Muslim Usage of the Internet
This study explores how Muslims use the Internet for religious purposes and whether usage patterns vary between Muslim minority and Muslim majority states. PDF: English
Analytic Briefs
The Public Understanding of Islamic Scholarship in Society
In this piece, Musa Furber offers a hypothesis to express reasons of faux fatwa “fiqhtion addiction”, and propose activities to address the problem. PDF: Arabic • English
Elements of a Fatwa & Their Contribution to Confidence in Its Validity
This exploratory study examines the confidence Sunni Muslims place in the validity of fatwas based on their elements. It recommends that institutes which issue or disseminate fatwas ensure that their muftis are known to the public they serve. PDF: Arabic • English
Ranking Confidence in the Validity of Contemporary Fatwas & their Dissemination Channels
The present exploratory study examines the confidence Sunni Muslims place in the validity of contemporary fatwas communicated through a variety of communication scenarios. It recommends that newspapers and others reporting on fatwas change their focus in the types of legal opinions they choose to communicate. PDF: Arabic • English
Reducing The Role of Decision-Making Biases in Muslim Responsa
The role of decision-making biases in the fatwa process. Muslims often consult a legal expert (a mufti) concerning legal issues and to mediate intra-personal situations. A consultation with a mufti follows a process which includes conception, adaption, evaluation, and, finally, the response. While reviewing fatwas for errors, the author observed that many of the errors …
Alternative Dispute Resolution: Arbitration & Mediation in non-Muslim Regions
Shari‘ah-based personal dispute resolution for Muslims living in non-Muslim regions. Dispute resolution remains a difficult issue for Muslims living in non-Muslim regions. While Muslims within Muslim regions do usually have access to Shari‘ah-based personal dispute resolution through settlement in court by an appointed judge (qāḍī) whose judgments are binding and enforceable, the absence of such …
Ethics & Virtual Worlds: Second Life as a Case Study
An introduction to Linden Lab’s Second Life and virtual worlds, the ethics of virtual worlds, and an outline of related issues in need of informed Shari‘ah reflection. Linden Lab’s Second Life is one of the many interactive virtual worlds where people spend a great deal of time and money. Virtual worlds include online metaverses, online …
Ethical Dimensions of Nanotechnology
This brief paper introduces the subject of Nanotechnology and its ethical implications as an applied technology. It goes on to explore and present a blueprint for the theological, legal and ethical issues which Muslim scholars may need to address, as well as a framework through which scholars can determine relevant solutions. Nanotechnology comprises several fields …
Points Relevant to Muslim – Catholic Dialogue
A summary of the main points gleaned from a research project commissioned by Tabah Foundation to examine the position of the Catholic Church in relation to Islam since Vatican II, and the underlying philosophical stances adopted with regard to dialogue with non-Christian faiths. The memorandum provides an outline of the Church’s doctrinal platform for Muslims …
The Lost Tools of Learning: Text and Analysis
The “Lost Tools of Learning” is a study and analysis of classic educational systems in the West with an introduction outlining their respective implications for Islam. PDF: Arabic • English