Article: The Applicability of the Shari’a in Contemporary Times

This article will explore how modernity has impinged on the classical formulation of Islamic law and how the intersection of shari’a and modernity has forced Muslim jurists to resort to various hermeneutical and exegetical strategies to respond to the challenges of our times.

In recent times, there has been much debate in academic circles concerning the shari’a, as it was posited in the classical period, and its applicability to contemporary times. More specifically, questions that have been posed include: how can a religion, which is believed to be immutable and constant, regulate and serve the needs of a changing community? How can a legal system that was formulated in the eighth and ninth centuries respond to the requirements of twenty-first century Muslims? Is there a need for reformation in Islam? If so, where should it begin and in which direction should it proceed? This paper will explore how modernity has impinged on the classical formulation of Islamic law and how the intersection of shari’a and modernity has forced Muslim jurists to resort to various hermeneutical and exegetical strategies to respond to the challenges of our times.

Bibliographic Information

Title: The Applicability of the Shari’a in Contemporary Times

Author: Liyakat Ali Takim

Published in: International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies, Vol 1, No 1 (2014), pp. 17-24

 Language: English

Length: 8 pages

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