Tag: fiqh
-
How an Anglo-Gujarati Mufti Kept the Vows of Shāh Walī Allāh in America
This essay charts both the life and the afterlife of Shāh Walī Allāh al-Dihlawī, the preeminent thinker of the late Mughal empire, whose synthesis of revelation, philosophy, and mysticism sought to rescue Islam’s intellectual tradition amid imperial decay. Set within the luminous yet collapsing world of eighteenth-century Delhi, it follows Walī Allāh’s education, his journeys…
-
Harmony Among Madhahib: Imam Al-Sha’rani’s Al-Mizan al-Kubra
The study of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) is marked by the existence of multiple schools of thought (madhahib), each offering distinct interpretations and methodologies in the application of Sharia. Among these, Imam Al-Sha’rani, a prominent 16th-century Egyptian scholar, stands out for his pioneering efforts in advocating for reconciliation and tolerance among these diverse schools. His book…
-
Revisiting the Premise of FCNA’s Fatwa on Calculations versus Moonsighting
In 2006, the Fiqh Council of North America (“FCNA”) adopted its fatwa concluding that calculations should replace the traditional practice of moonsighting to determine the Islamic lunar months. Though this position represented a stark break from tradition, it immediately gained widespread acceptance. At the same time, this fatwa was met with significant opposition from the…
-
Ensuring Economic Justice: The Imperative of Transparency and Accountability in Zakāh Distribution
Zakāh is a foundational pillar of Islam, considered integral to the foundation of Islamic civilization to such an extent that the first Caliph Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه waged wars against those who rejected giving zakāh. It is a grave mistake to consider zakāh as merely another form of charity; zakāh is an institution and…
-
Christmas and Why the ‘Petty’ is Powerful
celebrating Christmas in different capacities. While this may be more understandable for those new to the faith, or for those who have non-Muslim family members with whom participating in this holiday may be tricky to navigate, there are also an increasing number of Muslims who have jumped on the bandwagon of celebrating Christmas with really…
-
A Brief on Islamic Bioethics and Intersex Persons
There was a paper published in August 2020 by Dr. Nasir Malim and Dr. Aasim Padela, the Director of the Initiative on Islam and Medicine at University of Chicago, titled Islamic Bioethical Perspectives on Gender Identity for Intersex Patients. The paper introduces how intersex individuals and their medical needs can be approached in contemporary medicine…
-
A Primer on Islamic Legal Theory (Usūl Al-Fiqh)
The best way to understand the object of the study of Uṣūl is to imagine yourself in the position of a scholar who is tasked with finding answers to legal questions. Before you embark on finding answers to legal questions, there are a number of preliminary matters you must determine.
-
The Modern Presence of Shari’ah in English Civil Law
In the spring of 2013, a debate on the legal status of the Shari’ah (Islamic law) in England and Wales took place in the British House of Commons.