Fiqh (Jurisprudence) is concerned to human beings in every walk of life. Change in society is the law of nature. Human life confronts different new issues and problems due to the changes in time, situation and space. So it is the responsibility of Ulema to find out solution to new issues and problems in the light of Shari’ah and guide people in the light of the Qur’ān and Sunnah. To solve such issues and problems, the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be to him) has enjoined us to organise group deliberation and discussion to reach the consensus,” said Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, General Secretary Islami Fiqh Academy, in the inaugural session of the 20th Fiqhi Seminar of the Academy in Rampur on March 5.
Islam presents a complete way of life to human beings. It deals with all worldly matters confronting to man – either political, economic, religious and social or related to environmental or sexual issues. Islam guides people completely in every walk of life. Such issues were discussed in the fiqhi seminar.
The General Secretary of Islami Fiqh Academy and organiser of this seminar, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said there are four burning issues of contemporary times which are the central theme of the seminar. These are Water Resources and Shariah law, Recreational activities in leisure time and its limitations in Islam, different types of employment opportunities and its limitations in Islam (particularly the issue of women employment), and the concept of joint and nuclear family system in Islam. Maulana Rahmani said water is the basic need of men and with the rapid industrial and civilisational developments water crisis is also increasing; and the scarcity of water has created new disputes between the communities and different states.
He further said that the subject ‘water extravaganza’ covers its uses without purpose, water preservation with protection, different methods of preserving water from pollution, Shari’ah on the use of chemical methods to make polluted water usable. The Shari’ah limitation on the general utilisation of water from river and pond, government prevention on the uses of few water resources, differences between two states on water issue, and the importance of construction of dam and its consequences on human societies.
Maulana Rahmani, who specialises in Islamic law and jurisprudence and has authored many books on the various aspects of Islamic jurisprudence, said that the joint family system which was the main feature of Indian social structure is in danger and many parents are living in old age homes while their children are leading lavish lives.
The importance of social values is being degraded. Price hike of essential commodities, increasing concept of consumerism, children education as liabilities and the fulfilment of other necessities are essential for every family unit. Besides, recreational activities in Islam and the concept of playing and passing of leisure time were also discussed in the seminar.
Islami Fiqh Academy, since its establishment, has discussed vehemently on other different modern community problems.
In our earlier seminars the Academy discussed many modern problems confronting Muslims like plastic surgery, birth control, Islamic banking, mechanical slaughtering, medical morality, AIDS, internet, divorce in toxic condition, Muslim and non-Muslim relations, genetic medicine, DNA test, environmental preservation, sex education, educational loan, etc.
Maulana Nematullah Azmi, and Islamic scholar and teacher of Darul Uloom Deoband, said in his presidential address that there are some clauses of Shari’ah which are related to community itself and some are related to others. As we are not practising Shari’ah in toto, worries are inflicting everyone.
Vice President All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Maulana Kaka Saeed Ahmad Omeri said that it is the peculiarity of Fiqh Academy that it has presented since last 20 years the solution to different contemporary jurisprudential (Fiqhi) problems of the community.