Towards A Fiqh For Minorities: Some Basic Reflections

Ibn Khaldun, the fourteenth century Arab historiographer and historian, is viewed as a founder of modern historiography, sociology and economics. He lived during a turbulent part of history, and out of his experiences, he ?conceived and created a philosophy of history that was undoubtedly the greatest work ever created by a man of intelligence…?. This work tells of the period of unrest in Ibn Khaldun?s life marked by political rivalries. It is during this turbulent period which provided him with the opportunity to write the Muqaddimah (or Prolegomena), earning him an immortal place among historians, sociologists and philosophe

This book addresses the views of the Sunni scholars regarding the importance of genealogical relationship (nasab) in Islamic family law and examines the role of legitimacy on the basis of the legal maxim “al-walad li al-firash”, evidence (al-bayyinah), and doubtful intercourse (wat’ shubhah). It also elucidates the views of the Sunni schools of law on how to establish illegitimacy. For the Sunni jurists, there are several situations that determine the illegitimacy of the child.  A child is considered illegitimate if its birth is the outcome of adultery (zina) or the result of legitimate union but accompanied with imprecation (li‘an). Other circumstances include the birth of the child taking place in less than six lunar months, the father of the child being categorized as one who is incapable of begetting, or the birth as a result of marital relationship considered unlawful because of consanguinity. The book also deals comprehensively with the moral, religious, legal and other aspects of the illegitimate child and the foundling in the works of the Sunni jurists. The status and rights of the illegitimate child and the foundling in the Islamic family law of Malaysia and Brunei are also discussed by referring to some provisions from Federal Territory Act 1984 (Act 303) and Brunei law.

Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi, who died in 1888, had sought an answer to the challenge posed by modernisation and change to Islamic law, by introducing maslahah, which forms the basis of his philosophy of Islamic law. In a fascinating way, the author leads us step by step to what he considers the true import of Shatibi’s views concerning jurisprudence.

In The Right to Education, Work and Welfare in Islam Professor M.H. Kamali develops an Islamic perspective on three connected and complementary areas of rights and liberties. He urges that education is often a necessary ingredient of professional work even more so now than in earlier times when the range and variety of specialised knowledge were relatively limited. A person who acquires education, whether generally or at advanced levels of specialisation, is more likely to stand in a better position to enter the workforce and thus to contribute to the welfare of the community.

The author commences his discussions on education, work and welfare in Islam by focusing on how each is treated in the Qur’an; and follows this by the example of the Prophet and, after him, the Pious Caliphs who gave prominence to the education and welfare needs of people at times both of scarcity and affluence. Professor Kamali then moves forward to our time and discusses the right to education, the education of children, institutionalisation of learning, academic freedom and the debate between science and religion.

The section on work elaborates on the value of work, work ethics, workers’ and employers’ rights and responsibilities, and the role and responsibility of governments.
Finally, the section on welfare focuses on the importance in Islam of caring for those who are in need and the different forms of provision that can be made available by individuals, the state and charities.