Newsletter No. 13 - Winter 2014

Newsletter No. 13

Winter 2014

Al-Furqān

Islamic Heritage Foundation

Glorious Past, Brighter Future

Newsletter

Issue No. 13

In this Issue: Latest Visits Cooperation Lectures Training Courses Symposia Conferences Publications 20th Anniversary

of Makkah & Madinah Centre Al-Furqān and its Centres

Winter 2014

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Newsletter No. 13

Winter 2014

Al-Furqān

Message from the Chairman ................................................3 Latest Visits ..............................................................................4 Al-Furqān Co-operation .......................................................7

Islamic Heritage Foundation

Co-operation Agreement with Islamic Research Centre (ISAM) ....................7 Co-operation Agreement with International Moderation Forum .....................7

Newsletter Issue No. 13, Winter 2014

Lectures .....................................................................................8

The Role and Originality of Late Arabic Scientific Commentaries, by Professor George Saliba ...........................................................................8 The Discovery of the House of Khadeejah (may God be pleased with her) in Makkah al-Mukarramah, by Dr Abbas Saleh Tashkandy .....10

Publisher:

Training Courses ..................................................................11

The 6th Training Course on Editing, under the title: “The Principles of Editing the Heritage Text” .................................................................11 The 7th Training Course on Editing, under the title: “Editing Manuscripts in the Field of Ḥadīth and its Sciences and Biographies” .......................................12 The 8th Training Course on Editing, under the title: “Editing the traditional text” ................................................................................................14 The 9th Training Course on Maqāṣid, under the title: “Applying the philosophy of Islamic Law (Maqāṣid) between fear and leniency”........................................16 The 1st Training Course on Codicology, under the title: “Arabic Codicology: The Islamic Manuscript Heritage in the El Escorial Collection” ...........................19

Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation Board of Directors Chairman H.E. Ahmed Zaki Yamani

Symposia ................................................................................21

Symposium under the title: “Towards a unified vision on women and population issues in Islam” .............................................................21

Members

Conferences ...........................................................................24

Conference under the title: “The State: between Tradition and Future” .........24

Professor Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu Mr. Sharaf Yamani

Recent Publications .............................................................25

The Fihrist of al-Nadīm (Second edition) ............................................... 25 Catalogue of Islamic Manuscripts in the Libraries of Burkina Faso ...............25 Catalogue of Islamic Manuscripts from the National Archives of the Ivory Coast .................................................................................................25 Catalogue of the Private Collections of Manuscripts in the Egyptian National Library (Dār al-Kutub al- Misriyyah) .....................................................25 Treatise on the Angle (Risalah fī al-Zāwiyah) ..........................................26 Water and its sources in the Holy city of Jerusalem and the Ottoman state’s efforts to provide it ..............................................................................26 Editing Islamic Manuscripts on Social Sciences and Humanities: Research Articles .................................................................................26 Editing Manuscripts in the Field of Ḥadīth and Its Sciences and Biographies: Research Articles ................................................................................26 Late Arabic Scientific Commentaries: Their Role and their Originality..................27 The House of Khadeejah Bint Khuwaylid (r) in Makkah al-Mukarramah: A Historical Study of its Location, Building, and Architecture - English version........27 Bibliography for Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah (Vol.X) .........................................28 The Fundamental Rules of the Science on Sharīʿah Objectives ......................28 The Jurisprudence of Sharīʿah Objectives and Interests between al-ʿIzz Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām and Abū Isḥāq al-Shāṭibī: a comparative study.............................28 The Activation of Sharīʿah Objectives in the Political Sphere: research articles ...29 The Objectives of Sharīʿah: Principles and Concepts (Research Articles) .....29 Applying the Sharīʿah Objectives between Fear and Leniency ......................30 Causation Based on Wisdom: Admissibility and Instances in Islamic Law and Jurisprudence .....................................................................................30 The Purpose of Self-Preservation in the “Jurisprudence of Waters”: An Exercise in Criticism and Renewal of the “Explanatory Proverbs” in Maqāṣid Teaching ............................................................................................31 Beauty: An Approach Based on the Philosophy of Islamic Law .....................31

Managing Director Mr. Sali Shahsivari Address 22A Old Court Place London, W8 4PL England – UK

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3130 1530 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7937 2540 Email: info@al-furqan.com www.al-furqan.com

20th Anniversary of Makkah & Madinah Centre........... 32 Al-Furqān and it’s Centres .................................................34

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Message From the Chairman

the “Catalogue of the Private Collections of Manuscripts in the Egyptian National Library” (Dār al-Kutub al-Miṣriyyah) has been released in eight volumes, in addition to the “Catalogues of Islamic manuscripts of Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast”; furthermore, the Centre published the proceedings of the Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation’s Sixth Conference under the title “Editing Islamic Manuscripts on Social Sciences and Humanities”. In the area of edited manuscripts, the Centre released an extended and revised edition of the Fihrist of al-Nadīm, in addition to the “Treatise on the Angle (Risalah fī al-Zāwiyah)” by Kamāl al-Dīn al-Fārisī, and “Water and its sources in the Holy city of Jerusalem and the Ottoman state’s efforts to provide it” by Shaykh Muħammad al-Khalīlī.

Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation strives to achieve its best in its mission of preserving, surveying, editing, and publishing our nation’s rich heritage. This is because this written heritage is the repository of the nation’s knowledge, the mainstay of its identity, and the basis for its renaissance.

The Foundation is pleased to address its esteemed readers through the window of its Newsletter, in this thirteenth issue, to inform them of new developments in activities and efforts exerted by its three centres. This issue carries within it good news of the year 2014, which was one of huge effort, and massive achievement, including the publication of 18 new titles in 28 volumes, and organising six scientific courses, an international conference on maqāṣid, and an international symposium on population, as well as several lectures.

For its part, the Centre for the Study of the Philosophy of Islamic Law organised a training course in Fez (Morocco) titled “Applying the philosophy of Islamic Law (maqāṣid) between fear and leniency”, which was attended by around 60 participating scholars and researchers; the course proceedings have been published in one large volume. Moreover, the Centre participated in the international conference held in Istanbul under the title “The State and the Society Within the Scope of the Objectives of Sharīʿah” from the perspective of the purposes of Islamic law (maqāṣid), in collaboration with a number of organisations. The Centre also participated in the international symposium titled “Towards a Unified Islamic Perspective on Issues Related to Women and Population” in Amman (Jordan). In the area of publishing, with the grace of God, the “Bibliography for Maqāṣid of Sharīʿah (Objectives of Islamic Law)” has now been completed, with the release of the 10th volume. The Centre also published the proceedings of the training course on the objectives of Islamic law (maqāṣid), held in London, titled “The Objectives of Sharīʿah: the Principles and Concepts”, in addition to an in-depth study by Dr al-Raissouni on “The Fundamental Rules of the Science on Sharīʿah Objectives”, and “The Jurisprudence of Sharīʿah Objectives and Interests between al-ʿIzz Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām and Abū Isḥāq al-Shāṭibī”.

Moreover, the proceedings of the symposium “The Activation of Sharīʿah Objectives in the Political Sphere”, have been published, in addition to the following lectures: “The Purpose of Self-Preservation in the Jurisprudence of Waters, Causation Based on Wisdom: Admissibility and Instances in Islamic Law and Jurisprudence”, and “Beauty: An Approach Based on the Philosophy of Islamic Law”.

We meet through this issue, at the cusp of celebrating a memory dear to Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation and its supporters, which is the passage of 20 years since the establishment of the Centre for Compiling the Encyclopaedia of Makkah and Madinah; this is a pioneering cultural, civilisational, and scholarly project, a shining scientific and historic achievement, a specialist scientific addition to the Islamic library, and a comprehensive reference containing most of what has been written about Makkah and Madinah. The Centre strives tirelessly to draw attention to the influence of these two noble cities as benefactors of Islamic civilisation, and highlighting their important and vital roles in supporting the scientific and cultural march of progress through the centuries. The Centre does this by surveying and recording the diverse roles of Makkah and Madinah in the fields of natural environment, and social, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, and political life, as well as architecture and planning; in its mission, the Centre draws on intellectual production in all its forms and media. Moreover, it has recently published the English version of the book, “The House of Khadeejah Bint Khuwaylid (may God be pleased with her) in Makkah alMukarramah”, which is a detailed historical study of its location, building, and architecture. In this context, it also organised a lecture on “The Discovery of the House of Khadeejah (may God be pleased with her) in Makkah al-Mukarramah”, delivered by Dr Abbas Saleh Tashkandy.

Al-Furqān Foundation remains faithful to its mission, which it attempts to convey to all concerned—the preservation of the rich civilisational heritage of our nation, in what it represents in value for civilisation and humanity; spreading awareness of it at all levels; and surveying, critically editing, and publishing it, in the consideration that this written heritage is the repository of the nation’s knowledge, the mainstay of its identity, and the basis for its renaissance.

The Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts continues its painstaking work, represented in the formation of a generation of young scholars and university graduates in the field of editing manuscripts; hence, the Centre organised three training courses in the field of editing in Istanbul, Morocco, and Kuwait, as well as a course on codicology at the library of San Lorenzo del Escorial, in Spain.

The efforts of the Foundation continue to be expended sincerely, with the purpose of bringing awareness and enlightenment of the intrinsic value of this great heritage, while looking forward to achieving its ambitions through pioneering works and grand achievements.

The Centre also organised an important lecture by Dr George Saliba on “The Role and Originality of Late Arabic Scientific Commentaries”, which was attended by a large number of academics, researchers, and students.

The Centre continues to follow up on the cataloguing projects of the art collections at Dār al-Kutub al-Miṣriyyah (Egyptian National Library), and the Ayasofya collection at the Suleymaniye Library in Istanbul. In the area of publishing, the second part of

Ahmed Zaki Yamani

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Latest Visits

5/3/2014 Visit to ISESCO headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, and meeting with Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, the Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), to discuss mutual co-operation.

16/1/2014 The visit of Dr Mohammad Kamal Imam, member of the Board of Experts of the Centre for the Study of the Philosophy of Islamic Law at Al-Furqān, and Dr Malik Dahlan R. Dahlan, Principal & Chief Lawyer of Institution Quraysh.

15/3/2014

The Managing Director of Al-Furqān, Mr Sali Shahsivari, participating at FOSIS Alumni Grand Dinner: ‘Celebrating Fifty, Towards a Century’; London.

6/2/2014

The visit of Dr Mohamed Ahdash, Director of The Muslim College in London.

21/4/2014

Visit to the Centre for Research and Studies on Kuwait (Kuwait) and meeting with Dr Abdullah Yusuf al-Ghunaim, Chairman of the Centre and member of the Board of Experts of the Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts at Al-Furqān.

3/3/2014

The visit of a group of students from The Muslim College in London.

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22/4/2014 Visit to the Manuscript and Islamic Libraries Department at the Ministry of Awqaf & Religious Affairs in the State of Kuwait and meeting with Mr Suhayl al-Jalahima, the Director of the Department, as well as other members of staff.

15/5/2014 The visit of Mr Abdullah Al Najjar, CEO, Qatar – Sudan Archaeological Project (QSAP) and Dr Okasha El Daly, Director of Projects at the Vice Chairman’s Office at the Qatar Museums Authority (QMA).

15/3/2014 The Managing Director of Al-Furqān, Mr Sali Shahsivari, attending a Reception and Exhibition organised by the Embassy of Turkmenistan in London.

22/4/2014 Visit to the Ministry of Awqaf & Religious Affairs in the State of Kuwait and meeting with Mr Abdullah Najib Salim, Researcher at the Encyclopaedia of Fiqh.

26/5/2014 Visit to the house of Prof Abdelhadi al-Tazi, member of the International Advisory Council of the Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts at Al-Furqān; Rabat - Morocco.

3/5/2014 The Managing Director of Al-Furqān, Mr Sali Shahsivari, participating at the Nida Trust Rising Star Awards 2014; London.

31/5/2014 Visit to the Foundation for Scientific Research and Studies (MOBDI’) in Fez, Morocco, and meeting with the Executive Director, Dr Foudil Mustapha, to discuss mutual co-operation.

12/5/2014 The Managing Director of Al-Furqān, Mr Sali Shahsivari, participating at the MCB’s 5th Annual Muslim Leadership Dinner; London.

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15/9/2014 Visit to The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) - Jordan Office, and meeting with the Director, Professor Fathi Malkawi, to discuss mutual co-operation.

18/9/2014 Visit to the Centre for Documents, Manuscripts and Studies on Bilad al-Shām, in Amman - Jordan, and meeting with Professor Adnan al-Bakheet, Director of the Centre and member of the Board of Experts of the Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts at Al-Furqān.

18-19/6/2014 The Managing Director of Al-Furqān, Mr Sali Shahsivari, participating at the International Strategy Conference for the Preservation of the Islamic Manuscripts of Timbuktu; at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, Germany.

10/7/2014 The visit of Dr Matija Strlic, Senior Lecturer at UCL Faculty of Built Environment and Deputy Director of UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage, accompanied by Ms Hend Mahgoub, student and researcher at UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage.

21/10/2014 The visit of Dr Tuncay Basoglu, Deputy Director of the Centre for Islamic Studies (ISAM) in Istanbul - Turkey.

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Co-operation Agreement with International Moderation Forum

Co-operation Co-operation Agreement with Islamic Research Centre (ISAM)

Signing the co-operation agreement between the two institutions

Given both organisations’ belief in the importance of cementing the ties of co-operation and exchanging scientific experiences, with the objective of achieving their common goals of reinforcing the Islamic values derived from the civilisational dimension of the Muslim nation and reviving the jurisprudence (fiqh) of maqāṣid, in addition to collaboration in organising conferences and seminars in the field of Philosophy of Islamic Law, the two organisations signed an agreement of co-operation and understanding at the headquarters of the International Moderation Forum, on Thursday, 18/09/2014.

The agreement was signed by Mr Sali Shahsivari and Dr Mehmet Akif Aydin

In the proceedings of the Training Course on Critical Editing, organised by the Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts at Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with the Islamic Research Centre (ISAM), titled “The Principles of Editing the Heritage Text”, and given both organisations’ belief in the importance of consolidating the ties of co-operation and exchanging scientific experiences, with the objective of achieving their common goals, the two organisations signed an agreement of co-operation and understanding on Monday, 27 January 2014, at the Islamic Research Centre’s (ISAM) headquarters in Istanbul.

The agreement covered jointly organising conferences, seminars, and workshops, exchanging different scientific publications, and each party inviting the other to attend their conferences and seminars.

The agreement was signed

by Mr Sali Shahsivari, Managing Director of AlFurqān, and Dr Mehmet Akif Aydin, Director of the Islamic Research Centre (ISAM).

Subsequently, the Secretary-General of the International Moderation Forum presented the Forum’s honorary shield to Mr Sali Shahsivari, Managing Director of Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, and Mr Mohammed Drioueche, Head of the Projects and Publications Department at Al-Furqān Foundation.

The agreement stipulated collaboration and exchange of scientific experiences in the area of preserving Islamic heritage, particularly the written heritage, through cataloguing, critical editing, publishing, researching the means to protect and preserve heritage, and employing all means to raise the level of civilisational awareness of workers in these domains, as well as co-operating jointly in organising conferences, seminars, and training courses in the different fields relating to heritage, and the exchange of various scientific publications; each party also agreed to invite the other to its conferences and seminars.

Mr Sali Shahsivari and Mr Marwan Al-Faouri 7

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Al-Furqān Lectures «The Role and Originality of Late Arabic Scientific Commentaries»

by Professor George Saliba

Mr Sharaf Yamani addressing the audience

Late Arabic Scientific Commentaries”. The lecture took place on the 4th of April 2014 at Al-Furqān’s headquarters in London.

The evening started with a reception and welcoming words by the Managing Director of the Foundation, Mr Sali Shahsivari, followed by Mr Sharaf Yamani, member of the Board of Directors, who gave a short brief on Al-Furqān’s work and efforts in uncovering and studying the islamic written heritage.

Professor Saliba explaining a manuscript

Up to the present day, academic studies regarding the scientific thought produced in the Islamic civilisation have focused on the first six centuries (until the 12th century).

The keynote speaker at this public event was Professor George Saliba, professor of Arabic and Islamic Science at Columbia University in the city of New York. In his lecture on “The Role and Originality of Late Arabic Scientific Commentaries”, Professor Saliba gave an insightful view on the scientific importance of the commentaries – with a special focus on the field of astronomy produced between the thirteenth and the sixteenth century. He demonstrated that particular commentaries that were produced, did not only produce new scientific thinking, but also produced a level of astronomical mathematical sophistication that

Furthermore, there is a general impression that the golden age of the Islamic civilisation, in terms of philosophical and scientific production, came to an end sometime around the beginning of the thirteenth century of the Common Era, and, that the period that followed, is supposed to have sunk that civilisation into a continuous decline, from which it has yet to recover. Features of that decline are usually exemplified by the production of commentaries instead of original works.

Hence, the intellectual heritage accumulated between the 12th and 19th centuries, the period considered to be “the Late Classical Period” of Islamic civilisation, has not received the scholarly attention it deserves.

In addition to shedding light on this important period of the Islamic civilisation, the Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts at Al-Furqān organised a public lecture under the title “The Role and Originality of

Part of the audience

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Professor Saliba, and in the background Mr Shahsivari

Winter 2014

could outmatch any of the earlier works that were produced within the Islamic civilisation, and could, in some instances, even outmatch the contemporary scientific works that were produced in Europe at the time.

*George Saliba is a Professor of Arabic and Islamic Science at Columbia University in the city of New York. He studies the development of scientific ideas from late antiquity till early modern times, with a special focus on the transmission of astronomical and mathematical ideas from the Islamic world to Renaissance Europe.

According to Professor Saliba, the main reasons why late commentaries have not received the scholarly attention they deserve and are still wrongly considered to be mere copies of previous works are:

1. Late commentaries are very difficult to read: the text on the page is often very dense and small.

Among his awards is the History of Astronomy Prize from the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science in 1996, and the History of Science Prize from the Third World Academy of Science in 1993. He has occupied the position of Distinguished Senior Scholar Program (2009-10). His latest works include Islamic Science and the Making of the European Renaissance (MIT Press, 2007, 2011); A History of Arabic Astronomy: Planetary Theories During the Golden Age of Islam (1994); and more than 120 articles in scholarly journals including, “Greek Astronomy and the Medieval Arabic Tradition”, American Scientist, 2002; and more than 200 presentations at academic venues on five continents.

2. They often lack illustrations: it was very difficult to find a scribe (nāsikh) that was also an illustrator (naqqash). Today there are very few examples of manuscripts where illustrator and the copyist are the same person.

3. There is still an imposed traditional misconception that considers that, after the classical or golden age of Islam, there is nothing worth studying in terms of cultural products.

The lecture was followed by several questions from the specialised and distinguished audience regarding various aspects covered

by Professor Saliba.

Group photo at the end of the lecture

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«The Discovery of the House of Khadeejah (may God be pleased with her) in Makkah al-Mukarramah»

by Dr Abbas Saleh Tashkandy

Dr Abbas Saleh Tashkandy describing the House The lecture was followed by several questions from the distinguished audience regarding various aspects covered by Dr Tashkandy.

2. Launch of the English version of the book “The House of Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid (may God be pleased with her) in Makkah al-Mukarramah”, written by HE Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani. The book is an architectural and scholarly study on the house belonging to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (may God be pleased with her), the respected wife of the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him).

The Arabic edition of this book was launched in the year 2013.

This book is part of the academic efforts of the Al-Furqān Centre for the Encyclopaedia of Makkah al-Mukarramah and Madinah al-Munawwarah, which was established in Jeddah, on 4th November 1994.

The event took place on Wednesday 26th November 2014, at Al-Furqān headquarters office in London.

H.E. Professor Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu addressing the audience On the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of its Centre for the Encyclopaedia of Makkah al-Mukarramah and Madinah al-Munawwarah, AlFurqān Islamic Heritage Foundation organised an event, which consisted of: 1. Lecture on The Discovery of the House of Khadeejah (may God be pleased with her) in Makkah al-Mukarramah, delivered by Dr Abbas Saleh Tashkandy, former Professor of Library & Information Science at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Secretary General and Chief Editor of the Encyclopaedia of Makkah al-Mukarramah and Madinah alMunawwarah.

In his lecture, Dr Tashkandy gave an insight into the history of the house throughout different periods of history. He highlighted the fact that this blessed house stood for nearly fourteen centuries, until its remains became hidden under the ground sometime after 1344AH/1925CE. In the year 1989, under the support and the supervision of HE Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, the Chairman of Al-Furqān, excavation works were undertaken to uncover this important site.

Part of the audience and discussions

Dr Abbas Saleh Tashkandy

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Winter 2014 Prof. Aydin was followed by Mr Shahsivari, Director of the Foundation, who outlined the fields of AlFurqān’s interests through the Manuscripts Centre, the Maqāṣid Centre, and the Makkah and Madinah Centre, and indicated the significance of cooperation between his institution, the Islamic Research Center and the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts.

The third speech was delivered by Dr Faisal al-Hafyan from the Institute of Manuscripts, currently celebrating its 70th Anniversary. This speech highlighted services to Islamic heritage since its inception.

Then an agreement of understanding and co-operation was signed between the Al-Furqān Foundation and the Islamic Research Center (ISAM). After that, Dr Fakhruddin Qabawah spoke on behalf of the course tutors, highlighting the importance of courses such as these, particularly under the confusing status of critical editing of both Orientalist and Arabic schools.

The first two days were devoted to the theoretical introductions. Dr. Faisal al-Hafyan outlined the manuscript structure and the editor’s ethics; Dr. Mahmoud Masri spoke on the history and culture of critical editing; Dr Fakhruddin Qabawah dealt with the theoretical basis of critical editing and the library of manuscript texts.

The following five days were devoted to editorial activity and its practical aspects. Dr Mahmoud Masri spoke on choosing the text and the search for manuscript copies; Dr. Faisal al-Hafyan spoke on text verification; Dr. Mortada Badr on textual criticism; Dr.Hassan al-Uthman on the discovery of the text and its edition; Dr. Bashar Awwad Ma’rouf on collation of copies, the footnotes and the appendices; and Dr. Ahmed Abdul-Basit on the study of the text. Professors Fakhruddin Qabawah, Murtada Badr, Ramadan Sesen, Hassan Ali Uthman and Ahmed Abdul-Basit participated all in the practical sessions.

The last three days were allocated to workshops, involving contributions from professors Khaled Fahmy, Fakhruddin Qabawah, Mahmoud Masri, Ahmed Abdul-Basit and Faisal al-Hafyan.

Participation certificates were presented out to the attending researchers and certificates of gratitude to the organizers, during the closing ceremony.

Training courses The Sixth Training Course on Editing

«The Principles of Editing the Heritage Text»

The opening lecture of the training course In the spirit of co-operation between Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, the Centre for Islamic Research (ISAM) in Istanbul and the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts in Cairo, Al-Furqān Foundation organized a training course on the critical editing of manuscripts, delivered by a group of scholars working in the field. It was held in the Islamic Research Center in Istanbul.

The idea behind​​the course was to empower Turkish and Arab researchers in the practice of critical editing, based on ap p ropriate academic methodology, encompassing both theoretical and practical aspects.

Workshops were also provided. The course lasted ten days between 27th January and 6th February 2014.

The opening session was attended by a group of professors with an interest in manuscripts. Al-Furqān was represented by Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu, member of the Board of Directors of Al-Furqān, Mr. Sali Shahsivari, Managing Director of Al-Furqān, and Mr. Mohamed Drioueche, Head of Projects and Publications Department at Al-Furqān.

