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The five necessities

Islamic recognise five factors essential for human life: religion, the self (life), mind, offspring, and money (property). These are known as the “five necessities “. It is believed that all divine laws have commanded their preservation and prohibited anything that contradicts them. indeed, Imam Al-Ghazali[3] in the twelfth century (1993, pp. 481-483) added that, “these five necessities are impossible not to be included in any religion nor law for the sake of sustaining creation.” The necessities assist man in leading an honourable life and making the best use of his abilities and resources .They are, therefore, considered a basic right of humanity.

Islamic law has a clear policy to protect these essentials from alien ideologies, oppression, duress and self-harm: preserve religion, preserve self, preserve progeny, preserve money, and preserve mind.

In order to achieve these five objectives, mankind is required to adopt policies of conservation on an a individual, national and international level. As we have seen /since built Islamic and non-Islamic heritage is a essential component of Islam‟s effort strategy to reform people and societies through knowledge and education. With the exception of one of the five necessities, „life‟, heritage, and the built environment in general, have a prominent role to play in achieving the aims of the other four necessities, and, thus, preserving the five necessities entails preserving built heritage.

Preserve Self

Islam considers life as a gift from God to human beings. No one has the right to injure or end a life, not even the person himself. Islam has imposed specific duties on human beings for the protection of human life. The following are some of these duties:

-Man must maintain proper nutritional care so as to satisfy the minimum requirements for decent health. He is not allowed to deprive himself of permissible food, drink, clothing, marriage and proper care, under any pretext.

-The medical needs of the body must not be neglected. The state should provide a healthcare system, and medical care should be sought, where required, in a timely manner.

- Man is entitled to a society with an efficient law and order system that protects him from crime.

- Self-harm or suicide is prohibited.

- the state and communities must ensure that the basic requirements are provided to poorer members of society. This can be achieved through additional state initiatives, direct public donations, or the work of charities.

Preserve Progency

Islam stresses the importance of preserving progeny and linage. Islam safeguards the sanctity of reproduction for the maintenance of the human race on earth. The human race is entrusted with the guardianship of the entire earth and the representation of divine wisdom on earth. Sexual reproduction is the means that keeps human species in existence, and for that reason, God creates the sexual impulse in both sexes. Human beings are called to keep their progeny by forming families through marriage, which Islam considers is the only God-endorsed way of having children and maintaining the human species.

It encourages marriage and prompts its adherents to make it easy for the unmarried people with the least expenses: “Marry off those among you who are unmarried.” (Soorat An-Noor, 24:32)

To preserve progeny, Islam requires

1. The preservation of the family. The family unit is the basis of a healthy society and this can only be maintained by upholding the sanctity of marriage. To create conditions that promote marriage and stable families, and resist threats to the traditional family, Islam prohibits adultery, fornication and homosexuality. Islam concurs with previous divine religions in this prohibition but goes further by banning many acts that may lead to committing the forbidden acts, such as immodest dress and free mixing of the sexes in public or private quarters. These precautions cut the avenues towards temptations.

2. Prevent marital discord or disintegration. Islam has in place many rules, restraints and duties which organizes the relationships between the husband and wife and among the family in general. Strong family bonds and good relations among relatives is particularly encouraged..

3. Care children well. Islam imposes a number of duties on the parents towards their children, among these are providing loving care for them, a homely environment, timely schooling; and forbidding neglect, harm, and abandonment. .

4. Provide religious education. Islam considers that children should begin performing the basic religious practices and refraining from the prohibited acts by the age of puberty. The learning and practice of Islamic duties by each generation of children will not only increase the chances of them practicing the religion throughout their lifetimes, but also help preserve Islam for each successive generation. Therefore, in addition to secular education, children need to have gained knowledge of the fundamentals of Islam by the time it becomes obligatory to practice them.

5. Preserve heritage sites.

With the passage of time, man travels further away from the origins of his faith. In the case of some religions, the increasing distance between founder and follower has lead to attempts by some believers and non-believers to question the relevancy or authenticity of the religion. The results have been interpolation, re-interpretation, deletion, schism, and the questioning of the very existence of both the founder and the deity, central to the religion. In some quarters, the religion is then viewed as nothing more than a myth.

