The Wisdom of Gradual Reform

TAQLID AND IJTIHAD were the detailed chapters, which contained descriptions of Paradise and Hell. It was only after people’s hearts had settled in Islam that verses concerning halal and haram (lawful and unlawful) were revealed. Aisha said, “Had the first thing to be revealed been: ‘Do not drink wine,’ they would have said, ‘We will never give up wine.’ And had it been revealed, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ they would have said, ‘We will never give up adultery.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 4993) Al-Bukhari included this narration in his Sahih under the ‘Book of the Virtues of the Quran’ (Chapter on the Compilation of the Quran). If later generations study this narration solely under the chapter title given by AlBukhari, they will derive only issues related to the virtues or compilation of the Quran and nothing more. However, if one goes beyond the chapter title and reflects further, it becomes evident that this narration highlights a crucial aspect of Islam. Pondering over this narration reveals that the application of Islamic guidance requires adherence to a significant principle: the wisdom of a gradual process. During the early period of Islam, Islamic teachings were applied with this wisdom of the gradual approach. The process involved first creating a willingness in people’s hearts to follow divine guidance, and only after achieving this internal readiness were external laws introduced.