Gradual Implementation of Shariah

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). Imam 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 Imam 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 implementation of Shariah, or the application of Islamic law, requires adherence to a significant principle: the wisdom of a gradual process. During the early period of Islam, the implementation of Shariah law was carried out with this gradual wisdom. The process involved first creating a willingness in people’s hearts to obey the laws, and only after achieving this internal readiness were external laws enforced. Considering the current Muslim leaders in this context, it becomes apparent that they have been reading the Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari only within the confines of its chapter title, without delving deeper. This imitative mindset has prevented them from grasping the important wisdom of gradual implementation highlighted in this Hadith. For many years, loud calls for the application of Shariah