Analysis of the Fatwas of the European Council for Ifta and Research on Selected Social Issues Facing Muslim Minorities in Europe

Abstract

Islam provides comprehensive way of life, offering guidance across all circumstances. It not only addresses the needs of the majority but also provides a framework for minorities to navigate their lives. In today’s world, nearly half of the global Muslim population resides in non-Muslim majority countries, facing challenges that were not encountered by Muslims in previous eras. These challenges are particularly evident in European countries, where Muslims constitute a minority and grapple with various issues, including those related to societal norms on Halal and Haram, as well as political, familial and economic matters. To address these challenges, Islamic Jurists have developed guidance rooted in the Quran and Sunnah, known as "Fiqh al-Aqalliyat" (Jurisprudence for Muslim Minorities). Fiqh al-Aqalliyat is a contemporary concept in Islamic jurisprudence, formulated with an awareness of modern circumstances and needs. In response to these evolving issues, various institutions for collective ijtihad (independent reasoning) have been established globally. Among these is the European Council for Fatwa and Research, which offers solutions to the unique challenges faced by Muslim minorities in Europe, within the framework of the Quran and Sunnah. This paper critically examines the some selected Fataawa relaed to the social issued by the European Council for Fatwa and Research concerning Muslim minorities.

Keywords: Muslim Minorities, European Council for Fatwa and Research, Social Issues, Fiqh al-Aqalliyat, Collective Ijtihad.