Ṭāhā J al ‘Alwānī
Biographic Data
| ID | 6961612 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ṭāhā J al ‘Alwānī |
| GIVEN NAMES | Ṭāhā J |
| FAMILY NAME | al ‘Alwānī |
| SIGNATURE | AL ‘ALWĀNĪ Ṭ J |
| AFFILIATIONS | International Institute of Islamic Thought |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 19 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1989 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1996 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
The Testimony of Women in Islamic Law
The only verse in the entire Qur’an to equate the testimony of twowomen to that of one man is the so-called verse of debt (ayat al dayn),which occurs in Qur’an 2:282. This verse contains a significant amount ofmaterial that later jurists categorized variously as recommended or merelyinstructional (irshad) and without legal import. However, a very few juristsopined that the recording of debts, witnessing, and all other matters dealtwith in the ver…
The Islamization of Knowledge
IntroductionWithin the Islamization of Knowledge school, the idea of the Islamizationof Knowledge has always been understood as an intellectual andmethodological outlook rather than as an academic field, a specialization,an ideology, or a new sect. Thus, the school has sought to view issues ofknowledge and methodology from the perspectives of reform, inquiry, andself-discovery without any preconceptions, doctrinal or temporal constraints,or limit…
Missing Dimensions in Contemporary Islamic Movements
Opening RemarksThis paper will examine dimensions that seem to be absent, whethertotally or partially, from the thought and practice of certain contemporaryIslamic movements in the Muslim world, many of which may be viewedas extensions of the liberation movements that played significant roles inmaintaining the ummah's identity at the tum of the twentieth century. Wewill address these movements and remind them, for "remembrance doesthe faithful a …
Some Remarks on the Islamic and the Secular Paradigms of Knowledge
By the time secularist thought had succeeded, at an intellectuallevel, in challenging the authority of the Church, its roots had alreadytaken firm hold in western soil. Later, when western political and economicsystems began to prevail throughout the world, it was only naturalthat secularism, as the driving force behind these systems, shouldgain ascendency worldwide. In time, and with varying degrees of success,the paradigm of positivism graduall…
The Rights of the Accused in Islam (Part Two)
Under the law of Islam, the accused enjoys many rights. Thesewill be summarized below.The Right to a DefenseThe accused has the right to defend himselfherself against anyaccusation. This may be accomplished by proving that the evidencecited is invalid or by presenting other evidence that contradicts it. Inany case, the accused must be allowed to exercise this right so that theaccusation does not turn into a conviction. An accusation means thatthe…
Naturalization and the Rights of Citizens
The subject of naturalization, which is an integml part of the conceptof identity and its related problems, has been an issue in the Muslimworld since its filst contacts with western thought, culture, military, andpolitics. Even though the matter was decided, in practical terms, by theemergence of ethnic and geographic nation-states out of the wreckage ofthe Ottoman Empire, it remains an open topic at the cultural and academiclevels. In fact, whe…
The Problem of Bias
The Intemational Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) is pleased tosponsor this important seminar, as its topic and objectives, the nature ofthe issues to be raised, and the points of view represented by thescholarly participants and their papers are of vital concern to the Islamicworld. Through its participation, the institute has opened a new chapterfor academic activity and intellectual jihad, particularly in Arabic and Islamiccultutal circles.…
The Crisis of Thought and Ijtihad
The Muslim mind experienced a crisis of thought when, duting theearly centuries of the Islamic eta, ijtihad began to be viewed as limitedto legal matters rather than as a methodology for dealing with all aspectsof life. This limited understanding engendered a malaise that allowedtaqlid to attain such prominence and tespectability that its cancetous, constricting,and irrelevant fiqh spread throughout Muslim life. Had ijtihadretained mote of its le…
Fourth International Islamic Economics Seminar
During the past three decades, development has been perceived bothas a goal itself and as a means towards achieving certain goals. In manyThird World countries, development has even become a form of ideology.To achieve it, numerous theories and strategies have been presented.Many of these approaches have been experimented with in a practicalmanner. In general, however, returns and benefits have been negligible.Although modernized sectors have app…
Taqlid and Ijtihad
