The Permissible (Mubah, Also Halal, Ja’iz)

Abstract

Whereas the preceding chapter expounded the theoretical conception of permissibility in shariah, this chapter expounds its practical manifestations. The permissible (mubah, also halal, ja’iz) is also not a monolithic concept, but rather occurs within the various types that are explained together with their legal and moral consequences and that which may be considered as totally neutral. The focus of the discussion is on the fiqh treatment of mubah as a value category, including its sources, varieties, and how it is understood by the leading schools of Islamic law. Of the three Arabic words that appear in this heading, halal and its derivatives occur more frequently in the Qur’an and hadith, whereas the fiqh literature is more inclined to employ mubah and ja’iz.