while the rest is waived, and whatever lies beyond his capacity is excused; the examples of this are far too numerous to list.

Likewise, whatever people genuinely need has not been declared unlawful for them. Even the repugnant things that He has prohibited incur no sin when a servant is driven to them, for dire necessity renders both standing and incidental prohibitions permissible. Yet necessity is gauged strictly according to its measure, in order to reduce harm; thus, in cases of true need, forbidden foods, drinks, clothing, and the like become temporarily lawful.

Another maxim states: al-umūr bi-maqāṣidi-hā (matters are judged by their objectives). This applies to acts of worship as well as to commercial dealings. The prohibition of unlawful legal stratagems is grounded in this principle, as is the rule that ambiguous or euphemistic wording is interpreted in light of explicit statements—instances of this are exceedingly numerous.

A further maxim declares: yakhtāru aʿlā al-maṣlaḥatayn, wa yartakibu akhaffa al-mafsadatayn ʿinda tazāḥum (when benefits compete, one chooses the higher of the two; when harms clash, one bears the lesser). A wide array of legal rulings is built upon this major principle.