THE MAQASID OF THE SHARIAH: SPIRIT, NOT SOURCE OF THE SHARIA

Published by Islamic Circles on 11 July, 2006 - 07:32

Islamic Circles presents:

THE MAQASID OF THE SHARIAH: SPIRIT, NOT SOURCE OF THE SHARIAH

by Shaykh Walead Mohammed (USA/UAE)*

Date: Tuesday 11th July 2006
Time: 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm
Venue: Froud Centre, 1 Toronto Avenue, off Romford Road, Manor Park,
London E12 5JF

As a theme of the Shari'ah in its own right, Maqasid al-Shari'ah,
or the goals and objectives of Islamic law did not receive much
attention in the early stages of the development of Islamic legal
thought and, as such, they represent rather a later addition to
the jurisprudence. However, prevailing socio-political climate of
Muslims both in Muslim and non-Muslim lands and increasing calls
for ijtihad, have meant that maqasid, both as a concept and spirit,
have become the focus of attention as it tends to provide a ready
and convenient access to the Shari'ah. It is naturally meaningful
to understand the broad outlines of the objectives of the Shari'ah
in the first place before one tries to move on to the specifics.
An adequate knowledge of the maqasid thus equips the student of
the Shari'ah with insight and provides them with a theoretical
framework in which the attempt to acquire detailed knowledge of
its various doctrines can become more interesting and meaningful.

What are the objectives of the Shariah? Living in the West, can
they be applicable to us? Do we need 'Shariah' courts? How will
Islamic Jurisprudence meet the major challenges of the 21st
Century, such as climate change, fiqh for minorities, Islamic
finance, ethical issues in medical discoveries, etc?

About Shaykh Walead Mohammed*
Shaykh Walead Mohammed was born in New York City in 1972 and grew up there and
later in central New Jersey. pon completion of high school he entered Rutgers
College of Engineering and obtained his B.S. in electrical engineering in 1994.
During his university years he was active in the Islamic Society of Rutgers
University where he served as president. After graduation, he worked as a
communications and network engineer in New Jersey and later in New York City.
In the summer of 1997 he departed for the Middle East to study Arabic and
Islamic sciences. After studying some of the Arabic sciences with a scholar
from Dar Al-'Ulum in Cairo, he enrolled in Mahad Al-Fatah in Damascus.
He then completed a degree in Arabic Language and Literature from Al-Azhar
University in Cairo. He has also studied the Islamic sciences, including Quranic
exegesis, marriage and divorce law, law of transactions, hadith methodology and
commentary, juristic methodology, and spiritual sciences with notable scholars
such as Shaykh Bakri Al-Tarabishi a Quranic scholar with the highest Quran ijaza
in the world, Ustadh Ali Hamidullah, one of the foremost Arabic grammarians ,
Shaykh Kurayyim Rajih, the grand shaykh of Quran reciters in Damascus, Shaykh
Ahmad Taha Rayyan, the foremost Maliki shaykh in al-Azhar, and Shaykh Ali Jumua,
the grand mufti of Egypt. He additionally has been given written authorization,
or ijaza, from the current Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shaykh Ali Jumua to transmit
and teach the sacred sciences. He also received written authorization to teach
Quranic recitation with the highest chain of authorization to the Prophet
(saw), from Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi of Damascus. He has participated in deen
intensive programs in California at the Zaytuna Institute, New Mexico, South
America, and in the UK. Currently he resides in Abu Dhabi, UAE with his family
and 5 children.

HOW TO GET THERE :

Buses: 25, 147, 86
Nearest Tube: East Ham (District Line)
Nearest Rail: Manor Park (From Liverpool St)

Click here for map:

=185750&zoom=1&isp=187&ism=500&arrow=y?55,39

Road: From the A406 (North Circular), turn off at Ilford and go
towards Central London along the A118 (Romford Road). The Froud
Centre is located on the 4th intersection on the right.

Rail: Come out of Manor Park station onto Station Road. Cross over,
turn right and walk to the main traffic lights. Turn left at this
junction onto Romford Road. Walk 300 metres up the road. The Froud
Centre is located on the 5th intersection on the left.

Tube: Come out of East Ham station, cross over to the opposite side
and catch the 147 bus. Ask the driver to drop you off on Romford Road
near the petrol station. When you exit the bus turn left and walk
100 metres up the road. The Froud Centre will be on your right.

All welcome to attend. Admission is free.

For more information please call 07092 032 136
or e-mail: