Call for Papers: Language & Meaning in Usul al-Fiqh

Over the past decade, the institute has focused on contemporary fiqhi issues, promoting a multidisciplinary approach and welcoming contributions from both traditionally trained scholars and academics.

Summer 2024, the 12th AMI Fiqh Workshop will, for the first time, center on the meta-legal theme of “Language and Meaning” as explored in Islamic legal theory (Usul al-Fiqh). The workshop aims to bring together specialists in Islamic legal theory, hermeneutics, and philosophy of language to examine the nuanced relationship between language and meaning within this field.

Muslim legal theorists broadly agree that knowledge of divine rulings (ḥukm al-sharīʿa) is primarily derived from scriptural sources—namely the Qur’an and hadith collections. Consequently, a significant portion of Islamic legal theory has historically been devoted to the study of language and meaning (mabāḥith al-alfāẓ). Scholars have developed sophisticated hermeneutical principles to interpret the apparent meaning (ẓāhir) of scriptural language.

Key areas of discussion include:

• The relationship between words and meaning 
• Literal and metaphorical usage (ḥaqīqa and majāz)  
• The structure and implications of linguistic forms, such as: 
  • Commands and prohibitions (awāmir wa nawāhī) 
  • General and specific expressions (ʿāmm wa khāṣṣ)  
  • Absolute and qualified statements (muṭlaq wa muqayyad) 
  • Clear and ambiguous expressions (mubayyan wa mujmal)  
  • Explicit and implicit meanings (manṭūq wa mafhūm)  

Despite the richness of this tradition, its hermeneutical insights have not been comprehensively articulated in English. The workshop therefore invites scholars to critically present and reconstruct these discussions—particularly mabāḥith al-alfāẓ—in English, while analyzing their normative implications for contemporary fiqhi reasoning.

Suggested Themes

Applicants are encouraged to address topics such as:

• The historical origins and development of hermeneutical principles in Islamic legal theory 
• The philosophical, theological, and ethical assumptions underlying discussions of language 
• The relationship between Usul al-Fiqh and the philosophy of language, and how linguistic theories can inform legal debates 

Workshop Details

The workshop is organized by AMI in collaboration with AMI Press. Selected abstracts are expected to develop into full academic papers. Upon successful completion of publication requirements, contributors will receive an honorarium.

AMI will cover reasonable travel and accommodation expenses. The proceedings will be published as an edited volume in 2025. The workshop language (and all submissions) will be English.

The event will run over two days and include meals and refreshments. Each presentation is limited to 20 minutes, and presenters are required to attend both full days.

Submission Timeline

• Abstracts Deadline: April 19, 2024
  Abstracts (300–500 words) must be submitted with a CV (maximum 2 pages, including publications and recent experience) in Word or PDF format, along with a short biography. 
• Shortlisting Notification: May 3, 2024 
• Workshop Dates: July 4–5, 2024
  Selected applicants will be invited to attend the workshop at the Al-Mahdi Institute. Travel and accommodation will be arranged by the organizers. 

Submission Guidelines

Abstracts (maximum 500 words) must be submitted as a Word or PDF attachment via email to:
shahw@almahdi.edu
Deadline: 5:00 PM (UK time), Friday, April 19, 2024

Applicants must also include a CV with a list of publications and recent employment, along with a short biographical note.

Full Paper Submission

Final papers must be submitted via email (as a Word attachment) to the same address by:
November 29, 2024 (5:00 PM UK time)

The first page of the manuscript must include:

• Title 
• Author name(s) and institutional affiliation(s) 
• Short biography 
• Contact details (address, phone, email) 
• Abstract (max. 300 words) 
• Bibliography 
• Six keywords 

Submissions must conform to AMI Press formatting guidelines based on the Chicago Manual of Style. Papers should be between 6,000 and 10,000 words.

Source: Call for Papers: Language and Meaning in Islamic Legal Theory