Connecting Classical Jurisprudence with Contemporary Realities
As one of Al-Mahdi Institute’s six specialist research areas, Islamic Legal Studies explores Sharia and Fiqh across their historical evolution and present-day application. Investigating how uṣūl al-fiqh shapes legal reasoning, we address ethical, political, and social issues from technology to human rights. Led by our Research Lead, we organise an annual international workshop that produces the peer-reviewed Contemporary Fiqh Issues series, alongside hosting regular seminars, book talks, and fellowships. Our work seeks to illuminate how classical jurisprudence continues to inform and be informed by contemporary realities.
Since 2013, the annual Contemporary Fiqh Issues workshop series has gathered scholars to critically address pressing ethical, political, and social challenges. These workshops advance our mission to demonstrate how classical jurisprudence continues to shape and be shaped by contemporary realities.
Through our Book Talks with leading academics and podcasts of conference and seminar papers, we make cutting-edge research accessible to a wider audience. In doing so, we extend our commitment to exploring how Sharīʿa and fiqh remain relevant to today’s debates.
Our research seminars invite scholars from around the world to present their latest work in Islamic legal studies, fostering dialogue across traditions and disciplines. This global exchange directly supports our aim of investigating how uṣūl al-fiqh informs legal reasoning in modern contexts.
Papers presented at our workshops and conferences are compiled into peer-reviewed edited volumes, preserving and disseminating high-level scholarship. These publications ensure that insights into Islamic jurisprudence continue to inform both academic study and wider public discourse.
Seyed Mohammad Ghari Fatemi, PhD (Manchester, 1999), is Professor of Comparative Human Rights and Islamic Legal Theories. Trained in both Islamic scholarship and public law, he has published widely in Persian and English on human rights, Islamic legal theory, and hermeneutics.
We welcome collaborations in advancing the field of Islamic legal studies. Whether through submitting papers, participating in events, accessing our resources, or proposing joint projects, join us in fostering thoughtful scholarship.