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Akif Aydin, Director of the Islamic Research Center (ISAM), spoke first about the Center and the Islamic Encyclopedia, referring to a celebration, held on th e 25th January, which marked the completion of the Encyclopaedia project, as well as about the Centre’s new project “later times of the Islamic civilization”. Prof. Aydin announced the Centre’s efforts in seeking to prepare the necessary skills base, including manuscript specialists.

Group photo of the lecturers and participants

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The Seventh Training Course on Editing

«Editing Manuscripts in The Field of Ḥadīth and its Sciences and Biographies» The Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts at AlFurqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with Dar al-Ḥadīth Al-Hassania Institute of the Ministry of Awqaf in Morocco organised a training course on the critical editing of Islamic manuscripts under the title “Editing Manuscripts in the Field of Ḥadīth and its Sciences and Biographies”.

Part of the participants in the training course The following lecture was delivered by Dr. Ahmed Chauquie Binebine, the Director of the Al-Hassania Library, entitled “The Critical Editing: Difficulties and Problems”, in which he elaborated on the difficulties, obstacles and complicated problems which manuscript scholars face while critically editing their texts.

The training course took place from the 2nd to the 8th of March 2014, at the Dar al-Ḥadīth Al-Hassania Institute headquarters in Rabat, and was designed for Ph.D. and MA students at the Moroccan universities as well as specialists in manuscripts studies from other Arab countries.

Next was Dr. Al-Chahid Al-Boucheikhi’s lecture, titled: “The Importance of the Text Editing in the Arab Islamic Heritage”, in which he thoroughly assessed this discipline, considering the heritage as the body of the nation and its safety valve, and the basis of the renewal of its past glory.

The course consisted of four lectures a day, two in the morning and two in the evening. A total of 19 lectures in all were delivered by specialist professors in this field, in addition to eight workshops on manuscripts of Ḥadīth, biographies, narrators, catalogues and bibliographies.

On the second day, the sessions focused on books of biographies and the mashikhāt, where Dr. Qasim al-Samarrai, expert in codicology, delivered his lecture on editing manuscripts on the mashikhāt and related problems, using Mashikhāt Ibn al-‘Aquli as a case study. The lecturer dealt with the evolution of the discipline, then its methodologies and means, the status of the books of this genre and the mistakes existing in them due to some editors’ incompetence in Islamic culture and in science of Ḥadīth narrators in particular.

More than 1,300 candidates applied to this course, only 82 of whom were accepted.

Then, Dr. Saeed Bel‘azzi, in his lecture “Critical Editing of Biographies: Between the Ideal Approach and Reality”, discussed the preconditions that should be fulfilled by the one who works on biographical books, in order to enable him producing it in a format compatible with the standard of the Ummah, to whom this heritage belongs, in terms of authenticity and preciseness.

The opening session of the training course On the first day, the opening session began with Qurʾān recitation; then a welcome speech by Dr. Ahmad alKhamlichi, the Director of Dar Al-Ḥadīth Al-Hassania, followed by another speech by Mr Sali Shahsivari, the Director of Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, and concluded with a speech by Prof. Qasim al-Samarrai, on behalf of the course lecturers.

After the inauguration ceremony, which was held in honour of the guests and participants, the first lecture was given by Dr. Muhammad Bencherifah titled: “Qadi ‘Iyad: Founder of the Rules of Editing Books on Ḥadīth and Biographies in Al-Maghrib”, in which he shed light on the life of Qadi ‘Iyad and his contribution to culture in general, as well as establishing the rules of editing in the Islamic West.

Part of the practical sessions

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The previous lecture was followed by Dr. Badr Al‘Imrani’s lecture entitled: “Dealing with Misreading and Distortion in Editing Biographical Works: Rules and Examples”, in which he highlighted the contribution of the Ḥadīth scholars in addressing this phenomenon, who put rules and principles to counter its consequences. Then, he presented some examples from the published works, where the editors violated such rules, thus producing distorted editions.

Both third and sixth days were devoted to the workshops.

Students were divided into four groups. Each group was supervised by a trainer from the Hassania Library. The aim of the workshops was the practical application of the theories provided in the lectures, since the purpose of the course was to combine both theory and practice.

Certificates were presented to participants on the final day Dr Ibrahim Azoug’s session on “Types of Symbols in the Arabic Manuscripts”, followed by Dr. Hassan Al-Uthman’s lecture on “Text Extensions: Their Types, Categories and Divisions, and Their Unique Outcome”. It was prepared and delivered on his behalf by Dr. Saeed Bel‘azzi.

Workshops were modelled on the following format: examples of manuscripts on biographies, narrators, catalogues and bibliographies; the methodology of reading and editing; practical examples from Ḥadīth manuscripts in Dar al-Ḥadīth Al-Hassania; authentication and commentary; examples of manuscripts biographies, narrators, catalogues and bibliographies; methodology of biography writing.

The proceedings of the training course culminated with workshops on Saturday, followed by an open discussion with the lecturers.

The closing session included short speeches by the representatives of the two institutions, lecturers and students, who strongly petitioned the Foundation to offer such courses more frequently, in order to fulfil the urgent need for it, since it proved to be fruitful, achieved its designated goals and was meticulously organized.

Dr Muhammad Nasiri’s lecture was titled: “Characteristics of Ḥadīth Manuscripts and Examples of its Editing Mistakes”, in which he emphasized the specificity that characterizes the books of Ḥadīth, and the mistakes committed by those who didn’t take into account this specificity.

They also emphasized the need for increasing the practical elements in relation to the theoretical. Of particular note was the great enthusiasm of the students, and their full interaction with lectures, and the many questions and criticisms which showed a deep interaction with lectures and workshops.

On the fourth day, the programme focused on the importance of establishing the Ḥadīth text. It began with Dr. Mustafa Alzakkaf’s lecture on “Variant Narrations in Ḥadīth Manuscript: Causes and Rules for Dealing with Them”, where he underlined the different versions of the text, transmitted by various narrators from the author, and emphasized the need utmost diligence in this matter in order to avoid any inaccuracies.

The training course concluded with the distribution of certificates to the researchers, participants and organizers.

This was followed by Dr. Aziz Al-Khatib’s lecture on “Establishing the Text by Ḥadīth Scholars: ‘Collation’ as a Case Model”, in which he focused on this characteristic that distinguished the Islamic written heritage and explained its significance.

Then Dr Bouchta Al-Zafzoufi gave his presentation titled “Ḥadīth Heritage between the Errors of Scribes and Illusions of Editors”. He gave examples of copyists’ mistakes, and exhorting all to be alert to them. He also introduced examples of text editors’ mistakes and how such mistakes affected their work.

Group photo after the closing ceremony of the training course

Friday’s main theme was: Manuscript text, format, traditions and extensions. It was addressed as follows:

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The Eighth Training Course

Arab Heritage Inspectorate and the National Library of Kuwait, or the Council’s activities throughout the year.

In his address, the Secretary-General of the Kuwait National Commission for Education, Science & Culture (UNESCO), Abdullatif Ahmed al-Baijan, said: “manuscripts occupy a prominent place in the perception of the humankind, as they are the historical, scientific, and linguistic memory of any nation; they are the source that enriches the sciences, culture, and arts, despite the constant advancement of knowledge and technology seen in the world”. AlBaijan described UNESCO’s effective role in relation to manuscripts, based on its belief in the need to preserve the cultural and traditional identity of peoples. This was translated in practice through many agreements with centres with expertise in preserving manuscripts, providing expertise and experts, holding training courses and workshops, and adopting numerous plans to save heritage and restore manuscripts, since in our time, many examples demonstrate the impact of war and conflict on mankind’s cultural heritage.

In turn, the Director of the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts, Dr Faysal al-Hafyan, pointed out that Kuwait is credited with playing a major part in founding the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts, and that the issue of written heritage was extremely important, because manuscripts are the most capable of building human civilisation. He indicated that this was the first training course of its kind dedicated to the issue of editing traditional texts, and emphasised that tackling the ‘text’, in what is known as the “craft of critical editing”, required special tools, most importantly the ethics of editing, in addition to the other professional tools.

The Managing Director of Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, Mr Sali Shahsivari, expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the State of Kuwait, for its generous hospitality and warm reception. He also articulated his pleasure at this collaborative work between the four centres, and praised all the participants in the training course. He proceeded to describe Al-Furqān Foundation’s keen interest in the process of comprehensively surveying all Islamic manuscripts. He asserted that countless manuscripts can be found in over a hundred countries, and that Al-Furqān Foundation has catalogued about a hundred thousand manuscripts, held in important libraries around the world. He explained that Al-Furqān Foundation worked along four core strands, namely editing texts on Qurʾān and its sciences, Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh) and Legal Theory (uṣūl), and science and history manuscripts, in addition to preserving and editing Palestinian heritage as a fifth strand within the interests of Al-Furqān Foundation.

on Editing

«Editing the traditional text»

The opening session of the training course, and part of Professor Al-Ghoneim’s lecture

Within the framework of on-going collaboration between the Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts at Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation and the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts, and in cooperation with the Kuwait National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, the Kuwait National Commission for Education, Science & Culture, and the National Library of Kuwait, the Centre organised a practical training course on the critical editing of Islamic manuscripts entitled “Editing the traditional text”, which took place from 20 to 24 April 2014, at the National Library of Kuwait.

The course primarily targeted Kuwaiti researchers and students interested in the written heritage and the critical editing. It aimed to lay the foundation for new generations of editors, and further develop the skills of practitioners from academic bodies and organisations involved with heritage.

In the opening session on Sunday morning, 20 April, the Secretary-General of the Kuwait National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Engineer Ali al-Yuha, emphasised that researchers and cultural organisations shared the responsibility of preserving and recording mankind’s heritage. Since its inception, the National Council had undertaken many tasks, most notably to “protect and document folklore and Arab traditions”. He added that the training course, “Editing the traditional text”, was part of the National Council’s remit. He also indicated that the Council’s Secretariat had spared no effort to preserve and record human heritage and folklore in all its forms and instruments, whether through the Culture and Arts Division, represented in the

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Winter 2014 motive force and effective element in the evolution of modern science, which we currently enjoy. He indicated that heritage gives us a sense of self within modern civilisation.

Dr Faysal al-Hafyan, Director of the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts, renewed his gratitude and appreciation to the State of Kuwait, and emphasised that the training course “Editing traditional text” was not a typical short course, rather it was one that would open horizons in the different fields of collaboration, and contribute to the heritage revival movement, considered one of the topical issues in modern times, as it is symbolic of leveraging what is beneficial in history, to meet the needs of the present, and build the future.

On behalf of the course participants, over 50 researchers and trainees, Mr Saleh Misbah delivered a speech thanking the organisations that had organised the training course and the professors providing the training. He said: “In the name of the participants in the training course, we express to you and to the organisers our wholehearted gratitude and appreciation for all your efforts in seeking to disseminate knowledge and train new generations in the art of editing heritage”. He emphasised the huge benefit to the participants from the course, and the quantity of information that would sustain them in continuing research and study in the area of editing heritage, and expressed his hope that the organisers would continue this joint work, and hold similar workshops and scientific courses in this rich and vital area.

Subsequently, Secretary-General, Engineer Ali alYuha, Dr Abdullatif al-Baijan, Dr Hussain al-Ansari, Dr Abdullah al-Ghunaim, Dr Faysal al-Hafyan, Professor Ibrahim Chabbouh and Mr Mohamed Drioueche honoured the course delegates by giving out certificates of recognition for their participation.

The course lecturers were similarly honoured in this ceremony.

