Taken from Ḥujjatullāh al-Bāligha
It may be thought that Divine laws have no benefit, that there is no connection between actions and their recompense, and that the similitude of being legally bound by the Divine law is like that of a master who wants test the obedience of his slave. Thus, the master orders the slave to lift rocks, or touch trees, and other things in which there is no benefit beyond testing them; subsequently, their actions are recompensed when they obey or disobey. This is a corrupt assumption which belies the sunnah and the agreement of those generations whose goodness has been attested to.
Whoever is incapable of recognizing the following, has not been touched by any bit of knowledge except just as much as the needle immersed in the ocean and then extracted is touched by the water. It is more fitting that such a one should weep over themselves, rather than their statements be given any consideration:
1. That actions are weighed by intentions and the internal form which emanates from it as the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “Actions are only by intentions,” and Allāh said, “Its meat and blood will never reach Allāh, but the taqwā from you will.”
2. That salah is legislated for the remembrance of Allāh and to converse with Him as He, Most Exalted, said, “Establish salah for My remembrance,” and to prepare one for seeing Him in the life to come as the Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him, said, “You will see your Lord just as you see this moon; you won’t have to crowd one another to see Him. So if you are able not to be overpowered with respect to the salah before the rising of the sun and the salah before its settings, then do so.”
3. That ẓakah was legislated to repel the vice of greed and take care of the needs of the poor as Allah, most High, says concerning the one who refused to give zakah, “Those who withhold that which Allāh has given them of His bounty should not think that it is good for them, rather it is evil for them; soon that which they withhold will be put around their neck on the day of judgement,” and as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Then inform them that Allāh has made charity obligatory on them; it is to to be taken from their rich and brought to their poor.”
4. That fasting was legislated to conquer the nafs as Allāh, most High, says, “So that you might become God-concious,” and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Because, verily, fasting is a shield for him.”
5. That ḥajj was legislated to show honor and respect to the tokens of Allāh as He, most Exalted, says, “Verily the first house placed for mankind was that which,” and, “Verily Safa and Marwa are amongst the tokens of Allāh.”
6. That qiṣāṣ was legislated to prevent murder as He, most Exalted, said, “And for you in qiṣāṣ is life, o people of understanding.”
7. That ḥudūd and kaffārāt were legislated to prevent acts of disobedience as He, most Exalted, says, “So that they would taste the evil consequences of their affair.”
8.That jihād was legislated for the elevation of the word of Allāh and to eliminate fitnah as He, most Exalted, says, “And fight them until fitnah no longer exists and the dīn, completely, is for Allāh.
9. That the laws concerning business dealings and marriage were legislated to establish justice between them. Amongst other things indicated by the verses and narrations, and extolled by more than one scholar in every generation.
The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, his companions, and those after them continuously explained the laws along with its benefits.
