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As the U.S. led coalition works to build a
foundation for a stable and secure democratic future for Iraq,
what Islamic traditions and practices can be utilized in
rebuilding Iraqi civil society? On March 19 the U.S. Institute
of Peace and the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy
co-hosted a Religion and Peacemaking Workshop to explore the
concept of Ijtihad and the challenge of reinterpreting
Islamic Principles for the 21st Century. Held as part of the
Institute's ongoing series of public workshops on religion and
peacemaking, the session featured a panel of distinguished
Islamic scholars from around the United States. Issues the panel
explored include:
- What is Ijtihad (religious interpretation in
Islam), and how can it be used to address the needs of Muslim
societies in the 21st century?
- How can the door of Ijtihad be reopened, and who
has the right to perform Ijtihad?
- What are the main problems, challenges, and handicaps
facing the Muslim world and how can we address them?
- How can Muslims resolve their differences of opinion
without resorting to violence or repression?
- What role can American Muslim leaders and organizations
play in promoting a more tolerant, modern, and moderate
interpretation of Islam?
Co-moderated by David Smock, director of the
Institute's Religion and Peacemaking Initiative, and Radwan
Masmoudi, president of the Center for the Study of Islam and
Democracy, the presentations were followed by a general
discussion including questions from the floor.
Sayid Hassan Al-Qazwini was among the speakers
that were invited to the workshop. Imam Qazwini began his speech
by speaking about the importance and significance of Ijtihad in
Islam, and how it is used and understood today. He stated that
Islamic law "should
be able to cope with and accommodate such progression" and that
Islamic laws are flexible and have the capability of changing
and adjusting to every time and era, to fit the proper needs of
each time. He then mentioned that Ijtihad "makes the
modern world clear in the light of Islam", and he gave a few
examples of the ways Ijtihad deals and copes with contemporary
life. Imam Qazwini then spoke about the authority in Ijtihad,
who has it and how to deal with it. Imam Qazwini ended his
speech by addressing some obstacles Muslims face today and the
proper ways to deal with them and how Ijtihad has played a major
role in setting realistic and appropriate ways for Muslims to
deal with the many problems they face without the use of
violence.
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