In January we published a series of essays written by students from the Fall 2024 “Islamic Law Lab” course at Harvard Law School, convened by Professor Intisar Rabb. As part … Continue reading Islamic Law and ChatGPT: Student Essays from the Islamic Law Lab
Revelation, Reason, or Rational Consensus? Divergent Views on Ḥusn wa Qubḥ and Natural Law in Islam
By Hussain Awan* This essay explores the following research question, analyzed first utilizing a response generated from ChatGPT, and then using the relevant scholarly material: “What is ḥusn wa qubḥ, … Continue reading Revelation, Reason, or Rational Consensus? Divergent Views on Ḥusn wa Qubḥ and Natural Law in Islam
Can the severity of ḥudūd punishments be adjusted to align with modern liberal values?
By Salah-Dean Satouri* When Western commentators engage with Islamic law, they frequently focus on its most severe punishments, such as amputation for theft and stoning for adultery.[1] These penalties, known … Continue reading Can the severity of ḥudūd punishments be adjusted to align with modern liberal values?
How Muslims Have Altered their Religious Practices in the Face of Oppression
By Summar Khan* Introduction Practicing religion in the face of religious persecution is not a new phenomenon for Muslims. In the early days of Islam, new Muslims were often subject … Continue reading How Muslims Have Altered their Religious Practices in the Face of Oppression
Navigating the Prohibition of Ribā in the Modern Islamic World
By Robert Shepard* Introduction The prohibition of ribā (ربا(, or usury, is one of the most critical principles shaping financial transactions in Muslim-majority countries. Rooted in Qurʾānic injunctions and classical … Continue reading Navigating the Prohibition of Ribā in the Modern Islamic World
What Made the Founders of the Four Major Islamic Madhāhib so Influential?
By John Burden* During the ninth and tenth centuries, four eponymous schools of Islamic jurisprudence (madhāhib, s. madhhab) emerged as leaders in the Sunnī world: the Ḥanafī, Mālikī, Shāfiʿī and … Continue reading What Made the Founders of the Four Major Islamic Madhāhib so Influential?
Coffee as an Intoxicant in Islamic Law
By Emma Westhoff* My research question addressed whether coffee has ever been considered an intoxicant (khamr) in Islamic jurisprudence and thus prohibited for consumption by Muslims. I began by addressing … Continue reading Coffee as an Intoxicant in Islamic Law
Islamic Law and ChatGPT: Student Essays from the Islamic Law Lab
For the month of January, we will be publishing a series of essays written by students from the Fall 2024 “Islamic Law Lab” course at Harvard Law School, convened by … Continue reading Islamic Law and ChatGPT: Student Essays from the Islamic Law Lab