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Call for Papers

International Conference “Jurisprudential doctrines in the classical era: history and society”

29–30 May 2024 |  via Zoom

Deadline: 31 March 2024

This conference aims to explore the development of Islamic schools of Fiqh (al-Madhāhib) from a multiscalar approach, focusing mainly on the period between the 4th and 7th centuries. While historical analyses are not new in Medieval Islamic law studies, multiscale approaches are currently being developed in Islamic jurisprudence throughout the Islamic world, linking different case studies and historiographical traditions.
Speakers will present research papers on the regional distribution and interconnectedness of al-Madhāhib during the classical period. With advanced historical methods and sociological approaches, the papers can address the reasons for the development of al-Madhāhib from regional to personal schools, and the impact of political and cultural contexts on their institutions and literatures. Multifaceted relationships can be analysed to gain a deeper understanding of Fiqh transformation.
The conference also encourages participants to examine the jurisprudential (Fiqh) and fundamental theories (Uṣūl al-fiqh), the structure of doctrines that have developed since the fourth century, in addition to the reasons for their development.
The presenters will examine case studies to shed light on the cultural and political life of jurists through the memoirs that have reached us, as well as texts and new manuscripts that document political events such as the sedition (Fitnat) of Ibn al-Qushayrī and the revolution of Ibn Tūmart.
We will also focus on the history of the development of some of the most important ideas that have emerged and have been established during this era: the concept of al-Raḥmah wa-al-ʻadl ,al-Maṣlaḥah, al-Maqāṣid, al-Taqlīd, Takhrīj al-furūʻ ʻalá al-uṣūl, Ādāb al-Baḥth wa-al-munāẓarah, the utility of logic in al-Ijtihād and much more…
Thus, our goal is to reflect on different relevant questions. We suggest that by integrating several disciplines and applying interdisciplinary approaches (historiographic, sociology, anthropology, literature… etc.), it is possible to improve our understanding of medieval socio-cultural dynamics, power structures, and the development of al-Sharīʻah.
This conference has the aim to bring together historians and scholars who are interested in any of these topics. We kindly ask you to submit the following documents no later than the 31 of March 2024:

  • 2–3 pages of a summary of the presentation (Exposé)
  • CV

The presentation should be no longer than 20 minutes and must aim to stimulate a vivid discussion. Please send your documents by e-mail to the following address:

Dr. Abderrahmane Zaatri : abderrahmane.zaatri@uni-muenster.de
We will answer the accepted exposé by 15 April 2024, and after the conference, you will be kindly asked to hand in a final version of your paper no later than 10 September 2024, after the evaluation we will publish the accepted papers in a conference book.

The conference will be held via Zoom in Arabic and English.

Please also forward this call to young scholars in the field who may be interested in contributing.

Organisators:
Dr. Abderrahmane Zaatri (ZIT)
Dr. Ilyass Amharar (IREMAM)
Dr. Mohamed Eriouiche (NIR)