New Advanced Course: Islam and International Law by Prof. Sayyid Mohammad Fatemi

This 7-week course critically examines the dynamic relationship between Islamic law (Sharīʿa) and contemporary international legal frameworks. Designed for students, researchers, and professionals in the fields of Islamic studies and law, the course offers a rigorous, comparative exploration of foundational theories and current debates on some of the most pressing legal and ethical questions of our time.

The Al-Mahdi Institute is offering a new advanced-level online course on Islam and International Law, taught at the Dars al-Khārij level by Professor Seyed Mohammad Fatemi. This 7-week course critically examines the dynamic relationship between Islamic law (Sharīʿa) and contemporary international legal frameworks. Designed for students, researchers, and professionals in the fields of Islamic studies and law, the course offers a rigorous, comparative exploration of foundational theories and current debates on some of the most pressing legal and ethical questions of our time.

This advanced-level course explores the intersection between Islamic law (Sharīʿa) and contemporary international legal frameworks. It examines foundational concepts in both traditions, assessing areas of compatibility and divergence. Through a comparative lens, the course evaluates legal theories, human rights, war and peace, criminal justice, and sovereignty, while analyzing the engagement of Muslim-majority states with international legal norms. Case studies from various countries and institutions will provide practical insights into the real-world application of these principles.

Important Data

Course Duration: 7 Sessions (Each session: 1.5 hours)
Course Dates: 13th May– 24th June 2025
Course Level: Advanced
Course Instructor:Professor Sayyid Muhammad Fatemi
Course Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
Course Fee: £70
Target Audience: Students, Legal practitioners, Scholars of Islamic Studies and International Law

Topics include:

• Sovereignty and the modern state
• Islamic and international humanitarian law
• Migration, war, and refugee protection
• Minority and gender rights
• Legal reform and global justice

Course Structure

• Session 1: Conceptual Framework & Theoretical Foundations of Contemporary International Law
  • Overview of International Law: Definitions, sources, principles, and key debates
  • Major Philosophical Theories: Natural law, positivism, realism, and constructivism
  • The Modern Notion of the Nation-State: Sovereignty, territorial integrity, and self-determination
  • Comparing Islamic and Western Legal Traditions: Key similarities and differences

• Session 2: Islamic Jurisprudence and International Law
  • Is Islamic law compatible with international law?
  • Sovereignty in Islam: The concept of Hakimiyyah al-Ilahiyya (Divine Sovereignty) vs. modern state sovereignty
  • Muslim-Majority States and Their Engagement with International Law: Case studies from the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa

• Session 3: War and Peace in Contemporary International Law and Fiqh
  • Just War Theory in Islam vs. Modern International Law: The Geneva Conventions and Islamic rules of warfare
  • Jihad, Rules of Engagement, and Treatment of Prisoners: Comparative perspectives
  • Case Studies: Islamic laws of war in historical and contemporary contexts
  • The Role of International Institutions: The United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in conflict resolution

• Session 4: Citizenship & Immigration in Islam and International Law
  • Nationality & Immigration in International Law: Theory and practice
  • Nationality & Immigration in Islamic Fiqh: Rights of non-Muslims (Dhimmi status), refugees, and asylum seekers
  • Modern Challenges: Statelessness, refugee crises, and migration policies in Muslim-majority countries
  • Comparative Analysis: European, American, and Middle Eastern approaches to migration and citizenship

• Session 5: Human Rights in Islam and International Law
  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) vs. the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam (CDHRI)
  • Islamic Perspectives on Fundamental Rights: Right to life, freedom, dignity, and justice
  • Women’s Rights, Minority Rights, and Religious Freedom in Islamic Law
  • Case Studies: Muslim countries’ approaches to international human rights treaties
  • The Role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Human Rights Advocacy

• Session 6: Criminal Justice Law in Islam and International Law
  • Islamic Perspectives on Crime and Punishment: Hudud (fixed punishments), Qisas (retribution), and Diyya (blood money)
  • Comparing Islamic and Secular Legal Systems: Procedural fairness and evidentiary standards
  • Islamic Responses to the International Criminal Court (ICC): Critiques and support

• Session 7: Contemporary Challenges and Future Perspectives
  • Muslim-Majority States and Their Engagement with International Law: Resistance and adaptation
  • Addressing Conflicts Between Islamic Law and Global Legal Norms: Blasphemy laws, apostasy, and freedom of expression
  • The Future of Islamic Law in the International Legal Order: Reforms, adaptations, and global trends
  • The Role of International Organizations: United Nations, OIC, and regional cooperation efforts

Sessions begin on 13 May 2025 and will be held online every Tuesday from 2:00–3:30 PM (BST).

About the Instructor

Professor Sayyid Mohammad Ghari Sayyid Fatemi is a distinguished academic and expert in Comparative Human Rights and Islamic Legal Studies, serving as Head of the Department of Islamic Legal Studies at the Al-Mahdi Institute. With a PhD in Comparative Human Rights from the University of Manchester, he combines rigorous academic training with over thirteen years of advanced seminarian studies in Islamic Jurisprudence, Legal Theory, and Philosophy at the Ḥawza ʿIlmiyya of Qom under renowned scholars such as Ayatollah Montazeri and Ayatollah Javadi Amuli. Professor Fatemi has taught at prestigious institutions including the University of Birmingham, Shahid Beheshti University, the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter, and the Al-Mahdi Institute. He is also a member of the Academy of Sciences of Iran and the Department of Biomedical Ethics at the Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences. He has authored numerous publications in both Persian and English, with a focus on human rights, Islamic legal theory, and bioethics, such as Human Rights in the Contemporary World (Ḥuqūq-i bashr dar jahān-i muʿāṣir).

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