Following the opening ceremony of the training course, an introductory lecture titled “Critical editing: science and craft”, was delivered by the Director of the Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait, Dr Abdullah Yusuf al-Ghunaim, who had been honoured by the National Council Secretariat, on the occasion of his selection as 2014 Heritage Personality of the Year. In his lecture, Al-Ghunaim highlighted the importance of critically editing written heritage, and that many historical manuscripts and books deserved to be re-examined and reworked; indeed, he stressed that many well known heritage books had been improperly edited.

The training course covered many themes, including the essential steps in the editing craft, starting with a process of reflection in selecting a particular text, followed by documenting it, systematically searching for manuscript copies, and then reading, editing, critiquing and studying the text.

Course lectures were delivered by a group of specialists, headed by Dr Abdullah al-Ghunaim, Professor Ibrahim Chabbouh, Dr Faysal al-Hafyan, Dr Muhammad Ahmad Al-Dali, and others.

On Thursday, 24 April, the National Library of Kuwait witnessed the conclusion of the training course “Editing the traditional text”, where the SecretaryGeneral of the Kuwait National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, Engineer Ali al-Yuha, emphasised that the National Council’s concern was to build Kuwait’s national expertise, in citizens having the experience and skill in the craft of critically editing heritage and reading manuscripts, referring to the plan for achieving this during the current year. AlYuha praised the efforts of all the researchers and trainers, who had taken part in, and organised the course. He highlighted that their participation in the workshops represented added value in the area of scientific research on documenting heritage. He alluded to the convergence of efforts by the National Council and private institutions, with a focus on intensifying such important courses. He also pointed to the potential in harnessing technology for critical editing of heritage, which would enrich successive generations. He noted that the large number of participants is evidence of the importance of the course.

On his part, Professor Ibrahim Chabbouh, member of the Board of Experts at Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, valued this joint effort between the organisations partnering in organising the course, and encouraged such initiatives. He also emphasised that the issue of heritage is not captive to time, because heritage is our extension into the past, and our tool in the present, dedicated to searching for modern values serving as our foundations in the future. He highlighted that through translation, Islamic heritage had been directly transformed into a

Engineer Ali al-Yuha presents a certificate of recognition to Professor Abdullah Al-Ghoneim; while course delegates were honoured by receiving certificates of recognition for their participation

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The Ninth Training Course on the philosophy of Islamic law

ing, past and present. In addition, it dealt with contrasting the boldness and reluctance of users of maqāṣid, as well as the assault on, and emptying of its substance by the Modernists.

The keynote event witnessed in this seminar was the application and use of the jurisprudence of maqāṣid in the political and constitutional fields at the heart of an Arab popular movement that turned the page on tyranny and enslavement, and opened a fresh one celebrating freedom and emancipation; indeed, Tunisia played a pioneering role in the revolution, and also, in applying maqāṣid to, and in the revolution.

Course Proceedings In addition to opening and closing sessions, the scientific sessions were as follows: On the first day, Wednesday 28 May, the First Scientific Session was chaired by Dr Noureddine El Khademi, former Minister of Religious Affairs, and lecturer at the University of Zaytuna, where Dr Mohamed Salim ElAwa (Islamic scholar, lawyer, and international consultant in law, Egypt) gave a presentation titled “Causation (taʿlīl) by citing wisdom (ḥikmah): its allowance, and incidence in Islamic Law (Sharīʿah) and Jurisprudence (fiqh) – the work of eminent scholar Muhammad Mustafa Shalabi as an example”. This was commented upon by both Dr Mohammed Boulaouz (Centre for the Education and Formation Professions, Rabat, Morocco), and Dr Ibrahim Bayoumi Ghanem (Adviser, National Centre for Social and Criminal Research, Egypt).

The second presentation was given by Dr Abdel Nour Bazza (Meknes Academy, Morocco) on “Causation (taʿlīl) and Benefit (maṣlaḥah) in the Dhahiri school – Ibn Hazm as an example”. This was commented upon

by Dr Driss Charki (Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Sais-Fes, Morocco), and Dr Abdul-Majeed al-Najjar (Executive Member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars). Subsequently, the floor was opened to general discussion and responses.

In the evening, the Second Session was chaired by Dr Mohamed Salim el-Awa, where Dr Mohamed Abdu (researcher in maqāṣid) gave a presentation titled “Causation (taʿlīl) in Islamic law between lack of discipline and laxity”. This was commented upon by both Dr Noureddine El Khademi, and the researcher, Jamila Tilout (Doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Letters, Sais-Fes, Morocco). Dr Yusuf Hmito (lecturer and researcher in maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah) gave a presentation titled “Maqāṣid between undisciplined application and phobia of utilisation”. This was commented upon by both Dr Ahmad al-Kafi (Centre for the Education and Formation Professions, Casablanca, Morocco), and Mr Mohamed Tonio (researcher in maqāṣid at the Doctoral Research Institute, Faculty of Letters, Sais-Fes).

Dr Wasfi Ashur (researcher specialising in maqāṣid) gave a presentation on “Islamic law rulings between ritual worship (taʿbud) and causation (taʿlīl)”, which

«Applying the philosophy of Islamic Law (Maqāṣid) Between fear and leniency» The Centre for the Study of the Philosophy of Islamic Law at Al-Furqān, in partnership with the Maqāṣid Research & Studies Centre (Rabat), Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (Sais-Fes), the Master Course on the “Philosophy of Islamic Law (maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah) in the Maliki School of Jurisprudence (fiqh)” and the Faculty of Letters & Humanities (Sais-Fes), organised a training course under the title “Applying the philosophy of Islamic Law (maqāṣid) between fear and leniency”, from the 28th to the 30th of May 2014, in Fez, Morocco.

The participants on this closed course numbered sixty scholars and researchers, who came to Fez from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, London, and Moroccan cities. The course was led by authorities in the science of maqāṣid, and attended by those seeking to enrich their knowledge, research, and learning.

The first session of the training course

Over the course of three days, 28-30 May 2014, and through six morning and evening sessions, the delegates reviewed 15 academic presentations and 28 commentaries, with discussion of all these in six public sessions, which included useful additions, commentaries, and questions.

The presentations, comments, and discussions addressed diverse aspects relating to fear and leniency in applying maqāṣid, whether in causation (taʿlīl) or application (tanzīl), starting with the latent spread in the example of the Egyptian scholar, Shaykh Muhammad Mustafa Shalabi, and his revolution in a stagnant scientific context, ending with the full establishment represented in the maqāṣid movement, which is now a potent force in Arab and Islamic universities.

The presentations also dealt with issues relating to theory, methodology, and application in the science of maqāṣid, such as ritual worship (taʿbud), causation (taʿlīl), interpretation (ta’wīl), interests (maṣāliḥ), harms (mafāsid), means of proving maqāṣid, the consequences (ma’ālāt) of maqāṣid, and examples of maqāṣid teach-

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Winter 2014 Dr Abdul-Majeed al-Najjar (Executive Member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars) then gave a presentation on “Means of establishing consequences (ma’ālāt) of maqāṣid in relation to lack of courage in application (tanzīl)”, which was commented upon by Dr Omar Jadia (Faculty of Letters and Humanities, SaisFes, Morocco), and the researcher, Abdul Ghani Yahyawi (Doctoral Research Institute, Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Sais-Fes).

This was followed by a presentation by Dr Ibrahim Bayoumi Ghanim (Adviser, National Centre for Social and Criminal Research, Egypt) on “The purpose of protecting life in the fiqh of water: an exercise in criticism of explanatory examples and their renewal in maqāṣid teaching”, which was commented upon by Dr Muhammad al-Ansari (Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Meknes, Morocco), and the researcher, Lahsen al-Rahali (researcher at the Doctoral Research Institute, Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Sais-Fes). Subsequently, the opportunity was given for a general discussion and responses relating to the three presentations and the related commentaries.

On the third and final day of the course, Friday 30 May, the Fifth Scientific Session was chaired by Dr Sidi Mohamed Zouhir, where Dr Mihmad Rafi (lecturer at the Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Dahr-Mihzar, Fez), presented “Maqāṣid-based reasoning in determining the matter of implementation of Islamic law in contemporary societies”. This was commented upon by Dr Idriss Awhana (Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Meknes), and Dr al-Hasanal-Mousse (Moroccan researcher in legal theory and philosophy of Islamic law).

Then Dr Saeed Halim (Head of the Islamic Studies Department at the Higher Teacher’s School in Fez) gave a presentation on “Maqāṣid in the political and constitutional sphere”, which was commented upon by Dr Mohamed Awwam (Moroccan researcher in maqāṣid), and Dr Ahmad Izzeawi (Centre for the Education and Formation Professions, Fez, Morocco), followed by general discussion and responses.

In the evening, the Sixth Scientific Session was chaired

by Dr Omar Jadia, Pedagogy co-ordinator for the Masters in “Maqāṣid in the Maliki School of Jurisprudence of the Islamic West between theory and application” at the Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Sais-Fes, Morocco. Dr Wael al-Harithi (Lecturer in the Faculty of Sharīʿah, Um al-Qura University, Makkah) gave a presentation on “The modernist approach to maqāṣid theory: a methodological review”. This was commented upon by Dr al-Hasan Hamdouchi (Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Dahr-al-Mehraz, Morocco), and Dr Abd al-Kabir Hamidi (the Multidisciplinary Faculty, al-Rashidiyah, Morocco). The highlight, preceding the end of the course, was the lecture by Dr Ahmed al-Raissouni titled “The science of maqāṣid from latent

Dr Wasfi Ashur and Professor Mohamed Salim El-Awa

was commented upon by both Dr Abdul Rahman alAdrawi (Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Beni-Melal, Morocco), and Dr Abdul Majeed Muhib, instructor at Dar al-Ḥadīth al-Hasaniyah Foundation, Rabat, after which the opportunity was given for general discussion and responses.

On the second day, Thursday 29 May, the third Scientific Session was chaired by Mr Sali Shahsivari, Managing Director of Al-Furqān, where Dr Abdussalam AitSaeed (researcher in maqāṣid) gave a presentation titled “The maqāṣid approach and its effect in determining benefits (maṣlaḥah) and harms (mafāsid)”, which was commented upon by Dr Amrani Alawi Abasidi (Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Meknes), and Dr Mohamed bin Ahmad bin Sayid Awbek (Head of the Fiqh and Uṣūl Department at the Islamic Sciences University, Mauritania).

Dr Abdul Rahman Al-Adrawi (Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Beni-Melal, Morocco) gave a presentation titled “Maqāṣid and interpretation (ta’wīl): a study in the scientific, logical foundation of maqāṣid knowledge”, which was commented upon by both Dr Bushra al-Alam (Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Rabat, Morocco), and Mr Salim Shaykhi (researcher in maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, Libya).

Then it was the turn of Dr Noureddine El Khademi, to give a presentation on “Maqāṣid in the political and constitutional sphere: Tunisia as an example”, which was commented upon by Dr Sidi Muhammad Zuhayr (Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Sais-Fes), and Dr Mawlay Umar bin Hammad (Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Rabat, Morocco). Subsequently, the floor was opened for general discussion and responses regarding the two presentations and the commentaries upon them.

In the evening of the second day, the Fourth Scientific Session was chaired by Dr Mulay Umar bin Hammad, where Dr Farid Chokri (Muhammadi Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Morocco) gave a presentation on “Methods of proof in the maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah: means (asbāb) and causes (musabbibāt) as example”, which was commented upon by Dr Ahmed al-Raissouni (Director of the Maqāṣid Research and Studies Centre, Rabat), and Mr Wanis al-Mabruk (researcher in maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, Libya).

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Winter 2014 - The topic of proof of maqāṣid has new dimensions, and deserves dedicated courses and publications, to which researchers and academics should be directed.

- The entry of new, hitherto unaddressed, issues that witnessed a vacuum with respect to maqāṣid, such as employment and labour contracts...

- Inviting the key emerging figures in maqāṣid to scientific colloquia, in order to achieve a participatory approach.

- Organising a training course on the maqāṣid concepts and terminology, to unify the conceptualisation of maqāṣid, and publish a glossary of maqāṣid terms.