The Lexical and Technical Meanings of TaqlidThe lexical meaning and structure of the word “taqlid” clearly indicate thenegative connotations surrounding its technical meaning as well as its retentionof much of the literal sense. The Arabic root q-ld comes from qald, which means”to twist or to twine.” As most necklaces were twined or braided, the word cameto refer to necklaces, and the active form of the verb (taqlid) to putting on anecklace. An e…
The Scope of Taqlid
It is generally agreed that taqlid is not allowed in the case of fundamentalbeliefs, such as the existence of God and His attributes. The teason for this isthat such questions ate to be answered by the individual on the basis of his/herown knowledge and conviction, while taqlid repments reliance on the knowledgeof others. Another teason for this is that there is only one truth in suchmatters, and all who call themselves Muslims must recognize, kn…
Opening Address
The year which has just ended has presented the Muslim world with a majorchallenge: the bipolar world order which provided some kind of balance betweenthe East and the West disintegrated and was replaced by a unipolar one.How will this affect us?The new world order is an order controlled by a single superpowex whichhas its own philosophy, thought, and culture. If we look closely, it seems thatits philosophy stands on a collection of what appears …
The Islamic Lunar Calendar as a Civilizational Imperative
It is He Who made the sun a radiance, and the moon a light, anddetermined it by stations, that you might know the number of theyears and the reckoning (of time) ... (Qur'an 10:5).Every community possesses a personality and certain traits that distinguishit from others. The ummah of Islam was blessed by Allah MostHigh with a distinctive personality so that it could serve as a communityof the median way (wasatiyah) and as a witness (shahadah): "Thu…
Taqlid and the Stagnation of the Muslim Mind
The Origins and Beginnings of TaqlidAllah Most High chose the Muslims to be the ummah of mission (risalah),of exemplary good (khayriyah), of the golden mean (wasatiyah), and ofwitnessing to humanity (shahadah). Along with these responsibilities camethe capacity for renewal, for ijtihad, and for correctly interpreting the Shari'ah.As a result, there is a certain inseparable mutuality between the ummah'sroles as a median community czun civilization…
The Crisis in Fiqh and the Methodology of ljtihad
The year 310 AH (922 AC), the year in which the last of the acknowledgedmujtahidun died, may be marked as the beginning of the crisis of fiqh thatcontinues even to this day. At that time Islamic fiqh took a very serious turnand, near the end of the fourth hijri century, its most negative effects beganto be apparent. It was then that the thmkmg of scholars was seriously influencedby the apprehension that certain rulers, through their citing permis…
Taqlid and Ijtihad
The Polemics of IjtihadFrom the second hijri century until the present day, the reality, the essence,the rules, the conditions, the premises, the means, and the scope of ijtihadhave remained a source of debate engaging some of the Islamic world's greatesttheologians, scholars of al usul, and fuqaha': This debate has also been enrichedby proponents of the view that the door of ijtihad was closed and that thefiqh left by the Four Imams obviated the…
Political Science in the Legacy of Classical Islamic Literature
In my own limited knowledge I know of no specialized studies in ourclassical legacy which could be described today as political thought, or astreatises on political systems, international relations, systems of government,the history of diplomacy, political development, methods of political analysis,political theory, political planning, or any of the other categories currentlystudied as a part of contemporary knowledge.Nonetheless, many of the iss…
Political Science in the Legacy of Classical Islamic Literature
In my own limited knowledge I know of no specialized studies in ourclassical legacy which could be described today as political thought, or astreatises on political systems, international relations, systems of government,the history of diplomacy, political development, methods of political analysis,political theory, political planning, or any of the other categories currentlystudied as a part of contemporary knowledge.Nonetheless, many of the iss…
Toward An Islamic Alternative In Thought and Knowledge
IntroductionCurrent developments and the many acute problems facing the MuslimUmmah, especially at the intellectual level, present a serious challenge toIslam. This is why an attempt to outline an intellectual Islamic alternativein thought and knowledge has never been so urgent and imperative. Thiwill, insha 'Allah, help in formulating a clear and coordinated policy withregard to cultural transformation based on firm principles and sound strategy…
Toward An Islamic Alternative In Thought and Knowledge
