Page 12 - UAE FATWA PR REPORT - AUGUST 2024

Jurisprudence of reality: Towards a fatwa that

understands the forms of modernity and issues of

contemporary Life

Jurisprudence of reality: Towards a fatwa that understands the forms of modernity and issues
of contemporary Life
8 Aug 2024 20:16

Written by His Eminence Abdullah bin Bayyah, Chairman of the United Arab Emirates Council
for Iftā’ (Fatwas)

Understanding the changing reality and evolving contexts presents a challenge for the issuers of
legal fatwas in this era. Some completely ignore reality, some lack the necessary tools to
understand it, and others try to impose their own interpretation of reality on religious texts without
understanding the guidelines and constraints involved.

Reality is the flowing river of life with which fatwas must engage, adapting to its hues, seeking its
source, and contemplating its direction and endpoint. Reality is therefore a partner in the
formulation of Islamic rulings, and understanding it is the means to apply these rulings to real
situations.

However, understanding reality is not an easy task, especially in a globalised world that is becoming

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