Back to search

Does modern science affect Islamic legal rulings (fatwas), and would blood be deemed pure if modern science proves that all its components are pure?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Combining two contradictions is impossible; therefore, modern science cannot change or contradict established Sharia rulings, because their source is one, and that is Allah, the Almighty.

Ibn Taymiyyah said: "What is known by clear reason has never been contradicted by revelation," affirming that Sharia and reason do not conflict. If two definitive proofs contradict each other, with one negating the other, it indicates that one or both of the proofs are not definitive, or that their implications are not contradictory, and that the Messengers do not inform of what is impossible for the intellect, but rather of what the intellect is incapable of knowing.

Therefore, neither science nor reason can bring about an error in an established Sharia ruling; rather, each confirms the other.

Purity and impurity are based on Sharia evidence, not on disgust. Some things considered disgusting are pure (like nasal mucus and semen), and some impure things are not considered disgusting (like pork).

Modern sciences can be utilized to ascertain the basis of a Sharia ruling, such as researching the harms of substances to confirm their prohibition, or identifying intoxicating substances, and understanding some Prophetic hadiths.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy