Al-Anfal

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

مفتی محمد سلیمان, ڈاکٹرمحمد کاشف شیخ, قیصر جبران — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0200

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.

Shafiqur-Ur-Rehman's Stories Reflect Social Issues

Dr. Parveen Kallu, Ghazala Kishwer, Dr. Mamuna Subhani — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The famous Urdu humorist, writer and short story writer Shafiq-ur-Rehman was born on November 9, 1920 in Kala Noor, East Punjab (India). His father, Rao Abdul Rehman, was an engineer in the Irrigation Department of Bahawalpur State. He was also associated with the Bahawalpur Sutlej Valley Project. Under this project, the canal system in Bahawalpur was extended to remote areas and the uninhabited areas were made green and lush. Thus, the family lived in Bahawalpur for a long time. Rao Abdul Rehman had four children. The eldest son was named Rao Hafeez-ur-Rehman, while the other children were Shafiq-ur-Rehman, Aqeel-ur-Rehman and the youngest daughter was Jamila Begum. Rao Hafeez-ur-Rehman was the Minister of Education and Minister of Health of Bahawalpur State. Shafiq-ur-Rehman's family was educated and held high government positions. This family was a family with deep literary taste. Shafeequr-ur-Rehman wrote many books i.e “kirnain”,”Shagoofay”, “Lehrain”, “Madd-o-Jzr”, ”Parwaz”, “Pachtaway”, “Hamaqaten”, “Mazeed Hamaqaten”, “Insani Tamasha”,”Dajla”,”Dareechay”He was also a fiction writer as well.His writings reflect on social issues, whose are mentioned here.

Key Words: Shafiq-ur-Rehman, famous Urdu humorist, short story writer, Rao Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Bahawalpur, Jamila Begum, “kirnain”,”Shagoofay”, “Lehrain”, “Madd-o-Jzr”, ”Parwaz”, “Pachtaway”, “Hamaqaten”, “Mazeed Hamaqaten”, “Insani Tamasha”,”Dajla”,”Dareechay”.

The Ethical Value of the Qur’ānic Concept of Taqwā

Dr. Kubat Ahmad Ahmad1 — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0200

This article presents the important ethical value of the Qur’anic Taqwā and its consequences at individual, collective and universal levels. In Islam, taqwā means the fear of Allah, piety, and righteousness. The article objective is to demonstrates that taqwā is a major ethical concept in the Qur’ānic text and drives the conductus of Muslims in their all-present life aspects. Also, it has a significant consequence on their life Hereafter. The article finds that if Muslims can feel and understand all the vertical and horizontal aspects of taqwā in the present and life Hereafter, the Islamic world will be much better than what it is now, even then, they can export this Qur’anic value of taqwā to the whole of humanity and establish for a new Islamic ethical theory. During the text, a verse analysis approach is applying to develop the whole aspects of taqwā in Islam. The article concluded the integral and identical aspect of the ethical-religious aspect of the Qur’ānic taqwā and its significant impacts on Muslims life.

Keywords: Taqwā, Qur’ān, Ethics, Piety, Virtue