Survey of Contemporary Issues

The tragic incident of 9/11, recent violence and turmoil in many Muslim lands, and not-so-thoughtful responses of Muslim intellectuals on modern-day issues have raised many questions in the minds of sincere Muslims. In a traditional society, it is a tradition that is accorded centrality, but in today's world, reason plays a central role in society. The rational mind of this modern age is asking: "If Islam is the religion of peace, then why is terrorism associated with Islam?" "If the Quran gives equal status to men and women, then why are Muslim women oppressed in many Muslim societies worldwide, and the husband is allowed to beat his wife?" "How can a religion of mercy not allow a Muslim to pet a dog?" "If God has created all human beings, then why are people of the LGBTQ community not acceptable in a Muslim society?" "If science explains everything, what do I need religion for?" "Can Islam respond to the challenges faced in the contemporary world?" "Is Islam even compatible with the modern world?" This course is designed as an attempt to answer these and similar questions raised in modern minds in the light of the Quran, Sunnah, and the rich and long tradition of Islamic scholarship. Contrary to the common belief, Islam has provided fundamental guiding principles related to different aspects of a Muslim individual and society and left the details of practical application to the human faculty of jurisprudence so that different societies can apply the guiding principles of Shariah according to time and place.