What are the five major legal maxims in Islamic jurisprudence?

The jurisprudential rules are fundamental and comprehensive principles that encompass general legislative rulings. There are five agreed-upon rules, which are:

1. Certainty is not removed by doubt: What is considered in rulings is certain knowledge, and conjecture takes its place when certainty is unattainable, but doubt is nullified. The evidence for this is the Prophet's (peace be upon him) hadith concerning one who imagines finding something during prayer: "No, not until he hears a sound or perceives an odor."

2. Harm must be removed: It is obligatory to remove harm, because Islamic law is based on bringing about benefits and warding off evils. The evidence for this is the Prophet's (peace be upon him) hadith: "There should be no harm nor reciprocating harm."

3. Difficulty brings ease: Whenever there is difficulty, ease is legislated. The evidence for this is Allah's (the Exalted) saying: "And He has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty." Difficulty is of two types: that which is inherent to an act of worship and thus does not necessitate alleviation (such as ablution with cold water), and that which is not inherent. The latter is divided into three categories: necessary difficulties, which are excused by scholarly consensus; complementary difficulties, which are not excused by scholarly consensus; and needs-based difficulties, concerning which there is scholarly disagreement.

4. Custom is authoritative: The verbal and practical customs of the common people are applicable in Islamic rulings; they specify general statements, restrict absolute ones, and clarify ambiguous ones. The evidence for this is Allah's (the Exalted) saying: "Hold to forgiveness, command what is customary," and the hadith of Hind bint Utbah: "Take from his wealth what suffices you and your child in a reasonable manner."

5. Matters are judged by their intentions: Actions follow intentions; if intentions are good, the outcome is good, and vice versa. The evidence for this is the hadith: "Actions are but by intentions, and verily every person shall have what he intended." Intention is a condition for the validity of purely ritual acts of worship and a condition for receiving reward for all actions.

These five rules are agreed upon among scholars as foundational principles upon which the branches of Islamic law are built.