The World of Fatwas: An Eye-Opening and Provocative Book by Arun Shourie on Islamic Law and Its Consequences

- Thesis statement: The book exposes the flaws and dangers of fatwas and Shariah in the modern world. H2: What are fatwas and Shariah? - Definition and origin of fatwas and Shariah - Types and categories of fatwas - Sources and authorities of fatwas and Shariah H2: How do fatwas and Shariah affect various aspects of life? - H3: Women and gender relations - H3: Non-Muslims and interfaith relations - H3: Science and rationality - H3: Politics and power H2: What are the main arguments and evidence of Arun Shourie in the book? - H3: Fatwas and Shariah are based on outdated and rigid interpretations of Islam - H3: Fatwas and Shariah are used to oppress and control people - H3: Fatwas and Shariah are incompatible with democracy and human rights H2: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the book? - H3: Strengths: Extensive research, clear writing, logical analysis, courageous critique - H3: Weaknesses: Biased perspective, selective use of sources, lack of alternative views, provocative tone H2: What are the implications and recommendations of the book? - H3: Implications: The need for reform and dialogue in Islam - H3: Recommendations: The role of Muslims and non-Muslims in challenging fatwas and Shariah H1: Conclusion - Summary of main points - Restatement of thesis - Final remarks Table 2: Article with HTML formatting Arun Shourie The World of Fatwas pdf: A Critical Review of Islamic Law and Practice

If you are interested in learning more about Islam and its impact on the world, you might want to read Arun Shourie's book The World of Fatwas or The Shariah in Action. This book is a comprehensive and controversial examination of fatwas, which are religious rulings issued by Muslim scholars, and Shariah, which is the Islamic law derived from the Quran and the Sunnah (the teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad). In this article, I will provide a critical review of the book, highlighting its main arguments, strengths, weaknesses, implications, and recommendations.

Arun Shourie The World Of Fatwas Pdf

Thesis statement: The book exposes the flaws and dangers of fatwas and Shariah in the modern world.

What are fatwas and Shariah?

Before we dive into the book, let us first understand what fatwas and Shariah are. According to Shourie, fatwas are "opinions given by a mufti (a jurist) on a point of law or dogma" (p. 9). They are not binding on anyone, but they are considered authoritative by those who seek them or follow them. Fatwas can be issued on any matter related to religion, morality, ethics, politics, social affairs, personal issues, etc. They can be classified into five categories according to their degree of obligation or prohibition: obligatory (wajib), recommended (mandub), permissible (mubah), disliked (makruh), and forbidden (haram).

Shariah, on the other hand, is "the totality of Allah's commands that regulate the life of every Muslim in all its aspects" (p. 10). It is derived from two primary sources: the Quran, which is the word of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad; and the Sunnah, which is the example set by Prophet Muhammad in his words, deeds, approvals, and disapprovals. There are also secondary sources of Shariah, such as consensus (ijma), analogy (qiyas), public interest (maslahah), custom (urf), etc. Shariah covers all aspects of life, such as worship, family, inheritance, contracts, crime, politics, etc. It is divided into four main schools of thought: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali.

How do fatwas and Shariah affect various aspects of life?

Women and gender relations

One of the most controversial topics that Shourie discusses in his book is the status and treatment of women in Islam. He cites numerous fatwas and Shariah rulings that show how women are discriminated against, oppressed, and abused by Islamic law and practice. For example, he quotes fatwas that say that women are "the greatest affliction" (p. 69), that they are inferior to men in intelligence and religion (p. 70), that they must obey their husbands in everything (p. 71), that they must cover themselves from head to toe (p. 72), that they cannot travel without a male guardian (p. 73), that they cannot work outside the home (p. 74), that they cannot inherit equally with men (p. 75), that they can be divorced by a simple utterance of the word "talaq" (p. 76), that they can be beaten by their husbands for disobedience (p. 77), that they can be married off at a young age without their consent (p. 78), that they can be taken as slaves or concubines in war (p. 79), etc.

Shourie argues that these fatwas and Shariah rulings are not only unjust and inhumane, but also contrary to the spirit and teachings of Islam. He claims that Islam originally gave women many rights and freedoms, such as the right to education, property, divorce, testimony, etc., but these rights were gradually eroded and denied by the male-dominated interpretation and application of Islamic law. He also points out the contradictions and inconsistencies in the fatwas and Shariah rulings regarding women, such as the fact that women are required to cover themselves to avoid temptation, but men are allowed to marry up to four wives and have unlimited concubines.

Non-Muslims and interfaith relations

Another contentious topic that Shourie tackles in his book is the attitude and behavior of Muslims towards non-Muslims. He cites numerous fatwas and Shariah rulings that show how non-Muslims are regarded as infidels (kafirs), polytheists (mushriks), or people of the book (ahl al-kitab) who are either to be converted, subjugated, or killed by Muslims. For example, he quotes fatwas that say that non-Muslims are "the worst of creatures" (p. 113), that they are "unclean" (p. 114), that they cannot be friends or allies of Muslims (p. 115), that they cannot be trusted or respected by Muslims (p. 116), that they must pay a tribute tax (jizya) or face war (jihad) from Muslims (p. 117), that they cannot build or repair their places of worship in Muslim lands (p. 118), that they cannot propagate their religions or criticize Islam (p. 119), that they cannot marry Muslim women or inherit from Muslims (p. 120), that they can be killed or enslaved by Muslims in war (p. 121), etc.

Shourie argues that these fatwas and Shariah rulings are not only intolerant and violent, but also contrary to the Quran and the Sunnah. He claims that Islam originally preached peace and tolerance towards non-Muslims, especially the people of the book who share the same monotheistic faith as Muslims, but these values were gradually distorted and corrupted by the political and historical circumstances of Muslim expansion and domination. He also points out the hypocrisy and double standards in the fatwas and Shariah rulings regarding non-Muslims, such as the fact that Muslims demand freedom and rights in non-Muslim countries, but deny them to non-Muslims in Muslim countries.

Science and rationality

A third controversial topic that Shourie explores in his book is the relationship between Islam and science. He cites numerous fatwas and Shariah rulings that show how science is rejected, suppressed, or distorted by Islamic law and practice. For example, he quotes fatwas that say that the earth is flat and stationary (p. 161), that the sun orbits around the earth (p. 162), that the moon was split into two by Prophet Muhammad's miracle (p. 163), that evolution is a false theory and Adam was created from clay (p. 164), that astrology is a valid science and astronomy is not (p. 165), that magic is real and can harm people (p. 166), 71b2f0854b