the real spirit of Sharia would not be injured even if certain necessary changes were made to applicable laws. However, we have often ignored these principles and values and made mediaeval formulation more central and rigid in their application. It was like throwing the baby out with the bathwater."(PG 2)engWith permission of the license/copyright holderIslamic ethicslawjusticeijtihadPolitical ethicsReligious ethicsEthics of lawRights based legal ethicsGovernance and ethicsSpirituality and ethicsPreprint