Islamic Studies Published

The latest issue of Islamic Studies, a research journal of Islamic Research Institute-IIUI, is now published.

Islamic Studies, Volume No 47, Number 1, Spring 1428–1429/2008

Contents:

1. The Notions of Dar al-harb and Dar al-Islam in Islamic Jurisprudence with Special Reference to the Hanafi School
MUHAMMAD MUSHTAQ AHMAD

2. IImages of Religious Others in Textbooks of Religious Education for the Public Primary Schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina
AID SMAJIĆ

3. Islam in Brunei Darussalam: Negotiating Islamic Revivalism and Religious Radicalism
IIK ARIFIN MANSURNOOR

Documents

Civil and Religious Law in England: A Religious Perspective

Book Reviews

Omid Safi. The Politics of Knowledge in Premodern Islam: Negotiating Ideology and Religious Identity
ARSHAD ZAMAN

Caryle Murphy. Passion For Islam: Shaping the Modern Middle East: The Egyptian Experience
IRFAN MOEEN KHAN

Nahid Kabir. Muslims in Australia: Immigration, Race Relations and Cultural History
SAMINA YASMEEN

Saba Mahmood. Politics of Piety: The Islamic Revival and the Feminist Subject
JUNAID S. AHMAD

Talal Asad. On Suicide Bombing
SADIA MAHMOOD

Absracts:

1. The Notions of Daral-Harb and Dar al-Islam in Islamic Jurisprudence with Special Reference to the Hanafi School
MUHAMMAD MUSHTAQ AHMAD

The article argues that the bifurcation of the world into two domains—Dar al-Isl┐m and D┐r al-╓arb—is essentially an affirmation of the principle of territorial jurisdiction. This principle was enunciated with a high degree of clarity and its implications were worked out with rigour and consistency by the Muslim jurists, especially those of the ╓anaf┘ school. Among the reasons that have mainly led to confusion and misgiving on the question are:

The use of the term D┐r al-╓arb gave rise to the impression that hostility should inform the relations between D┐r al-Isl┐m and all other entities.

The firmness shown by the Prophet (peace be on him) during the last years of his life to root out the forces actively inimical to Islam and establish a secure foothold for Islam in the Arabian peninsula has at times been detached from its space-time context and considered to be the norm for the Muslims in their relationship with all non-Muslim entities.

The paper argues that seventh century Arabia was a very special case and Muslim jurists, especially ╓anaf┘ jurists, consider it sui generis which may not be extended beyond its space-time context. The general principle guiding Muslims in their relationship with non-Muslim entities remains that the Muslims may engage in fighting against the non-Muslims who are belligerent towards them, rather than against non-Muslims qua non-Muslims.


2. Images of Religious Others in Textbooks of Religious Education for the Public Primary Schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina
AID SMAJIĆ

The course of Religious Education and its respective textbooks for pupils of public primary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina could certainly make a considerable contribution to rebuilding mutual trust between Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims — the three major religious traditions of the country in the post-war period. Obviously, the extent of success in this regard will largely depend on how the Religious Education literature portrays the members of other ethno-religious communities in the country. Our analysis has shown that the greatest space for religious others is allocated in the textbooks of Catholic Religious Education. In general, textbooks of all traditional religious communities in the country tend to avoid direct negative evaluation of religious others, preferring rather to address their teachings and history of mutual encounter in a respectful manner. Exceptions, however, do exist and they are often concerned with how confessions and religious orientations other than traditional Catholic, Orthodox and Islamic are portrayed. Similarly, history and historical categories remain to be the main factors vitiating the portrayal of Muslims in Catholic and — especially — Orthodox textbooks. Accordingly, history textbooks might prove to be the main battle field in the future textbook revisions.

3. Islam in Brunei Darussalam: Negotiating Islamic Revivalism and Religious Radicalism
IIK ARIFIN MANSURNOOR

Bruneians have shown great earnestness in their adherence to Islam. Religious life in Brunei, however, is characterised by a marked degree of peace and harmony which is indicated by the absence of schismatic tensions.

Moreover, the Bruneians’ allegiance to Islam did not problematise their encounter with the religious others.This paper attempts to study the phenomenon and seeks to explain it. While its fuller explanation requires a multi-dimensional analysis, the paper focuses on a careful examination of the religio-ideological factor and arrives at the conclusion that the characteristic Islamic orientation in Brunei—its inclusive approach, its accent on moderation, its ability to incorporate change without creating social convulsion, etc.—is largely because of the Bruneians’ adherence to a well-established traditional Islamic school in which they are firmly rooted.