It is easier to undermine a religion that relies on existing in a largely intellectual form, than one which can corroborate its origins and existence with physical evidence. With the onslaught of secularism, religions which are contained only inside books and in the heads of living human beings can be more vulnerable to challenge. The difference between myth and truth is proof [facts], and the proof of history is the material evidence supporting its claims.

Islam has so far avoided this fate by insisting on preservation efforts in all keys areas of the religion - including its heritage sites. Previous generation of Muslims has understood the value and role of heritage sites and continued to protect them. It has paid great dividends: for example, Islam is the only religion that has so far preserved both the birth and death sites of its founder..

Why are heritage sites important for progeny?

1) The educational function of heritage. The significance of these sites mean they will continue to form an essential part of the religious and historical education curriculum for Muslim children.

2) They will allow progeny to appreciate first-hand the rich history of Islam. Respect for religious history will lead to a sense of belonging, taking pride in their roots, and a desire to preserve that history.

3) They are part of the built environment in a city. Most cities have an eclectic mix of buildings from various periods of history and a smaller number of structures - heritage sites - which become local or national landmarks. Cities need and value heritage sites: not only do they add to the historical depth and cultural diversity to an area, but they also attract visitors, which ultimately benefit‟s the local economy.

4) They encourage contemplation of islam. Visiting them promotes reflection and insights into the meaning of Islamic beliefs, events and religious figures.

5) They connect progeny directly to the early Muslims. These sites are touchstones for future Islamic generations. They provide connection with the past and create a sense of unity across the ages. They are also pilgrimage points for visitors, allowing them see the numerous signs of the Prophet (saw) and get a sense of how the Prophet (saw) and his generation lived. The site facilitates connection with others and the shared social experience (e.g., “pride of place”) help promote social cohesion. They allow devoted Muslims to get close to the objects of their affection, closer than with books, and play their part in stimulating and preventing Muslims of weak faith from becoming completely detached from the religion.

6) They are evidence of Islam’s historical existence. These and the other heritage sites will comprise one of the most effective components I in progeny‟s intellectual battle defence of Islam, and religion in general.

-- To address challenges to Islam’s authenticity

When future Muslims are faced with the same challenges from sceptics - as directed to/have been faced by other religions - to prove the genuineness of their religion, part of the rebuttal will be to put forward the evidence contained within the heritage sites. For these sites:

--Establish the veracity of Islams origins and growth,

--Conform the existence of the founder of Islam, the Prophet saw.

--Authenticate many accounts contained within the Quran

- To address attempts to undermine all religion

When the forces of secularism portray religion as irrelevant and the true mission of man as unnecessary, heritage sites will continue to serve the same purpose of guiding and motivating Muslim progeny as they have done for past generations of Muslims:

--Pre-Islamic sites will warn the future Muslim to consider the fate of past civilisations that chose disbelief and ideologies akin to secularism. They put into perspective, the temporary attractions of an irreligious life versus the long-term benefits of faith. They will argue that if the fate of those who followed disbelief, before the advent of Islam, was calamitous, then a similar outcome must naturally also await those who choose disbelief over belief, in the presence of Islam.

--Pre-Islamic sites will warn the future Muslim to consider the fate of past civilisations that chose disbelief and ideologies akin to secularism. They put into perspective, the temporary attractions of an irreligious life versus the long-term benefits of faith. They will argue that if the fate of those who followed disbelief, before the advent of Islam, was calamitous, then a similar outcome must naturally also await those who choose disbelief over belief, in the presence of Islam.

--Islamic sites will pose the question: were the trials and tribulations suffered by the people associated with these sites (the early muslims) to establish Islam, without reason? What did these Muslims see in Islam that they could not find in secular and atheistic belief systems and which made them risk life and limb to be a part of it?

