What is the status of Muslims currently living in the West in the light of Islamic legal theory? What are their roles and responsibilities to the countries of which they see themselves as integral parts? Has there been a change on how Muslim scholars discussed a ‘minority’ presence in ‘non-Muslim’ lands in the past and the present, and can we envisage further changes in religious fatwas given the ongoing prejudice that such communities feel they are subject to?

The rise of new civil movements based on ‘left wing’ ideology have provided vitality to aspects of Muslim engagement with wider society, yet it is also undeniable that this also sits uncomfortable with more conservative trends within religious discourse in general. 

The presence of Muslim populations in lands that have majority non-Muslim citizens has in recent memory also given rise to what is referred to as ‘The Fiqh of Minorities’. For its proponents, this is a new area of Islamic law dealing with those legal cases and issues which have widespread relevance and require urgent attention for Muslims living in a situation of being a minority since such issues are now considered to be unavoidable. (Umum al-balwa). 

Areas covered:

This course will take an in depth and nuanced look at: Ideas of citizenship and identity politics; ‘The Fiqh of Minorities’, The methodology of Islamic law and issue of minorities rights; Debates on Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Harb; General criticisms of Western Muslim’s exceptionalism; ‘Salafi’ and ‘Traditionalist ‘scholar’s fatawa on ‘Minority’ status.

The module will include selected Case studies:

Fighting for non-Muslim state Militaries against Muslim states; The permissibility of Muslims’ permanent residence in non-Muslim countries; The wife in a marriage embracing Islam; Interest based loans; Inheritance from non-Muslim relatives.