ML 403 – Methods and Perspectives in Islamic Law

The current module is devised to familiarise students with the most important methodological approaches and schools in the field of Cultural Sciences in general and in Islamic Law in particular. Since each competent researcher in Islamic Law ought to have a good grasp of a number of ‘methods’ for collecting, analysing and interpreting data and information, critically assessing available evidence, rival views and contesting theories, and providing satisfactory explanations for the phenomena under investigation, a selection of most relevant research methods is also introduced. In view of the fact that successful researchers should be able to present the results of their findings in effective ways, various techniques of writing and presenting research essays and projects on themes related to Islam will be introduced. The overall aim of the Module however, is to familiarise students with the ability of critical thinking and to equip them with the required skill and competence for discerning and exploring genuine ‘problems’ in the area of Islamic Law and developing their intellectual potentials for producing novel solutions for the detected problems. This ability in its apex is technically termed ijtihad.
Module Title: Methods and Perspectives in Islamic Law
Module Type: Core
Program: MA/PG Dip Islamic Law
Prerequisite(s): none
Credit(s): 20
Module Code: ML 403
Semester: 2
Component(s): Coursework: 80% Presentation: 20%

 

Syllabus

Syllabus

 Researching and analysing Islamic resources for legal purposes
 The spirit versus letter in Islamic law
 Different approaches to ijtihad and its scope
 How can Islamic law face exigencies of modern life
 Critical Rationalism: A Sound Epistemological Framework for Studying Islamic Law
 Situational Analysis/ Situational Logic: A Suitable Methodology and Method for Mujtahids and Researchers in Islamic Law
 Hermeneutics: Hans-Georg Gadamer and Paul Ricoeur and the relativistic implications of the approach
 Thomas Kuhn’s paradigm and the historical phases of Islamic Law
 Using internet and appropriate software for research in Islamic Law
 Literature review with regard to major resources in various Islamic fields
 Essay writing skills for academic purposes
 Presentation of a research report

Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy

Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy

Assessment Scheme
Individual coursework (4000 words) worth 80/100 on a relevant topic but not the topic of their dissertation (approved in advance by the module tutor) and a 1500 word paper based on student contribution to class discussion groups.

Assessment Weighting
Individual coursework: 80 out of 100
Study presented in the class 20 out of 100

Learning materials

Learning materials

Core readings
Drew, P. Raymond, G. Weinberg D. eds. (2006) Talk and Interaction in Social Research Methods, Sage Publications
Fairelough, N. (2006) Discourse and Social Change, Polity Press
Harding S. (ed.), (1987) Feminism & Methodology, Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press,
Janet M. Box-Steffensmeier & Bradford S. Jones, (2004) Event History Modelling: A Guide for Social Scientists, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Paya, A (2015) Methods and Perspectives in the Islamic Studies, ICAS Press, (forthcoming)
Paul S. Gray, et.al. (2007) The Research Imagination, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Scott W. VanderStoep, Deirdre D. Johnston. (2009) Research methods for everyday life: blending qualitative and quantitative approaches, John Wiley & Sons
Singh, K. (2007) Quantitative social research methods, SAGE Publications