In recent years, fiqh al-aqalliyat, or Islamic law for Muslim minorities, has incited a great deal of interest among Muslim scholars. The growth of fiqh al-aqalliyat as a topic of debate is a... Show moreIn recent years, fiqh al-aqalliyat, or Islamic law for Muslim minorities, has incited a great deal of interest among Muslim scholars. The growth of fiqh al-aqalliyat as a topic of debate is a recognition of the relevance of Islamic law for a considerable number of Muslims living in non-Muslim countries, in particular in the West. It has revealed the complexities that Muslims face in reconstructing such laws in the context of migration and post-migration. Traditional Islamic law lacks provisions for Muslims living permanently in non-Muslim countries. Fiqh al-aqalliyat is an attempt to fill this gap and to reconstruct an Islamic legal theory to deal with questions of Islamic law for Muslims living under non-Islamic legal systems. Show less
The title of the international congress held in Leiden from 14 to 16 December 2000, 'Religious Freedom and the Neutrality of the State: The Position of Islam in the European Union', can be said to... Show moreThe title of the international congress held in Leiden from 14 to 16 December 2000, 'Religious Freedom and the Neutrality of the State: The Position of Islam in the European Union', can be said to indicate a challenge. Although all member states of the European Union state the principles of religious freedom and non-discrimination in their constitutions, neutrality appears to be a paradoxical concept. A group of 35 scholars from 11 countries of the European Union discussed the recent developments regarding the position of Islam within the current national legislations, political structures and public discourses in the European Union. Show less