IntroductionCurrent developments and the many acute problems facing the MuslimUmmah, especially at the intellectual level, present a serious challenge toIslam. This is why an attempt to outline an intellectual Islamic alternativein thought and knowledge has never been so urgent and imperative. Thiwill, insha 'Allah, help in formulating a clear and coordinated policy withregard to cultural transformation based on firm principles and sound strategy…
Toward An Islamic Alternative In Thought and Knowledge
IntroductionCurrent developments and the many acute problems facing the MuslimUmmah, especially at the intellectual level, present a serious challenge toIslam. This is why an attempt to outline an intellectual Islamic alternativein thought and knowledge has never been so urgent and imperative. Thiwill, insha 'Allah, help in formulating a clear and coordinated policy withregard to cultural transformation based on firm principles and sound strategy…
Political Science in the Legacy of Classical Islamic Literature
In my own limited knowledge I know of no specialized studies in ourclassical legacy which could be described today as political thought, or astreatises on political systems, international relations, systems of government,the history of diplomacy, political development, methods of political analysis,political theory, political planning, or any of the other categories currentlystudied as a part of contemporary knowledge.Nonetheless, many of the iss…
Political Science in the Legacy of Classical Islamic Literature
In my own limited knowledge I know of no specialized studies in ourclassical legacy which could be described today as political thought, or astreatises on political systems, international relations, systems of government,the history of diplomacy, political development, methods of political analysis,political theory, political planning, or any of the other categories currentlystudied as a part of contemporary knowledge.Nonetheless, many of the iss…
Taqlid and the Stagnation of the Muslim Mind
The Origins and Beginnings of TaqlidAllah Most High chose the Muslims to be the ummah of mission (risalah),of exemplary good (khayriyah), of the golden mean (wasatiyah), and ofwitnessing to humanity (shahadah). Along with these responsibilities camethe capacity for renewal, for ijtihad, and for correctly interpreting the Shari'ah.As a result, there is a certain inseparable mutuality between the ummah'sroles as a median community czun civilization…
The Crisis in Fiqh and the Methodology of ljtihad
The year 310 AH (922 AC), the year in which the last of the acknowledgedmujtahidun died, may be marked as the beginning of the crisis of fiqh thatcontinues even to this day. At that time Islamic fiqh took a very serious turnand, near the end of the fourth hijri century, its most negative effects beganto be apparent. It was then that the thmkmg of scholars was seriously influencedby the apprehension that certain rulers, through their citing permis…
Taqlid and Ijtihad
The Polemics of IjtihadFrom the second hijri century until the present day, the reality, the essence,the rules, the conditions, the premises, the means, and the scope of ijtihadhave remained a source of debate engaging some of the Islamic world's greatesttheologians, scholars of al usul, and fuqaha': This debate has also been enrichedby proponents of the view that the door of ijtihad was closed and that thefiqh left by the Four Imams obviated the…
Taqlid and Ijtihad
The Lexical and Technical Meanings of TaqlidThe lexical meaning and structure of the word “taqlid” clearly indicate thenegative connotations surrounding its technical meaning as well as its retentionof much of the literal sense. The Arabic root q-ld comes from qald, which means”to twist or to twine.” As most necklaces were twined or braided, the word cameto refer to necklaces, and the active form of the verb (taqlid) to putting on anecklace. An e…
The Scope of Taqlid
It is generally agreed that taqlid is not allowed in the case of fundamentalbeliefs, such as the existence of God and His attributes. The teason for this isthat such questions ate to be answered by the individual on the basis of his/herown knowledge and conviction, while taqlid repments reliance on the knowledgeof others. Another teason for this is that there is only one truth in suchmatters, and all who call themselves Muslims must recognize, kn…
Opening Address
The year which has just ended has presented the Muslim world with a majorchallenge: the bipolar world order which provided some kind of balance betweenthe East and the West disintegrated and was replaced by a unipolar one.How will this affect us?The new world order is an order controlled by a single superpowex whichhas its own philosophy, thought, and culture. If we look closely, it seems thatits philosophy stands on a collection of what appears …
The Islamic Lunar Calendar as a Civilizational Imperative
