1. A Comparative Study of the Art of Jonah/Yunus Narrative in the Bible and the Qur’an
MUHAMMAD KHALID MASUD
This article attempts a comparative study of the story of Jonah/Yunus in the bible and the Quran. The texts are analysed from a narratological perspective without judging as to which one has a better form or more authoritative account. The aim of the article is to introduce fresh ways of studying the bible and the Qur’an which might be novel for those who are acquainted with their own tradition only. The approach is based on a close reading that notes linguistic structures, patterns and usages. The article begins with a general introduction of the worldviews of the two narratives, moves on to discuss the structure and function of the narratives, goes on to analyse the characterization and closes with some comments on the style and composition which gives them a distinctive colour and shape.
2. The Significance of Istifta in the Fatwa Discourse
MUHAMMAD KHALID MASUD
I propose to analyze six important manuals of fatwa with a view to know how they define fatwa and how they see its significance in the process of fatwa-writing. According to them, a fatwa must confine itself to the contents of istifta’. These manuals also provide instructions about istifta’ and mustafta, that is, the person who poses the question. An analysis of these instructions, structures and discussions about the mustafta reveals a very significant aspect of the process. An istifta’ contains phrases about the obligation and the role of the mufti, the nature of the query and the value of the expected reply. I suggest that fatwa should be reckoned as a discourse on religious authority within the context of madhhab, taqlid and ijtihad. This essay will refer to the above manuals for the light they shed on the instructions about istifta’, as well as about its form, structure and significance. In order to explore istifta’ as a discourse on religious authority, the essay includes actual examples from the fatwa literature.
3. Dialogue Between Islam and Buddhism through the Concepts Ummatan Wasaâan (The Middle Nation) and Majjhima-Patipada (The Middle Way)
IMTIYAZ YUSUF
Monotheistic religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — have coexisted with Buddhism in many parts of Asia for centuries. This led in the past to dialogue as well as misunderstanding between the two at the doctrinal and social levels. This paper seeks to initiate dialogue between Islam and Buddhism through the Islamic concept of ummatan wasaâan (Middle Nation) and the Buddhist concept of majjhima-patipada (Middle Way) as a means to build understanding and harmony in Asian societies. The Buddha and the Prophet Muâammad (peace be on him) as religious teachers explained to humanity as to what is the true state of being and how the illusions which drag humanity through darkness and injustice can be overcome. In this age of globalization when physical barriers between various societies in terms of material culture are virtually being eliminated there is an urgent need for dialogue between monotheistic religious traditions and Buddhism. This could take place between Islam and Buddhism or Judaism and Buddhism or Christianity and Buddhism, but it is imperative that this dialogue takes place for it is likely to generate mutual understanding and respect between the followers of these two categories of religion.
4. Islamic Economics: A Survey of the Literature
ASAD ZAMAN
A central thesis of this paper is that social science is the study of human experience, and hence is strongly conditioned by history. Modern Western political, economic and social structures have emerged as a consequence of the repudiation of religion associated with the Enlightenment and are based on secular principles. Many of these are discordant with Islamic principles and cannot be adapted to an Islamic society. Around the middle of the twentieth century Muslim societies successively achieved freedom from colonial rule where-after they sought to construct their collective institutions in conformity with the teachings of Islam. The development of Islamic economics is part of this process of gaining freedom from the stranglehold of Western colonial institutions. This paper is a survey of the literature on Islamic economics which focuses on the contrasts between Western economic theories and Islamic approaches to the organization of economic affairs.
2003 - 2010 Islamic Reserach Institute, Islamabad, Pakistan.