- Invitation to respond to questions that would be the key for courses, publications, or research, such as: what is the benefit of causation (taʿlīl) of the ruling on the responsible individual, and in Sharīʿah generally? Was the intent of the Legislator to keep the effective causes (‘illal) hidden, or not?

- Holding a course or courses on the issue of applying Islamic (Sharīʿah) law, and establishing a reviewed scientific plan around this, and publishing it as a book.

- Holding a seminar or conference, addressing the evaluation of contemporary experiments in a number of Islamic states of applying Islamic (Sharīʿah) law, such as Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Brunei.

- Directing students and researchers at Masters and Doctoral levels to prepare scientific researches in the areas of Islamic law-based governance (al-siyāsah alshar‘īyyah), and its relationship to maqāṣid.

- Directing researchers to add depth to work on the topic “personal intent, and customary intent, and their effect on contemporary developments”.

- Demanding that Islamic Studies departments, and Sharīʿah faculties offer the topic of Islamic law-based governance (al-siyāsah al-shar‘īyyah).

- Arranging a course on maqāṣid at the organisation, to bring together scholars of Islamic law and secular law, on the maqāṣid platform.

- Paying attention to those complex issues, where mature opinion has not fully emerged; collating and presenting these to maqāṣid scholars to address and treat according to the rules of maqāṣid-based reasoning.

Dr Ahmed Al-Raisouni commenting upon a paper

to establishment”, after which the floor was opened to general discussion and responses regarding the presentation and lecture.

Conclusions & recommendations In light of the presentations, commentaries, and discussions that enlivened the course and revealed the importance and need for the topic, while adding further detail, a set of recommendations relating to the organisational, scientific, and methodological aspects was presented as follows: - It was strongly argued that this course must become a fixed annual event; alternatively, holding it in other Moroccan cities, while ensuring robust organisation.

- Promoting and publishing the course proceedings through available media channels, and as a printed book for wider benefit and to disseminate knowledge.

- Establishing a specialist journal on maqāṣid under the editorial supervision of a panel of experts.

- Establishing a scientific body bringing together those interested in maqāṣid, and unifying their knowledge and effort.

- Organising a seminar focused solely on the eminent scholar, Muhammad Mustafa Shalabi, and his innovative work leading to renewal.

- Establishing a workshop for eminent authorities working on maqāṣid in the Islamic world, that addresses the contemporary issues of the Muslim nation, through the science of maqāṣid.

- The maqāṣid indicator project applied to states, governments, and policy, to determine how far it is respected and adhered to.

- Publishing periodic reports on the state of maqāṣid, monitoring what occurs in reality, and reporting that to actors and decision-makers.

- Identifying the key areas and disciplines that require the added input of maqāṣid to their content, clarifying their influence on maqāṣid and the various disciplines, and holding special seminars on the matter.

- Greater attention to political and pragmatic models to which maqāṣid has been applied, and their consequences (ma’ālāt), as well as other models in which maqāṣid and consequences (ma’ālāt) have been ignored.

A group picture at the end of the training course

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The First Training Course on Codicology

«Arabic Codicology: The Islamic Manuscript Heritage in the El Escorial Collection» Mr Sali Shahsivari participating in the training course

On Monday morning, 14 July, Dr Nuria Martínez-de-Castilla, the course co-ordinator, and lecturer at Madrid University, gave a speech, welcoming the participants and expressing her pleasure for the co-operation with Al-Furqān Foundation in organising the course, and thanking the officials at the Complutense University Summer Courses for hosting it and creating the conditions for it to be a success. This was followed by a speech by Mr Sali Shahsivari, Managing Director of Al-Furqān Foundation, who in turn welcomed the participants.

He highlighted in his opening speech the importance of the course, expressing his appreciation and satisfaction with the co-operation between Al-Furqān Foundation, Complutense University and the Royal Library of El Escorial, and thanked them for their generous hospitality and warm welcome. He also reminded them of the great need for such courses dedicated to studying manuscripts, and then presented the main activities of Al-Furqān, consisting of surveying, cataloguing, studying, and publishing the written Islamic heritage, as well as promoting study in its scientific areas. He explained how Al-Furqān had performed many activities in the area of codicology, most prominently organising an international conference in December 1993, and publishing the book “Islamic Codicology: An Introduction to the Study of Manuscripts in Arabic Script”, in both Arabic

The opening session of the training course

The Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts at Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, in co-operation with Fundación General de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid organised a training course on codicology, entitled “Arabic Codicology: The Islamic Manuscript Heritage in the El Escorial Collection”.

The training course took place from 14 to 18 July 2014, at San Lorenzo de El Escorial (situated 45km north-west of the capital Madrid, Spain), in the framework of the Complutense University Summer Courses.

The aim of the course was to refine participants’ awareness of the importance of Islamic manuscripts and to provide them with basic codicology knowledge and research procedures they will need to study and analyse Arabic manuscripts, as well as shed light on part of this hidden treasure found in the Royal Library of El Escorial that houses the most important collection of Arabic manuscripts in Spain, and one of the most interesting in Europe.

The course was attended by 16 delegates, chosen from different countries, such as the United States of America, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Spain, Holland, Bulgaria, Brazil and Morocco, on the basis of their specialisation in manuscripts and their interest in Islamic heritage. The body of lecturers was highly qualified, including two of the foremost experts in this field, Professor François Déroche and Professor Adam Gacek.

Part of Professor Déroche’s lecture

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and English, which is a useful tool and reference for researchers, cataloguers and editors in the area of Islamic written heritage.

The opening session was concluded by the representative of Complutense University, Dr Margarita San Andrés, who expressed her deep gratitude and great pleasure in organising this course, wishing everyone success in their work.

El Escorial

Subsequently, the course proceedings began with a lecture on the Arabic manuscripts in the El Escorial library.

sions received special attention from all participants, delegates and instructors. Dr José Luis del Valle Moreno, the Director of El Escorial Library, in addition to his warm welcome and generous hospitality, played an important role in facilitating the course proceedings, by assisting instructors and delegates through providing Arabic manuscripts. The participants were divided into four groups, each working together in the analysis of a manuscript.

The course concluded on Friday, 18 July, with a lecture by Dr María Jesús Viguera Molins on the history of Arab manuscripts in Spain and Morocco, after which certificates were given out to the participants.

Part of the workshops

An ample number of morning theoretical sessions were organised within the course curriculum. They addressed some of the scientific aspects of codicology, as part of the examination of manuscripts as a high value archaeological artefact, exploring the components of the manuscripts, such as the book supports (material used: papyrus, leather), and how these are prepared for writing; paper and the different techniques for making it; the form, sizes, and organisation of quires; the structure of the page, its composition, and lines; materials used for writing (pens, inks, colours, and dyes); and the different forms and schools of calligraphy and their development; as well as decoration and illumination of the manuscript, and the art of book binding.

In the closing session, speeches were given by both Dr Nuria Martínez-de-Castilla and Mr Sali Shahsivari, Managing Director of Al-Furqān.

They thanked the delegates who joined the course, expressed their appreciation and profound gratitude for this fruitful course and praised the Complutense University Summer Courses and El Escorial Library for hosting it.

The practical evening sessions were organised in the El Escorial Library. This is located within a grand historical palace that bears the same name, and is famous for housing the largest collection of ancient Hebrew, Arabic, and Maghrebi manuscripts of great academic and religious importance, the majority belonging to the library of Muley Zaydân. These ses-

A group photo in front of El-Escorial Library

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Winter 2014 jurisprudence (fiqh), in which the principles of legal theory (uṣūl) are suspended; similarly, it is directed against secular fanatics, who practise all forms of intellectual terrorism, and are hostile to the Muslim nation’s values, deal in stereotypes, and think that emancipation is achieved by divesting women of values and religion.

Symposia Symposium under the title:

«Towards a unified vision on women and population issues in Islam» The Centre for the Study of the Philosophy of Islamic Law at Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, in co-operation with the International Moderation Forum, and the Islamic Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation (ISESCO), organised a two-day international symposium entitled “Towards a Unified Islamic Perspective on Issues Related to Women and Population” from Tuesday 16th to Wednesday 17th September 2014, at the Regency Palace Hotel, Amman, with the participation of scholars, researchers, and thinkers, as well as experts and specialists in both women’s issues and population issues, from Arab and Muslim countries.

Part of the symposium proceedings The ISESCO representative, Dr Izzuddin Ma’mish, stated that Islam holds the solution to the problems related to population and women, and thus, guaranteeing successful treatment. He expressed hope that the symposium would deliver practical alternatives that “enable the Muslim nation to grasp the initiative in safeguarding human dignity, and granting women their rights”. He also noted ISESCO’s participation with a key paper, explaining Islam’s perspective on the issues of population and development, as well as mapping the overlap between Islamic law (Sharīʿah) and international conventions. He continued by saying that the International Conference on Population and Development 2014 aimed to review international commitments and define a global map of human development, in accordance with the Cairo Conference (1994). He gave a briefing on the discussions on development, population, population growth, international migration, education, and health, as well as reproductive rights that are the theme of the forthcoming conference.

In turn, Dr Ali Qaradaghi, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), stated that society’s security and prosperity stems from proper attention to women, and through applying the Qurʾānic approach. He elucidated the position of family in Islam, in that the well-being and stability of the family forms part of society’s well-being and stability. He expressed IUMS’s willingness to co-operate in producing a clear illustration of Islam’s view on women and population.

The symposium began on Tuesday morning with a speech by the Secretary-General of the International Moderation Forum, Eng. Marwan al-Faouri, which emphasised the symposium’s focus on elaborating an Islamic charter, defining how to tackle the customs and traditions that have denied women their rights in Islamic societies, and the need to formulate a moderate discourse that does justice to women, and grants them full political, cultural, and social rights. He continued by clarifying that the symposium’s philosophy was grounded on a framework of enlightenment and renewal, designed to confront the fanatics with their backward and extremist agenda. These fanatics justify the continuation of the appalling conditions suffered by Muslim women by misrepresenting religious texts—stretching their significance beyond their intent—to entrench disenfranchisement and subjugation in deploying the rule of “closing the means” (sadd al-dhara’iʿ); theirs is a male-centric

On his part, Mr. Sali Shahsivari, Managing Director of Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, said that this important symposium had been organised to provide proposals and solutions, elaborate a unified Islamic perspective, and formulate a working

The opening session of the symposium

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Winter 2014 In his speech on “The Population Problem Between the Natural and Artificial Organisations”, Imam alSadiq al-Mahdi emphasised the need to consider population policy from the Islamic perspective as well as the new reality in the perspective on women. He called for the symposium recommendations to take account of circumstances, and not adopt a traditional style of discourse.

document on the issues of population and development, especially given these testing times, where the world is in dangerous crisis, and the Muslim nation faces many growing and escalating challenges. He added that of all the issues addressed by the symposium, the issue of women is central, especially as Islam had granted rights to, and honoured women, and assured equality with men; indeed, while nations share the ideal of honouring the human being generally, and women particularly, Islam set the precedent in its application. He concluded his speech by thanking all those who had contributed, whether in small or large measure, to paving the way for the symposium to be held.

Dr Nawal Sharar, Attorney in Islamic law, presented the importance of motherhood and childhood in Islam, explaining that Islam had integrated motherhood into religious practice.

In turn, the former Tunisian Minister of Religious Affairs, Dr Noureddine al-Khadimi, emphasised the general principles ratified by Islam in the perspective on women, most prominently their humanity, dignity, rights, and duties. He pointed to the consideration of women’s biological and psychological specificities, evidencing this in texts from Qurʾān and the Prophet’s tradition (Sunnah), which confirm the general principles of Islam’s comprehensive perspective on women.

The second day’s sessions began with a study by Dr Muhammad al-Qudat titled “Women’s Participation in Public Life and Issues of Inheritance and Testimony”, in which he presented several important themes, and explained that women prior to Islam did not receive any consideration or rights, but suffered oppression, and that Islam as a religion had restored dignity and granted rights to women, most importantly the right to inherit.