          Most early Muslims were followers of pagan beliefs before converting to Islam. They, too, had atheistic and secular options that could have pursued instead of islam. They, too, faced constant attempts to tempt, persuade - and in many cases force - them to renounce Islam and revert back to their old beliefs or to another primitive religion. Their conversion and life-long commitment to a monotheistic faith required a far greater leap of faith, than for a Muslim deciding whether or not to continue with the religion of his family and society, in the face of anti-religion propaganda. These sites advertise the fact that they belonged to individuals and a society that also experienced a crisis of faith, but abandoned what they believed to be man-made ways of life in favour of a God-endorsed lifestyle.

           They will attest that humanity has not changed dramatically since the sites were created. The same fragility, the same needs and wants, the same conditions of entry and exit into this world: man is still born without his consent, and dies against his will. What has changed, however, is the growth in knowledge, particularly scientific knowledge that has substantiated many facts stated in the Quran. Since such a number of Quranic beliefs have been proven to be true, then there is a possibility that other assertions, such as the existence of God, accountability, and the hereafter, may also be true. The future, confused, Muslim confronting anti religious sentiments, will not only have more reason to believe in the truth and necessity of his religion, but he will also realise that the creators of these sites were convinced of the truth of Islam with far less evidence than he requires. Their trust and conviction in islam is therefore an example for progeny in moments of doubt..

Preserve Religion

Religion is the reason why humanity was created. Religion is also the main reformer in every aspect of human life. Protecting it from manipulation, interpolation or destruction is, then. of utmost priority. To preserve religion Islam recommends that believers carry out 3 protection policies:

1. Adhere to the doctrines in the Quran and carry out the obligatory practices: prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage.

2. Refrain from disbelief, polytheistc concepts, superstitions, disobedience and sin. The government and communities must ease the means of practicing religion. The religion should be safeguarded from attempts to weaken or oppress it.

3. Preserve physical evidence of Islam As the Quran has stated in many verses, built heritage plays an important role in religion and the preservation of religion:

The pre-Islamic heritage sites powerfully illustrate the existence and fate of disbelieving civilisations. They prove the veracity of the testimony given in the Quran. They constitute a compelling warning to believers of the necessity of practicing the religion, should they wish to avoid the consequences of disobedience.

The Islamic heritage sites reinvigorate the believers belief in Islam and the conviction to follow its teachings. They provide physical substantiation of the advice, events, and personages mentioned in the Quran, Sunnah and the history books of Islam. They allow believers to have the emotional experience of geting close - as is possible in this life - to the great figures of Islam by visiting their dwellings, places of worship, and final resting places.

Both types of heritage sites are the third tutor of islam, after the written and spoken word. Preserving heritage sites is a key compnoent of /helps preserve religion.

Preserve Money

God has organized resources for mankind, which man is to maintain and utilize for his benefit. Money is the mainstay of life and islam urges its followers to preserve their wealth wisely. Money has a broad meaning in Islam, and includes all valuable resources such as currency, precious metals, built heritage, property and natural resources.

To preserve the integrity of the financial system and the economy of a Islamic country, Islam says

1. The government must exert every effort to secure job opportunities for its constituents, so that they can earn their livelihood through religiously lawful means. Trading, manufacturing, agriculture, and public and private employment should be encouraged to operate on the moral and ethical principles set by Islam.

2. The financial system should not operate in ways that harm or exploit any segment of society. Therefore, practices such as lending money with interest, tax evasion, financial fraud, hoarding, monopoly and bribery need to be prohibited, while tax collection and deterrents for financial crimes should be effective. On both a individual and governmental level, revenue should be spent prudently and not squandered.

3. National resources are to be utilized efficiently for the public good. State property, such as heritage sites, are public assets. These are financially valuable commodities/assets. The revenue generating potential from national and international visitors attracted to the site make heritage sites valuable contributors to the national purse. For many countries heritage tourism is a key segment of the tourism industry, e developing heritage tourism to boost national revenues. Thus, the existence of a he key factor for the economy of many

ritage site should be promoted and any income producing potential fully realised. The revenue generated from these sites resources (tourism) must be placed in the Public Treasury to finance the needs of the public.

