The Principle of Gradualism in the Implementation of Laws: Prophetic Strategy and Contemporary Relevance

Abstract

This paper presents the principle of gradualism (asūl-e-tadreej) as a successful state and legal strategy in the light of the Prophet's biography (Seerah) and Shariah-based governance (Siyāsah Shar'iyyah). The primary objective of the Islamic legal system is not merely the execution of punishments or the coercive enforcement of decrees, but rather the cultivation of a peaceful society through the intellectual reform of individuals, social acceptance, and robust institutional readiness. The piecemeal revelation of the Holy Qur'an over a span of twenty-three years, alongside the step-by-step eradication of alcohol consumption, usury (riba), and other social vices during the prophetic era, serves as clear historical and jurisprudential evidence of this principle. In the contemporary era, the severe crises faced by Muslim states in law enforcement and governance stem largely from a departure from the prophetic model of gradualism and a reliance on the mechanical implementation of laws. This article advocates for positioning educational, economic, and institutional reforms as prerequisites to legislation, ensuring that modern public policy is effectively aligned with the functional principles of the prophetic state.

Keywords: Principle of Gradualism, Law Enforcement, Seerah of the Prophet, Islamic State, Public Policy, Contemporary Relevance.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21795392