AMI’s Islamic Legal Studies research area is delighted to open registration for its 13th annual Contemporary Fiqhi Issues conference series exploring ‘Reason and Rationality in Islamic Legal Theories and Law.’ The conference, convened by Professor Seyed Mohammad Fatemi, will be held over two days, from 17th to 18th July 2025 at Al-Mahdi Institute, 60 Weoley Park Road, Birmingham, B29 6RB.
About the Conference
The interplay between reason (ʿaql) and revelation (naql) has long occupied a central and often contested position in Islamic legal and intellectual traditions. Far from being a mere tool for interpretive clarification, reason in Islamic uṣūl al-fiqh constitutes a core epistemological and normative category. It serves not only as a means to comprehend divine injunctions but also as a mechanism through which human beings engage with evolving moral, social, and legal challenges.
The divergence between theological schools such as the Muʿtazilites and the Ashʿarites, and between Sunnī and Shīʿī legal thought, illustrates differing conceptions of the scope and legitimacy of reason in relation to divine law. The ʿAdliyya tradition, particularly in Muʿtazilite and uṣūlī Shīʿī thought, has upheld the notion that moral values can be known through rational discernment independent of textual proof. Conversely, Ashʿarite theology, while not wholly dismissive of rationality, typically subordinates it to revelation, especially where the two appear to conflict. These positions have generated extensive discussions around the rational intelligibility of the sharīʿah, the nature of legal obligation, and the basis for moral accountability.
This year’s AMI Fiqhi Conference, themed Reason and Rationality in Islamic Law and Legal Theories, brings together scholars from a range of disciplines – Islamic law, theology, philosophy, intellectual history, and Qurʾānic studies- to revisit and critically evaluate these debates. Across seven panels, the workshop will explore topics such as the historical development of rationalist methodologies, the epistemic authority of reason, the role of human experience and emotion in ethical reasoning, and the relationship between legal rationality and social context. Special attention will be given to metaphysical reasoning, the structure of epistemic hierarchies, and challenges posed by modernity, including epistemic injustice and gender-based critiques.
By fostering dialogue across classical and contemporary perspectives, the conference aims not only to illuminate enduring tensions between rationalism and textualism but also to reframe these conversations in light of present-day legal, ethical, and political realities. In doing so, it hopes to contribute to a more nuanced and pluralistic understanding of the role of reason in Islamic legal thought and practice.
Conference Programme
Click below to explore the full conference schedule, speaker bios, and presentation abstracts.
Registration Details
Click here to register to attend the conference at Al-Mahdi Institute.
Tickets cost £35 per day or £60 for both days. Tickets include lunch and dinner for the chosen day(s).
Students can also benefit from a 20% discount on tickets at checkout.