Abuse or destruction of heritage sites is a serious misuse of valuable national resources. Unlike other types of structures, heritage buildings are in limited supply and once destroyed, cannot be replaced. The value of the heritage site lies in its age, original materials, rarity, and in the people and events it witnessed. To destroy a heritage site and then build a copy of it later, does not amount to the replacing the lost heritage site. The newly built site is simply a modern-day replica. It cannot be called a heritage site, for it has no heritage [of its own]. Most nations have realised this and enacted heritage protection legislation. The loss of a heritage site causes long-term loss to the public exchequer/ funds. It is, therefore, the collective responsibility of an Islamic society to preserve such assets property from damage or demolition. Destruction or unlawful exploitation of public assets is banned according to Islamic law:

The Quran states:

“...and do not act corruptly, making mischief on the earth.” [ Quran 2:60]

The Prophet stated: “Muslims are partners in three (natural resources): water, grazing grass and fire.” by Abu Dawood

Separately, Islamic law obliges that the built environment in general be preserved to avoid misuse of resources. This, then, also covers protection of built heritage as well.

Preserve Mind

The ability to reason, and the ability to understand are properties of humanity. Intelligence is the basis of all meaningful and responsible actions, particularly those related to religious and secular issues. Man is the only creature to be bestowed with such a faculty, one that allows him to rule over all other creatures. However, it is also his possession of a mind that makes man the only being subject to accountability in this life and in the hereafter.

“We have honored the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favors, above a great part of our creation.” (Holy Quran 17: 70).

Isllam extols human beings to not rely on just blind faith, but to try to discover the great truths of life. The mind leads a person who thinks deeply and with sound reasoning about this universe, to the existence of God and His characteristics.

“Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.” (Holy Quran 3: 190).

It is the mind that leads a man to either accept the all-important mission for which he was created, or pursue the alternative path of disobedience. The first - “heavenly path” - entails following instructions provided by the creator of human beings that are tailored to benefit the body and soul in this life and qualify the person for a life in heaven in the hereafter. The latter “hell-bound route” is the way of personal whim and surrender to man-made instructions, that are provided by imperfect fellow beings, with limited knowledge of life, which satisfy the body only, are devoid of provision for the soul or the hereafter, and leave the person eligible for admittance to hell only.

The hell-bound route can be taken by people who are anywhere on the full spectrum of lucidity. The heavenly path, however, requires a sane and sober mind.

Man cannot be held to account for the deeds unless he has first been presented with the option to learn about right and wrong. He therefore needs to be offered the opportunity to learn about Islam in this life. Ideally, this should be carried out with modern and effective techniques that are at least as convincing as the counter, secular messages that he also receives. Whether or not he chooses to gain knowledge of Islam, or to follow it‟s principles, is his choice. The ethos behind propagating the religion is not to catch people out and sentence them to hell. Rather, the hope is that the person will discover and accept the true mission of man in this world, and attain salvation.

To help human beings recognise the truth in the Islamic message, and to strengthen and increase the faith of believers, Islam requires that conditions be created in which man has access to all the information he requires and can freely question, assess, and derive the most accurate conclusions. In Islam this is known as the preservation of the mind. It necessitates:

1. The prohibition of substances and actions that are bound to have a negative effect on the mind / mental faculties/abilitiesand impair discernment. Therefore, intoxicants, harmful drugs, blackmagic, and any other deeds that affect the mind and prevent it from performing its duties are forbidden..

2. An Islamic government to provide universal education which includes the fundamentals of Islamic doctrine. All capable believers are under a moral duty to educate themselves to the best of their ability and circumstances, with the minimum requirement being learning the basics of their religion.

3. Preservation of the sources of Islamic education:. The Quran, Sunah, and the signs of God.

4. Preservation of the tangible evidence of Islamic teaching. Any assistance to help 21st century man in assessing the veracity of Islamic thought is welcomed. The current era is influenced by science, and mankind increasingly accepts only those concepts that are supported by scientific facts. Islam can meet this challenge and corroborate its teachings with tangible physical, scientifically verifiable evidence, by means of heritage sites and relics which are closely associated with its founder, Quranic testimony, Sunnah teachings, key events in its 1400 history, and its most prominent followers. Heritage sites, thus, help the undecided man in his decision-making, and increase the confirmed follower‟s conviction

The preservation of the mind entails preservation of heritage sites.

END OF 5 NECESSITIES