Ijtihad Network Being Wise and Faithful Muslim in the Contemporary World
In this ground-breaking new course, students will work with renowned academics from the University of Edinburgh and other leading universities across the world to explore scholarly perspectives on the Sharia and Islamic law.
This five-week course explores some of the diverse roles that the Sharia and Islamic law have played in Muslim life, both historically and today, encouraging students to think critically about the nature of religious law and its many manifestations.
What topics will you cover?
- What is Law? What is the Sharia? What is Islamic Law?
- How did Islamic Law work in the past and how did Islamic law adapt to social change?
- Understandings of justice and the impact of colonialism on Islamic law
- The diverse manifestations of Islamic law in Muslim life today in contexts ranging from northern Nigeria to Palestine, to Indonesia to the United Kingdom
- The role of Islamic law in a wide range of human activity, from individual worship to marriage/divorce.
When would you like to start?
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to…
- Reflect on the nature of modern law, and explore the distinctions between secular and religious law.
- · Collaborate with others on broadening your knowledge
- · Read and reflect on primary sources ranging from prominent poets, popular chat shows, award-winning documentaries, Islamist leaders, and the Qur’an itself
- · Read and interpret cutting edge research and hear from leading academic experts
- · Explore some of the controversies surrounding the Sharia and Islamic law in a collegial manner in an academic environment.
- · Assess the impact of colonialism in the Muslim World
- Investigate the place of Islamic law in modern sources such as constitutions, and some of the debates over the role of religious law in modern societies
Who is the course for?
The course is open to anyone interested in learning more about how the Sharia has been understood in Muslim life and law in different parts of the world, both historically and today.
Who will you learn with?
David Warren
Dr David Warren is a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh Alwaleed Centre, where he writes on Islam, Politics and Islamic law.
Yahya Barry
Yahya Barry is a PhD candidate. With training in Islamic theology and law, he served as Imam of Edinburgh Central Mosque. He is the founder and director of the Olive Tree Madrasah in Edinburgh.
Tazeen M. Ali
Tazeen M. Ali is PhD candidate at Boston University who specializes in Islam, gender, and religion in the United States.
Elvire Corboz
Dr Elvire Corboz is Lecturer in Contemporary Islam and Middle East at the University of Edinburgh, with research interests in contemporary Shi’ism.
Giulia Liberatore
Dr. Giulia Liberatore is a research fellow and lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. An anthropologist by training, she teaches and writes about Islam, gender and religious diversity in Europe.
Who developed the course?
The university of Edinburgh
Founded in 1583, the University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top universities and is globally recognised for research, innovation and high-quality teaching.
