Active · Live
Research Topic

Contemporary Islamic Law

Contemporary fiqh issues: approaching the new questions of modern life within the methodology of Islamic law.

Contemporary fiqh problems are new issues produced by modern life that have no direct counterpart in classical fiqh literature. Developments in medicine, technology, economics and family life continually call for fresh ijtihad.

Topics such as artificial intelligence and liability, bioethical questions and the marriage authority of muftis are brought into the present through the flexible yet principled structure of usul al-fiqh. The aim is to produce consistent answers to the questions of the age while remaining faithful to the textual sources.

Assoc. Prof. Tuba Erkoç Baydar addresses these contemporary issues through her blog essays, articles and research projects, contributing in particular to current debates in medical ethics and family law.

Related Books

Related Publications

Frequently Asked Questions

How are contemporary fiqh problems resolved?

By applying the concepts of usul al-fiqh (ijtihad, analogy, maṣlaḥa, custom, maqāṣid) to new issues — first describing the issue accurately, then assessing it in light of the textual sources.

How is artificial intelligence treated in Islamic law?

AI's participation in medical decision-making raises new questions for the doctrine of liability (ḍamān); this is discussed in the essay "Artificial Intelligence and Liability in Islamic Law".

Other Topics

Euthanasia in Islamic LawWithdrawal of Treatment in IslamMedical Ethics in IslamOrgan Transplantation in Islamic LawBrain Death in Islamic LawIslamic Bioethics