Part of the symposium sessions Immediately after these speeches, the first day’s sessions began with a presentation by Dr Izzuddin Ma’mish, on behalf of ISESCO, describing the Organisation’s perspective on women’s rights and population. He explained that the essence of the document aimed to establish a framework of principles governing development, population, and women’s rights, derived from Islamic legislation, most prominently, freedom, development, equal opportunities, and equality.

As for Dr Atif ‘Idaybat, he spoke of “The Role of Intellectual and Cultural Bodies in Defending Cultural Specificities”, where he clarified the importance of organisations with all their branches in spreading awareness on the issue of women and their rights and duties, in order to prevent the oppression of woman and violation of their rights.

On her part, the Parliamentary Secretary in the Moroccan Assembly, Dr Jamila al-Mosalli, called for a re-appraisal and framing in more precise terms of the concepts relating to women, such as equality. She requested revision of the concepts using scientific methodology, hinging on the importance of civil society. She concluded her speech by asserting the need for co-operation between all bodies, to correct the discourse on women and population.

Dr Ahmad Abu al-Wafa led the session with a paper on “Respect for Cultural Differences Between Peoples”, where he explained the Islamic principles governing respect for cultural difference, such as: the principle of non-violation of higher Islamic rules; the principle of need to respect and take into consideration the specificities and customs of peoples; the principle of respect for cultural differences between states, nations, and peoples; the principle of right to freedom of belief; the principle of non-clash of civilisations but co-existence and parallelism; and the principle of non-interference in the affairs of others.

Dr Aishah Fadli, President of the Right to Life Association, presented a working paper titled “A Reading into the United Nations Document on Motherhood and Childhood”. She declared that Muslims had made a mistake in allowing international organisations a free hand to write reports on population. In her words, we absented ourselves from participating in the preparation of such reports, despite their vital importance.

Dr Fat’hi al-‘Uyuni explained in his paper “Women Between International Rights and Domestic Laws”

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Winter 2014 and erase this imagery, is by presenting documentaries presenting the real image of Islam and Muslims, and highlighted the importance of openness of Arab media and cinema to the Western world in order to have the capacity to present the truth about Islam and Muslims.

that post-independence, the political authority derived from the Tunisian Constituent Assembly had established a legislative framework that motivated all persons—men and women—without discrimination on the basis of gender. The state legislators had striven to provide special treatment for women, bringing them equal footing with men, at the level of education or employment. Indeed, several laws were issued aimed at achieving the greatest degree of equality with men in civil and personal rights. Subsequently, the legislative trajectory took an upward trend in terms of granting greater rights to women to include the political and civil society organisation contexts, reaching an apogee after the Revolution, through the legislation of the 50% principle and enshrining in the constitution those gains achieved by women over the past years. Therefore, Tunisian women today are able to proudly talk of their rights and achievements compared to other women whether in the Arab and Islamic world or the Western world, because these rights and gains respond to the majority of internationally-agreed rights, in the political, social, or family contexts.

Dr Hasan Jaber gave a speech titled “Human Development Environments in Light of a Renewed Reading, Based on the Philosophy of Islamic Law (maqāṣid)”. He emphasised that addressing the issue of women and population must be done according to a framework of highly interwoven elements, in which it is not possible to isolate any particular element without falling into errors of description, or shortcomings in treatment. He clarified that the Qurʾānic text draws attention to a universal fact whose maqāṣid indication cannot be disregarded; this is consideration and measure in all things; if we are to reflect on the noble verse: {Who makes (things) according to a measure, then guides (them to their goal)} (Surah Al-A’la: 3), we will see that it indicates – among others –the importance of consideration for women, due to the large role they undertake in these times; the woman is the educator and the worker, and has become a fundamental part of building society. Therefore, she must be considered and granted all rights that help continue in this great role.

The sessions concluded with reading of the recommendations reached by the participants in the symposium, following two days of work interspersed with detailed discussions and deeply worthwhile suggestions.

It is worth mentioning that the Rabitat Kuttab alTajdid of the International Moderation Forum held a function to celebrate the efforts of thinkers and scholars in spreading moderate thought and enlightenment through their publications. During this event, certificates were given out to the participants in the symposium.

Mr Mohamed Drioueche, Dr Noreldine El-Khadimi and Dr Hassan Jabir Dr Khadijah Brayk presented a paper on “The Image of the Muslim Woman in World Cinema, and Its Reflection on the Position of the United Nations: A Critical Perspective”. She emphasised that the Arab and Muslim individual occupies prominent space in Western media as a negative, stereotypical personality—harmful, extreme, destructive, stupid, lazy, and other ugly descriptions.

Therefore, work must be done to erase this negative image in various ways. She projected a short film showing how Western films present the image of the Arab as a killer by nature, and that many Arab films further propagate this image by portraying the Muslim as an extremist. The film also showed the Arab woman represented as a dancer, and a violent and vicious terrorist relishing bloodshed. She asserted that the solution to overcome

A group photo at the closing of the symposium

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Winter 2014 current problems through laying a contemporary foundation that contributes to enriching Islamic civilisational thought.

The Conference comprised a number of lectures that may be classified into two types; the first type was characterised by a descriptive approach along with juristic evidencing, while the second adopted an analytical approach that extracts new ideas from within Islamic studies.

The Conference discussed several issues under three themes: 1.

Religious and civil conceptions of the state, and the common ground shared by both.

2.

State foundations: parliamentary, constitutional, legal, and institutional; e.g. ahl al-ḥal wa al-‘aqd or the body of experts and consultants, the Consultative (shūrā) organs, and security apparatus.

3.

State functions: such as application of the Islamic legal framework (al-Sharīʿah) and punishments (al-ḥudūd); wisely confronting some concepts, such as extremism (al-ghuluww); and prioritising the concepts relating to sovereignty and governance, in addition to maintaining law and order, e.g. security of society and state.

Conferences International Conference on

«The State and Society within the Scope of the Objectives of Sharīʿah»

The opening session of the conference

Following the success of the first international conference on the “State: between tradition and future”, which tackled issues related to the concept of the “State” in general, the organisers agreed to continue to address those issues along more detailed and deeper themes, with discussion framed in light of the objectives of Islamic Law (maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah).

The International Conference under the title “The State and the Society in the Scope of the Objectives of Sharīʿah” was organised by Sultan Mohammed al-Fatih University, in collaboration with Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, the National Association for Studies and Research and the Syrian Business Forum, from the 6th until 8th April 2014, in Istanbul - Turkey The Conference discussed Islamic concepts in relation to modern issues, where it endeavoured to confront contemporary necessities. It also represented a new methodological step for tackling

Part of the participants

The key lecturers in this conference were: Dr Abdul Majeed al-Najjar, Dr Nour al-Din Mukhtar al-Khadimi, Dr Ibrahim al-Bayoumi Ghanem, Dr Abdul Salam Ballaji, Dr Jasser Auda, Dr Muhammad bin al-Mukhtar al-Shanqiti, Dr Saadal-Din al-Uthmani, Dr Imad al-Din Khalil, Shaykh Muhammad Hassan al-Deddo, Dr Muhammad Ayash al-Kubaisi, Dr Mazen Hashem, Shaykh Muhammad Abul Huda al-Yaqoubi, as well as other academics and scholars.

Sultan Mohammed al-Fatih University

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Recent Publications Recent Publications of the Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscript «The Fihrist of al-Nadīm» by Abū al-Faraj

Catalogue of Islamic Manuscripts from the National Archives of the Ivory Coast

Muḥammad Ibn Isḥāq - Second Edition

This catalogue presents a description of 2257 Islamic manuscripts, which were written in the Arabic language and collected from both private and public libraries in Ivory Coast. Amongst the manuscripts listed are those that were brought from Andalucía, Morocco, Sokoto in Nigeria and Timbuktu in Mali.

The topics covered in this catalogue are jurisprudence, uniqueness of God (tawḥīd), Ḥadīth, the biography of the Prophet, logic, Sufism, the Arabic language and Arabic literature.

“Kitāb al-Fihrist” by al-Nadīm is the most important and groundbreaking bibliographical work to survey in an unprecedented way the authorship in the Islamic World. The author – in the first ten articles - methodically presents the intellectual production of the Arabic-Islamic world and the contribution оf Muslim scholars to human civilisation until the end of the tenth century C.E. (fourth century A.H.). This unique piece of work presents us with a comprehensive review of Arabic culture which was open to all schools of thought. It can be said that, historically, the West had never come across a book of its kind until the start of the printing in the fifteenth century C.E. The most important addition to the new edition is the volume dedicated to the critical study of the book. The first part of this independent volume is devoted to a complete study and analysis of Ibn al-Nadīm and his book “Al-Fihrist”. The second part, instead, covers the chapters of the book and the indices. This edition also adds corrections to the work done by Muḥammad bin Tāwīt al-Ṭanjī on the book. Moreover, it provides corrections to previous mistakes, updated information and recent findings, thanks to the analysis of manuscripts that were provided to the editor by several scholars and colleagues.

Catalogue of the Private Collections of Manuscripts in the Egyptian National Library (Dār al-Kutub al- Misriyyah) This catalogue presents a description of 6,993 titles in the manuscript collections of those libraries previously belonging to wealthy individuals or scholars. Subsequently, these had been added to the manuscript holdings of Dār al-Kutub in the period 1876 – 1934, while preserving the name of the owner and collector. In addition, there are other private libraries that were incorporated in that time into the manuscript general holdings of Dār alKutub, without recording their provenance. The private libraries, comprising art collections, catalogued in these eight volumes belonged to: Mustafā Fāḍil, al-Shinqīṭī, Qawlah, Ḥalīm, Khalīl Agha, Ṭalʿat, and Taymūr Pasha. The manuscripts in this catalogue are diverse, including the Noble Qurʾān and sciences, creed (ʿaqīdah), jurisprudence (fiqh) and legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh), Fatwa, inheritance rules (farāʾiḍ), prophetic traditions (Ḥadīth) and sciences, Sufism, Arabic grammar, etc.

Catalogue of Islamic Manuscripts in the Libraries of Burkina Faso This catalogue presents descriptions of 1240 manuscripts which were collected and catalogued from 12 public and private libraries in Burkina Faso.

The subjects covered are jurisprudence, Sufism, history, morphology, grammar, rhetoric and Arabic literature.

The importance of the catalogue lies in its shedding light on the important role Muslim scholars played in Burkina Faso in the promotion of Islamic culture in West Africa.

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«Treatise on the Angle» by Kamāl al-

source in 1122 H./1710 C.E. Shaykh Muhammad al-Khalili documented the efforts of the State, at the time, in bringing water to al-Quds, as well as documenting the rehabilitation of al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and other sites.

Dīn al-Fārisī

This book, “Treatise on the Angle”

by Kamal al-Dīn al-Farisi belongs to the realm of mathematical educational science, representing one of the key specialist sciences in which scholars have demonstrated untrammelled creativity in making original contributions and inventing novel branches in this discipline that was unheard of in past civilisations. “A Treatise on the Angle” is one of a rare breed of books in our heritage, as it addresses a topic related to the discipline of mathematics history and philosophy, on the one hand, and on the other, is a study of the nature of the angle – a philosophical mathematical concept – from the perspective of Arab scholars. The importance of the topic stems from the necessity to study the essence of mathematical concepts so as to complete our knowledge of mathematics, and because it was not previously subject to detailed study in ancient Greek civilisation. This substantiates the keen interest that Arab and Muslim scholars had in the theoretical and intellectual aspects, alongside their interest in the applied aspects of the sciences, in their works, which were endowed with originality as a result.

