[Discussion Concerning Whether the Sacred Laws Are (Pure) Interests]

Answer – and Allah is the One who grants success: The sounder view is the first one, namely that the sacred laws are (pure) interests. What indicates this is:
– His saying, exalted is He: “He makes lawful for them the good things and forbids for them the impure.” [al-Aʿrāf:157] and His saying, exalted is He: “Say, ‘My Lord has only forbidden immoralities – what is apparent of them and what is concealed…’” [al-Aʿrāf:33]
– And His saying, exalted is He: “Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives, and He forbids immorality, bad conduct, and transgression.” [an-Naḥl:90]
– And His saying, exalted is He: “He commands them what is right and forbids them what is wrong…” [al-Aʿrāf:157]
– And His saying, exalted is He, at the end of the verse of wuḍūʾ (ablution): “Allah does not intend to place upon you any hardship, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you, that you may be grateful.” [al-Māʾidah:6]
– And it is not hidden that the laws of transactions are built upon intelligible interests.
– And modern science has discovered many of the secrets, wisdoms, and interests upon which the legal rulings were built.
- And furthermore, it has been established that Allah, exalted is He, is All-Knowing, Just, Wise, Rich (Free of need), not in need of anything. This necessitates that Allah, exalted is He, does not burden His servants with acts for which they have no interest or benefit in performing.
Clarification of that:
– Allah, exalted is He, is free of need with respect to the acts and deeds of His servants, not in need of them at all, and He knows that He is independent of them.
– And Allah, exalted is He, is Wise; and it befits the Wise that no command issues from Him in which there is no wisdom and no interest – otherwise He would not be Wise.

Source: Min Thimār al-ʿIlm wa al-Ḥikmah vol.3