Key research themes
1. How have historical juristic approaches shaped the balance between political authority and Islamic law in Islamic political thought?
This research theme investigates the intricate jurisprudential dynamics between Islamic law (Fiqh) scholars and political rulers, focusing on how early Islamic jurists, particularly the Ḥanafī school, navigated political authority while safeguarding legal principles. This theme is critical for understanding the formation of Islamic governance models and the continuing tension between religious legitimacy and state authority.
2. How is political identity redefined in contemporary Islamic thought amid religious and national pluralism?
This theme examines contemporary Islamic intellectual efforts to reformulate political identity by addressing the challenges posed by religious, ethnic, and national pluralism within Muslim societies. It focuses on attempts to reconcile Islamic authenticity with modern notions of statehood, citizenship, and political participation, offering pragmatic frameworks for coexistence and justice in diverse contexts.
3. What are the philosophical and practical implications of secularism and modernity on Islamic political thought?
Research under this theme focuses on the interplay between Islamic epistemology, secular political concepts, and modern challenges to religious authority. It analyzes how Islamic political thought critiques, incorporates, or resists secularism and engages with philosophical debates about freedom, authority, and moral governance, both historically and in contemporary contexts.