«Editing Islamic Manuscripts on Social Sciences and Humanities: Research Articles»

The lectures in this book include indepth discussions revolving around defining the concept of editing manuscripts, and specifying the relevant approaches in the discipline of humanities, as well as the technologies available for resurrecting and restoring lost texts. Some studies discussed the importance of codicology and its fine practical applications that are a critical aid to the editor, while providing a model for the codicological treatment of Arabic and Syriac philosophical manuscripts. The reader will find revelations regarding new facts in this area, such as the finding that there is no disparity between Ibn Khaldūn’s reasoning in the Muqadimmah, and his reasoning in al-‘Ibbar, based on different interpretations of possible meanings of the text.

The majority of studies were concerned with reviewing the editing practice in many areas of the Islamic heritage, such as theology and Sufism. Some gave reasons for revising editions of previously published manuscripts in geography and Sufism, such as “Mu‘jam mā Ista‘jam”, and “al-Futūḥāt al-Makkiyyah”, etc., while other studies presented surveys of the practice of critical editing of manuscripts around the world, such as in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

«Water and its Sources in the Holy city of

Jerusalem and the Ottoman state’s efforts to provide it: a documented study using the civil record and critical edition of the monograph “Risālah fī Taʿmīr ʿAyn Bayt al-Maqdis” by Shaykh Muhammad al-Khalili on rehabilitating the sources on the city of Jerusalem»

«Editing Manuscripts in the Field of Ḥadīth and Its Sciences and Biographies:

This book is an indispensible reference for students of Palestinian history and archaeology. Moreover, the author, Shaykh Muhammad al-Khalili, is one of the prominent scholars of Al-Quds. The first part of the book (a study) provides a clear and vivid account of the social and economic conditions of Al-Quds’ inhabitants in the Ottoman Caliphate phase. The study focused essentially on the city’s water shortage, in describing the inhabitants’ difficulties and privation due to the absence of rain, sometimes, for years; it mentioned all the types of wells, pools, and channels, on which the inhabitants depended. It also presented the most important efforts of the Ottoman State in supplying water. The second part of the book comprises a critical edition of “Risālah fī Taʿmīr ʿAyn Bayt al-Maqdis” by Shaykh Muhammad al-Khalili; this is a monograph on the chronic water crisis in the city of al-Quds, due to the ruin of its water source and destruction of the channel that transported water to the city. The author dedicated this monograph to the venerable Muhammad Afandi, Justice of al-Quds, who personally supervised the rehabilitation of the water

This book comprises a set of researches and scientific papers presented at the Seventh Training Course on Editing, organised by the Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts at AlFurqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, in co-operation with Dar al-Ḥadith alḤassania, and held on 3 - 8 March 2014 at Dar al-Ḥadith al-Ḥassania Institute in Rabat, Morocco. The research papers included the history of editing in the discipline of noble Prophetic traditions (Ḥadīth) as well as the discipline of biographies (tarājim) and scholar transmission and hierarchies (mashyakhāt) in both theory and practice, including the steps involved: the knowledge needed by the editor of the full spectrum of tasks, whether on the theoretical level, such as the scientific conception of editing, its fundamentals, approaches, and problems, and the sources that the editor must explore; or on the practical level, such as text selection and documentation, search and criticism of extant copies, exploring editing traditions, the process of copying and collation, edition and treatment, commentary, study... in addition to treating interpolation, variation in text narrations in the Ḥadīth manuscript, and ex-libris text: its types, classification and derived benefits, etc..

Research Articles»

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«Late Arabic Scientific Commentaries:

mathematical sophistication that outmatched any of the earlier works that were produced within the Islamic civilisation, and, in some instances, even surpassed the contemporary scientific works that were produced in Europe at the time. Dr Saliba attributes the lack of scholarly attention to late scientific commentaries to a number of reasons, most prominently: the difficulty in reading late commentaries, absence of explanatory illustrations, and a perpetuated misconception that, following the classical or golden age of Islam, there was nothing worth studying in terms of cultural output.

Their Role and their Originality»

This book focuses on the importance of scientific commentaries, especially manuscripts on astronomy, authored between the thirteenth and the sixteenth century. Dr Saliba demonstrates that particular commentaries were distinguished by the introduction of new scientific thinking, and also a level of astronomical

Recent Publications of the Centre for the Encyclopaedia of Makkah and Madinah (Makkah and Madinah Centre)

«The House of Khadeejah Bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her) in Makkah alMukarramah: A Historical Study of its Location, Building, and Architecture» (English edition) This book documents one of the holiest Islamic sites in Makkah, the House of Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with her), which housed the best creation of God, the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), his sons and his daughters (may Allah be pleased with them). This study sheds the light on the history of this great house, its roles across different historical periods as well as the renovations, additions and modifications that it has undergone throughout time. It also looks at the various social and cultural aspects related to it. In addition to the

relevant aspects related to this house, such as: the Mother of Believers, Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her) and her position and role in the Prophet’s life, and the most important events that occurred in the House of Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with her); it also includes the location of the House of Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with her) and the houses surrounding it; the architecture of the House of Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with her) throughout history, according to the narratives of the historians; the House of Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with her) in the books of journeys to Makkah; and the House of Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with her) based on the excavations done in 1989.

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Recent Publications of the Centre for the Study of the Philosophy of Islamic Law «The Jurisprudence of Sharīʿah Objectives and Interests between al-ʿIzz Ibn ʿAbd al-Salām and Abū Isḥāq al-Shāṭibī: a comparative study»

Bibliography for Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah: Monographs - Theses - Articles (vol. X)

The Bibliography for maqāṣid of Sharīʿah (objectives of Islamic law) is a comprehensive reference manual and a historical documentation of what has been written in the field of maqāṣid. It identifies and collates the cumulative research produced over the course of history in the field since the 3rd century of the Islamic calendar. The work was conducted by Prof. Muhammad Kamal Imam. It includes all the madhabs (juridical schools of law) and the Islamic schools of thought. It also includes a variety of references (manuscripts, university theses, conference proceedings and contemporary studies) that appear in a number of countries and in several languages. The bibliography is made up of 10 volumes, each listing hundreds of entries.

This book is important and worthy of interest, comprising a study of the jurisprudence of objectives and interests (fiqh al-maqāṣid wa al-maṣāliḥ) that compares between al-‘Iz bin ‘Abd al-Salam and Abu Isḥāq al- Shaṭibi. In the introduction, the author explains the terms he uses in the title. Subsequently, in the first chapter, he presents the available information on key events of the times in which both Imams lived, as well as their biographies, and methodology. In the second chapter, he provides a narrative of the gradual evolution of the discipline of jurisprudence of objectives and interests in the historical context; how it originated; how it evolved; and to which point it advanced. In Chapter 3, he turns his attention to considering the most important issues within the jurisprudence of objectives and interests from the perspectives of these two eminent, contrasting authorities.

In this context, he focuses on those matters that relate to our present concerns regarding knowledge and society, and referres to seven significant issues, namely objectives (maqāṣid) and interests (maṣāliḥ); worship (‘ibādah) and causation (taʿlīl)); interests between reason (‘aql) and text (naṣ); objectives and means (wasā’il); the juxtaposition (tamāzuj) and rational weighting (tarjīḥ) of interests and harms (mafāsid); public (‘āmah) interests and specific (kifā’iyah) objectives; and, finally, objectives and consideration of consequences (ma’ālat).

This study advances research from the typical consideration of one or other Imam’s thought, in isolation, to the comparative treatment; here represented in exploring the jurisprudence of objectives and interests from the standpoint of two prominent authorities. All the while, it focuses on useful cases related to current concerns about knowledge and society, and excludes others that have served a purpose in their time, and whose repetition is of no value today.

«The Fundamental Rules of the Science on Sharīʿah Objectives» This book is an in-depth study on the birth of the science of philosophy of Islamic law (ʿilm al-maqāṣid) from the time of Imam alShātibi to the present day.

It addresses and explains, in great detail, three of the discipline’s pillars and rules, namely: the rule of taʿlīl, i.e. causation; the rule of istislāh, i.e. deriving the ruling based on achieving the benefit (maṣlaḥah mursalah) in the absence of a text; and the rule of ma’ālāt, i.e. considering the consequences. In his study, the author also proves the independence of the science of philosophy of Islamic law (ʿilm almaqāṣid) until it became an actual and indisputable reality. Today, this discipline has its eminent authorities, history, issues, publications, branches and areas, principles and rules, and distinct functions… Hence, it no longer lacks any of the features of an “independent science”.

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Winter 2014 the function of political reform and democratic change in Arab countries. These studies provided theoretical arguments regarding the policies and purposes of civil society in different systems.

Some studies explored the maqāṣid in labour laws and worker rights, and in deepening self-regulation between transacting parties.

Some studies presented human rights reports in light of maqāṣid theory, by comparing selected articles of the “1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, and the “1957 Abolition of Forced Labour Convention”.

Other studies took a practical, applied approach to maqāṣid in contemporary state constitutions, taking Egypt as a case study.

The symposium annexes included: the role of a renowned historical institution in the Islamic world in the new political life and democratic change, after the Revolution on 25 January 2011; Al-Azhar was examined in light of documents it issued, among them: the “Al-Azhar Document Against Violence”, and the “Joint Document by Al-Azhar and Intellectuals on the System of Fundamental Rights”.

These annexes also included commentary addressed to the Constituent Assembly, tasked with writing the 2012 Egyptian Constitution, with guidance on disambiguating the “principles of Islamic Sharīʿah”.

Indeed, a cause for optimism and satisfaction is that the scholars, who contributed to this book—given the diversity of their research and juristic approaches, in addressing their topic individually, have left an indelible mark. This represents evidence of their qualification to perform juristic effort (ijtihād), or come quite close to that.

«The Activation of Sharīʿah Objectives in the Political Sphere» (Research articles)

This publication comprises thirteen studies presented at the symposium titled “Activating the Sharīʿah Objectives (maqāṣid) in the Political Sphere”, which was organised in 2013 by the Centre for the Study of the Philosophy of Islamic Law, in co-operation with the Tunisian Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Tunisia branch of the International Union of Muslim Scholars. These insightful scholarly works addressed topics of theoretical and applied nature, while applying maqāṣid-based approaches related to the symposium’s subject matter. Moreover, they responded to topical real-world issues, and discussed matters of debate raised in the current Arab political context.

Some of the symposium studies examined the dilemma of a civil state with Islamic orientation; the gradual approach to application of Sharīʿah; and the necessity to found and activate a special maqāṣidbased political science, along with determining priorities precisely in the context of the numerous demands imposed by reality.

Several studies developed a maqāṣid basis on the issue of “pluralism and transfer of power”, while others conceptualised the relationship between parliaments and consensus (ijmāʿ).

Some studies reflected on the legality of political participation in Sharīʿah, the right to organise politically and hold elections. These works asserted that membership of parties and associations is one of the best and most certain ways of achieving the purpose (maqṣad) of liberty, and fulfilling the Islamic civilisation’s renaissance.

Other studies performed a thorough examination of the theoretical and practical importance of the “jurisprudence of governance in Sharīʿah” (fiqh alsiyāsah al-sharʿīyah) from the perspective of Sharīʿah texts and maqāṣid. This included establishing the foundation of this branch of jurisprudence, and clarifying the role of maqāṣid as a pivotal reference, while addressing the thorny issue of “separation between religion, state and society”, and applying the jurisprudence of governance to “elections”.

Some studies explored civil society and its purposes, the debate over its inclusion or exclusion, and the obstacles that restrict its effectiveness in performing

«The Objectives of Sharīʿah: Principles and Concepts» (Research Articles) This book comprises sixteen studies revolving around the historical development of the discipline of maqāṣid, traceable from the era of the Prophet’s Companions, until its foundations were firmly laid by al-Shāṭibī and those following him, led most prominently by Shaykh Ibn ‘Āshūr.

