MAQASID AL-SHARlAH ON THE PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN INTELLECT AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

slamic scholars agreed that Islam has the ultimate goal of being a mercy to humanity. This, in fact, is the primary purpose of Maqasid al-Shari'ah. To achieve this goal it is necessary to promote human well-being. The main purpose of this study is to examine the role of Maqasid al- Shari'ah in the protection and development of human intellect among secondary school students in Nasarawa State towards moral, scientific, and spiritual attainments. The study utilizes descriptive design that allows exposition of the elements for the preservation of human intellect from all forms of evil to the development of a scientific mind in the secondary school students of Nasarawa State. The study reveals that five fundamentally universal objectives namely, religion, life, intellect, lineage and property are parts of the ultimate objectives of Islam which are to serve human interests and save them from harm. The principles of Maqasid al-Shari'ah can be applied to protect as well as develop secondary school student’s intellect. The study recommends the learning and teaching of Islamic law be encouraged among secondary school students in Nasarawa State in order to ease for them it inculcation in all aspects of life for personal, state and national development.