The Arab uprising is still unfolding and uncertainties exist that may yet be clarified in the course of time. But one question that arises is over the relative absence of Islam in what has been seen so far.

 

Islam has been closely aligned with most of the reform movements in the Arab world during the independence and post-independence periods. Two other themes that have also featured, with varying degrees of consistency, are Arab nationalism (qawmiyyah Arabiyyah) and, for a brief period in the era of Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser, socialism........ Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

This essay provides a brief introduction to legal maxims, an evidently important chapter of the juristic literature of Islam, that is particularly useful in depicting a general picture of the nature, goals and objectives of the Shari‘ah. Yet, for reasons that will presently be explained, legal maxims represent a latent development in the history of Islamic legal thought. A brief explanation of the background history of legal maxims will be followed by a discussion of developments in three other related areas ....... Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

A SYARIAH High Court judge suggested at a seminar in Kuantan early last month that Malaysia should criminalise black magic and introduce a law to that effect, adding that the practice of black magic was becoming rampant, especially among the Malay community. This was not the first time such a proposal was made as a similar suggestion was advanced by the mufti of Selangor last December........ Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

SORCERY or witchcraft (sihr) is often equated with trickery aimed at conflating falsehood with the rational association of causes and effects.

Sorcery is difficult to define. Our knowledge of sihr and what is not within reach of our sense perception is also limited.

 

The available information in the scriptural sources of Islam also falls short of elaboration ondetail. Sihr may aim at inflicting harm on its object or at realising a benefit, and the sorcerer often resorts to irrational and impermissible means. Muslim scholars have differed on the reality of sihr........ Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

The introductory  remarks  that appear at the outset of this article draw attention to  the planetary crisis humanity is facing due to  the degradation and disturbance of its living environment. The succeeding discussion expounds the human- earth relationship in two parts, the first of which draws attention to a set of principles, beginning  with that of Divine Oneness (tawhid) and the vision it conveys of the common predicament of man with the rest of the created world. Then follows a review of  the Qur’anic principle of vicegerency of man (khilafah) in the earth which designates  humankind as a trustee and custodian of  its natural  environment. This is followed by a discussion of the principle of trust (amanah) in Islam which is closely related to khilafah......... Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

MUSLIM jurists have addressed the issue of an abandoned child (laqit) from different angles beginning with the existence of a basic obligation to save its life. There is general consensus that it is a collective obligation (fard kifa'i) of the community to save the abandoned child, and it is an obligation in the first place of the individual who finds it.

That obligation is elevated to an emphatic personal duty (fardu 'ayn) of the finder in the event of imminent fear over the death and injury of the child. This is due to the explicit Quranic emphasis on the sanctity of life contained in the injunction that "one who saves one life, it is as if he has saved the whole of humankind"........ Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

NOTHING seems to be going right to lighten the darkness that is taking hold of Afghanistan.
June was the worst month for casualties among foreign troops, with 66 deaths, in the nine years they had been there to battle Islamic extremism and rescue the rubble-strewn country from decades of war.

 

The BBC tallied last month that roadside bombings had nearly doubled in the first quarter of the year from the same period last year, assassinations were up by half and suicide attacks by 100 per cent. More than a thousand have been killed in the first six months of the year....... Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

This article explores human dignity through a reading of the Qur’an and hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad), the two most authoritative and widely venerated sources of Islam. It is presented in four sections, beginning with a review of the textual evidence on human dignity, to be followed by a similar review of God-man relationship, then also a discussion as to how the Qur’an guides and depicts as to how the humans should relate to one another while observant of each other’s dignity. The discussion proceeds to examine the juristic positions of the leading schools of Islamic law on the subject, and ends with a conclusion that underscores the effects of these guidelines on the realities of Muslim life...... Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

"LEADERSHIP challenges for the new era" was the subject of a plenary session at the sixth World Islamic Economic Forum in Kuala Lumpur. The topic generated a lively discussion among a panel of eminent speakers. Surin Pitsuwan, secretary-general of Asean, moderated and referred in his opening remarks to the Quranic phrase ulil-amr (those in charge of affairs, Q.4:59), raising the question as to who were the ulil-amr of today, who could usher us into the new era......... Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)

The twin concepts of constitutionalism and democracy normally nurture and endorse one another, yet they are not the same and can, in certain circumstances, stand in a state of tension. Whereas democracy is focused on majoritarian rule, constitutionalism demands commitment to the rule of law.The United States and Europe tend to see drafting a constitution as a way towards a negotiated peace, especially in post-conflict situations. This may theoretically seem appealing, yet it could also run counter to its desired objectives and cause greate......... Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)