Contemporary Fiqh Studies

Aims

Contemporary Fiqh Studies (CFS) is a peer-reviewed academic journal committed to advancing innovative scholarship in the field of Islamic jurisprudence. It seeks to promote critical, interdisciplinary, and globally engaged approaches to the study of fiqh. The journal aims to move beyond purely doctrinal and descriptive analyses by encouraging research that is theoretically informed, empirically grounded, and methodologically rigorous, with a focus on critically examining the development, transformation, and application of Islamic jurisprudence in contemporary contexts.

Scope

The journal encompasses, but is not limited to, the following areas:

Critical Fiqh and Legal Theory
Reinterpretations of usul al-fiqh, maqasid al-sharia, fatwa, and other aspects of Islamic legal epistemology by employing critical legal theory, post-positivist approaches, and decolonial perspectives. It encompasses analyses that critically examine the foundational principles, underlying assumptions, and epistemic limits inherent in Islamic jurisprudence.

Fiqh, Society, and Legal Pluralism
Empirical and theoretical analyses of the role of fiqh within everyday social practices, institutional contexts, and pluralistic legal frameworks. It examines the hybridity, contestation, and negotiation processes that occur among fiqh, state law, and local or customary norms.

Fiqh, State, and Governance
Analyses of the relationship between fiqh and contemporary governance, focusing on its role within legal systems, public policy, and regulatory frameworks. It encourages critical examinations of the ways in which Islamic law is institutionalized, politicized, or transformed within modern state structures.

Transnational and Comparative Fiqh
Cross-regional and comparative studies emphasize the diversity of interpretations and practices within Islamic jurisprudence across various cultural, political, and geographic contexts. It explores the dissemination of Islamic legal ideas, the exercise of transnational authority, and the dynamics of global legal discourses.

Fiqh, Gender, and Human Rights
Feminist and human rights-oriented approaches to fiqh involve both critical analyses and constructive reinterpretations that address issues related to gender justice, equality, and human dignity.

Fiqh, Technology, and Global Challenges
Innovative research examining the responses of fiqh to contemporary global challenges, such as digital transformation, environmental crises, bioethics, migration, and the governance of artificial intelligence and algorithms.