Tag: scholar
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Who is an ʿĀlim?
In contemporary times, answering “Who is an ʿālim?” requires more than just a cursory definition. Presently, the term is often loosely applied to people of various levels of Islamic scholarly training, at times even to the novice student of knowledge. However, historically, the term ʿālim had a very precise definition. To be amongst the ʿulamāʾ, one was required to meet a high…
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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…
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On Being a Muslim Minority: Introducing Chinese Muslim Intellectual Jīn Tiānzhù
This article presents the introduction section of a book called 清真釈疑 Qīngzhēn shìyí (Eliminating Doubts Against Islam), written by Jīn Tiānzhù (金天柱). This is arguably the first book written about how minority Muslims living in East Asia have confronted misconceptions about Islam.