It is He Who made the sun a radiance, and the moon a light, anddetermined it by stations, that you might know the number of theyears and the reckoning (of time) ... (Qur'an 10:5).Every community possesses a personality and certain traits that distinguishit from others. The ummah of Islam was blessed by Allah MostHigh with a distinctive personality so that it could serve as a communityof the median way (wasatiyah) and as a witness (shahadah): "Thu…
The Problem of Bias
The Intemational Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) is pleased tosponsor this important seminar, as its topic and objectives, the nature ofthe issues to be raised, and the points of view represented by thescholarly participants and their papers are of vital concern to the Islamicworld. Through its participation, the institute has opened a new chapterfor academic activity and intellectual jihad, particularly in Arabic and Islamiccultutal circles.…
The Crisis of Thought and Ijtihad
The Muslim mind experienced a crisis of thought when, duting theearly centuries of the Islamic eta, ijtihad began to be viewed as limitedto legal matters rather than as a methodology for dealing with all aspectsof life. This limited understanding engendered a malaise that allowedtaqlid to attain such prominence and tespectability that its cancetous, constricting,and irrelevant fiqh spread throughout Muslim life. Had ijtihadretained mote of its le…
Fourth International Islamic Economics Seminar
During the past three decades, development has been perceived bothas a goal itself and as a means towards achieving certain goals. In manyThird World countries, development has even become a form of ideology.To achieve it, numerous theories and strategies have been presented.Many of these approaches have been experimented with in a practicalmanner. In general, however, returns and benefits have been negligible.Although modernized sectors have app…
The Rights of the Accused in Islam (Part Two)
Under the law of Islam, the accused enjoys many rights. Thesewill be summarized below.The Right to a DefenseThe accused has the right to defend himselfherself against anyaccusation. This may be accomplished by proving that the evidencecited is invalid or by presenting other evidence that contradicts it. Inany case, the accused must be allowed to exercise this right so that theaccusation does not turn into a conviction. An accusation means thatthe…
Naturalization and the Rights of Citizens
The subject of naturalization, which is an integml part of the conceptof identity and its related problems, has been an issue in the Muslimworld since its filst contacts with western thought, culture, military, andpolitics. Even though the matter was decided, in practical terms, by theemergence of ethnic and geographic nation-states out of the wreckage ofthe Ottoman Empire, it remains an open topic at the cultural and academiclevels. In fact, whe…
The Islamization of Knowledge
IntroductionWithin the Islamization of Knowledge school, the idea of the Islamizationof Knowledge has always been understood as an intellectual andmethodological outlook rather than as an academic field, a specialization,an ideology, or a new sect. Thus, the school has sought to view issues ofknowledge and methodology from the perspectives of reform, inquiry, andself-discovery without any preconceptions, doctrinal or temporal constraints,or limit…
Missing Dimensions in Contemporary Islamic Movements
Opening RemarksThis paper will examine dimensions that seem to be absent, whethertotally or partially, from the thought and practice of certain contemporaryIslamic movements in the Muslim world, many of which may be viewedas extensions of the liberation movements that played significant roles inmaintaining the ummah's identity at the tum of the twentieth century. Wewill address these movements and remind them, for "remembrance doesthe faithful a …
Some Remarks on the Islamic and the Secular Paradigms of Knowledge
By the time secularist thought had succeeded, at an intellectuallevel, in challenging the authority of the Church, its roots had alreadytaken firm hold in western soil. Later, when western political and economicsystems began to prevail throughout the world, it was only naturalthat secularism, as the driving force behind these systems, shouldgain ascendency worldwide. In time, and with varying degrees of success,the paradigm of positivism graduall…
The Testimony of Women in Islamic Law
The only verse in the entire Qur’an to equate the testimony of twowomen to that of one man is the so-called verse of debt (ayat al dayn),which occurs in Qur’an 2:282. This verse contains a significant amount ofmaterial that later jurists categorized variously as recommended or merelyinstructional (irshad) and without legal import. However, a very few juristsopined that the recording of debts, witnessing, and all other matters dealtwith in the ver…
Political science (18 works) · Islam (17 works) · Law (17 works) · Law (17 works) · Philosophy (17 works) · Philosophy (17 works) · Sociology (16 works) · Islamic Studies and History (14 works) · Education and Islamic Studies (13 works) · Theology (12 works)