Editorial

Abstract

Man’s physical and intellectual life has become too complicated and
diversified for a single individual to internalize, however knowledgeable
he or she may be. Hence, ijtihad and renewal are no longer a mission
reserved exclusively for a mujtahid, ‘alim, or a leader as was traditionally
the case a few centuries ago.
Historically speaking, more than a hundd years ago, this demanding
reality of human life was recognized by the Ottomans. Rather than
following the established traditions of placing the responsibilities of
legislation in the hands of a grand mujfuhid, a broad committee of
‘ulama, statesmen, and public figures was set up to take charge of codifying
the Hanafi school of fiqh (known as the Majalla). It is therefore the
responsibility of scientists, ‘ulama, philosophers, and, above all, social
scientists to play a significant role in the ongoing movement of Islamic
renewal.
Yet the intellectual tcnewal of a nation can only be set on foot with
a critique of dominant norms, paradigms, and ideals, whether of intrinsic
mots or of foreign origins. Indeed, it is through a comprehensive and
constructive critical insights that society will be able to develop a new
and invigorating worldview. This is the starting point and common
denominator shared by most articles of this issue of AJISS.
Mona M. Abul-Fadl proposes an extensive and profound analysis of
contempomy social theory. Her goal is to illustrate its misrepnasentation
of the human venture and to lay the foundation for an Islamic perspective
of social theory. Similarly, though on a smaller scale, Abdulwahab al
Masseri reflects on the common mts of imperialism, secularism, and the
dominant western epistemological outlook. Challenging decaying ideals
of other categories, Taha J. al ‘Alwini presents a detailed reformulation
on the rights of the accused in a typical Islamic judicial system. By
drawing on primary Islamic texts and classical fiqh sources, his work
epitomizes that of a contemporary faqih vis-a-vis contemporary issues.
Suha Taji-Farouki's article is in contrast With that of al ‘Alwani. Here,
a social scientist attempts to deconstruct a moden faqih’s (al Nabhani ...