He also further highlighted the role of maqāṣid in the contemporary Islamic renewal. Some of these studies investigate the ways of discovering and identifying the objectives of Islamic law, which were listed as: explicit statement of the objectives in the

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Qurʾān and Sunnah, from fiqh principles (al-qawāʿid al-fiqhiyyah), or identified from what is known of the ways to effective cause (masālik al-ʿIlla). Other studies discuss the misunderstandings in the relationship between legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh) and universal objectives (al-maqāṣid al-kulliyyah), where each has its own topics and issues, yet both share the same role of serving jurisprudence (fiqh) and the process of derivation of legal rulings (istinbāṭ).

The book also includes a study on omission (altark) in legislation (tashrīʿ) and obligation (taklīf).

It also addresses the principle of means (al-dharāiʿ) in terms of history of knowledge, critical analysis of its traditional examples and giving alternative and contemporary examples in opening (fatḥ) and closing (sadd), while explaining the consequences (alma’ālāt) and their significant effect on public good.

The reader will find many studies on the founding principles of the fiqh of priorities (al-awlawiyyāt) and the importance of weightening up between the objectives (maqāṣid), especially where there is no previous ruling based on juristic effort (ijtihād). One study addresses the areas and horizons of ijtihād based on the objectives, while other studies explore the concept of renewal (tajdīd), its horizons today and the obstacles to it. Some studies discuss maqāṣid principles in contemporary financial transactions, whereas other studies look into activating maqāṣid in the charity and daʿwah sectors.

i.e. unrestricted and excessive, approach of the neointerpretists (al-muʾawilah al-judud), which calls for disregarding the partial texts (al-nusūs al-juzʾiyyah), so as to “apply” the general universal purposes (al-maqāṣid al-kulliyyah al-ʿāmah); and the moderate and balanced approach, represented in a trend that treats the philosophy of Islamic law (maqāṣid) without leniency leading to imprecision, or fear resulting in paralysis. The research also presented model case studies applied to the areas of family, economy, finance, and public and private freedoms, as well as the political, constitutional, criminal, etc.

«Causation Based on Wisdom:

Admissibility and Instances in Islamic Law and Jurisprudence (The Work of Shaykh Muhammad Mustafa Shalabi as a Model)» This lecture formed part of the proceedings of the training course organised by the Centre for the Study of the Philosophy of Islamic Law at Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the Maqāṣid Research & Studies Centre (Rabat), Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (Sais-Fes), the Master Course on the “Philosophy of Islamic Law (maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah) in the Maliki School of Jurisprudence (fiqh)” and the Faculty of Letters & Humanities (Sais-Fes), and held over three days, on 28 - 30 May 2014, Fez, Morocco, under the title “Applying the philosophy of Islamic Law (maqāṣid) between fear and leniency”.

Dr Mohammad Salim al-Awwa exerted clear scholarly effort, offering evidence in his lecture of causation (taʿlīl) of Sharīʿah rulings (aḥkām) in the statements of leading scholars in this regard; for example Shaykh Badran Abu al-‘Aynayn Badran, who stated: “The majority of scholars would resolve in their juristic efforts (ijtihād) that the purpose for which Allah has legislated rulings (aḥkām), was only for the interest (maṣlaḥah) of attaining a good, or preventing a harm, and hence, this interest is in itself the objective intended by the legislation, and is termed wisdom (ḥikmah). Indeed, Allah, the Exalted, acts only in accordance with the wisdom inherent in His Laws in creation, and for His Ruling to have a purpose in no way erodes the perfection ascribed to Him. Moreover, he points to the consensus of the rationalist (Muʿtazilah) school, in that His Rulings, the Exalted, are underpinned by the interests of the slaves, and that Sunni Muslims (ahl al-Sunnah) believe that He, the Almighty, does not act except but to achieve the advance of earthly life and the good of human beings, in accordance with His Will, Most Powerful,

«Applying the Sharīʿah Objectives between Fear and Leniency» (Research Articles) This book is composed of a set of research and scientific papers presented at the training course organised by the Centre for the Study of the Philosophy of Islamic Law, part of Al-Furqān Foundation, in co-operation with the Maqāṣid Research & Studies Centre (Rabat), Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (SaisFes) and the Faculty of Letters & Humanities (Sais-Fes) - Masters Course on the Philosophy of Islamic Law (maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah), and held over three days from 28 - 30 May 2014, in the city of Fez, Morocco, titled “Applying the philosophy of Islamic law (maqāṣid) between fear and leniency”. The research addressed the different trends and approaches vis-à-vis the philosophy of Islamic law (maqāṣid), and hence, the way it is tackled and applied both in the past and the present; these approaches are summarised in: fear and aversion of applying it, represented by the literalist (ẓāhiri) and rigid extremist trends; the lenient,

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Winter 2014 The distinguished reader will also find that the author has intentionally drawn attention to an area that has not received worthy attention from contemporary researchers, i.e. the area lying between purposes (maqāṣid) and jurisprudence (fiqh). Furthermore, that jurisprudence is obliged to serve, and be governed by maqāṣid, and not rule over them, at both theoretical and practical levels. In addition, he intended to open the door to juristic effort (ijtihād) and renewal (tajdīd) in the jurisprudence of water in its contemporary elements, applying the standards of the universal purposes (al-maqāṣid al ‘āmah) of Islamic law that promote the right to liberty, glorify the right to life, and grant due care to collective communal benefits, with wisdom and vision, and without fear or leniency.

Most Great, as concluded by the eminent scholar, ‘Alāl, al-Fāsi, may Allah have mercy on him.

Dr El-Awa’s lecture was marked by entertaining presentation, excellent analysis as to the approach of causation, and its development in the times of free juristic effort (ijtihād) and imitation (taqlīd).

The lecturer cleverly addressed the subject matter, especially since he submitted the work of his own teacher— the eminent scholar, Muhammad Mustafa Shalabi, may Allah have mercy on him, as a model; both teacher and student, belong to the school advocating a “new approach” to the study of legal theory and maqāṣid, which brings justice in application, and plants tranquillity in the heart, because Allah, the Almighty, has legislated His Rulings for high purposes, bringing benefits to people and preventing harms; indeed, Allah, the Almighty, has demonstrated the harms inherent in some acts, urging their avoidance and the good inherent in others, urging their performance.

«Beauty: An Approach Based on the Philosophy of Islamic Law»

«The Purpose of Self-Preservation in the

This lecture aims to explore a very important issue regarding the awareness of beauty as a universal concept which manifests itself in different ways, as well as from within the perspective of the philosophy of Islamic law (maqāṣid).

The topic was delivered in an interesting and engaging way, where the philological definition of beauty was followed by the presentation of the evidences of the origin of the concept of beauty and its location within the Qurʾānic perspective since God is beautiful and loves beauty - and that our religion commends beauty as a duty and aspiration in terms of doing and being.

Dr Esam El-Bashir proceeded to explain the foundations of the maqāṣid-based perspective on beauty; indeed, beauty is an all-inclusive concept, addressing all areas and aspects of life. Moreover, it represents an absolute value, and is connected to values, in relation to the unity between outer and inner self.

Jurisprudence of Waters:

An Exercise in Criticism and Renewal of the Explanatory Proverbs in Maqāṣid Teaching» This book presents a study in jurisprudence of purposes of Islamic law (fiqh al-maqāṣid) with focus on demonstrating the purpose of “self-preservation” in the jurisprudence of water and in motivating a renewal in the study of jurisprudence of water, in a way that contributes to fulfilling the purpose of “self-preservation” in the reality of contemporary societies.

In this book, the author answered the difficult and vexing question posed to qualified experts regarding the explanatory proverbs/examples in both juristic and maqāṣid teaching; the question being: why did these explanatory proverbs/examples in the area of water remain without renewal or change for so many centuries? What is the basis for continuing to reference these even today, without addition, reduction, or amendment, despite the fundamental changes occurring in social, economic, political, legislative, and cultural life? The author pointed out that this situation was quite widespread in the area of jurisprudence and legal theory (uṣūl), and the discipline of maqāṣid, generally.

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The Centre for the Encyclopaedia of Makkah and Madinah (Makkah and Madinah Centre):

The Makkah and Madinah Centre’s mission

The Makkah and Madinah Centre’s main goal is to acknowledge both Makkah and Madinah's scientific and cultural roles and their historical significance throughout history.

“20 Years Documenting the Role of the Two Noble Cities”

The Makkah and Madinah Centre’s aims and objectives The Makkah and Madinah Centre’s main aims and objectives are:

• To promote research into and specialised study of the two holy cities, Makkah and Madinah • To acknowledge Makkah and Madinah's scientific and cultural roles and their historical significance

The Encyclopaedia of Makkah and Madinah project had been a living dream and an inspirational vision of His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani almost 30 years ago.

Dr Abbas Saleh Tashkandi was the first with whom HE Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani - the Chairman and Founder of Al-Furqān - raised the idea in 1987.

• To compile a comprehensive Encyclopaedia about these two holy cities To achieve its aims and objectives, the Centre pursues the following activities:

- Publishing books, studies and theses on Makkah and Madinah - Publishing critical editions of historical references related to Makkah and Madinah

During the first conference organised by AlFurqān Foundation in 1991, the late Sheikh Hamad al-Jasser, a member of Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation, gave a keynote speech at the Foundation’s launch, in which he presented some of the most valuable manuscripts of Makkah and Madinah and urged the Foundation to undertake the task of producing an encyclopaedia of the two great cities.

- Holding lectures and other public activities to stimulate research and discussions on topics related to Makkah and Madinah

- Compiling and publishing a multi-lingual bibliography of published works, references, theses and articles on Makkah and Madinah

- Establishing an Information Centre holding a collection of texts, references, photographs, documents, maps, theses, travellers’ accounts, journals, microfilms and audio-visual material on Makkah and Madinah

This event encouraged His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, the Chairman of the Foundation, to fulfill his long-thought dream of publishing the Encyclopaedia of Makkah alMukarramah and Madinah al-Munawwarah.

The first meeting of the Encyclopaedia's Advisory Board was held in Jeddah on 4th November 1994, which marked the establishment of the Makkah and Madinah Centre of Al-Furqān, housed in Jeddah.

After a series of intense meetings with consultants and academic councils, in Istanbul, Madinah and with various people inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, spanning a period of four years, work started on the encyclopaedia.

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The Makkah and Madinah Centre’s boards

The Encyclopaedia project is implemented under the supervision of the Advisory Board, the Academic Board, a number of specialised committees and the executive management.

The Makkah and Madinah Centre’s activities -Lectures

Within the framework of the cultural activities of the Centre, and in order to strengthen links with those who are interested in the Islamic heritage related to the two holy cities, Makkah and Madinah, Al-Furqān has, in the past few years, organised lectures with eminent speakers, tackling different topics. Below is a list a of the main lectures that have taken place:

«The House of Khadeejah Bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her) in Makkah al-Mukarramah: A Historical Study of its Location, Building, and Architecture» - English edition and political life, as well as the architecture, planning and the sources which document the history of both holy cities, based on an array of resources, such as books/publications, historical documents, photographs, maps and recordings.

1. “Uncovering the Prophet’s Marital Home”,

by H.E. Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani

2. “International Politics Pre-Islam and the Significance of Makkah in World Trade”, by Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani

The aim of the Encyclopaedia project – as described by His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, the chairman of the Foundation - is to acknowledge the merit and grace of two of the most holy sites on Earth, the city of Makkah, the sanctuary of the House of God, and Madinah, the city of the Prophet Moħammed (peace be upon him), upon the Islamic civilisation and humankind. The project also highlights the profound role that these two cities played in supporting scientific and cultural initiatives throughout the centuries, as the origins of Islamic civilisation and its source of illumination, enlightened the whole world.

3. “Images of Makkah and Madinah with Special Reference to the ‘Dalail al-Khayrát’”,

by Jan Just Witkam 4. “The Discovery of the House of Khadeejah (may God be pleased with her) in Makkah alMukarramah”, by Dr Abbas Saleh Tashkandy

The Makkah and Madinah Centre’s publications

Beside its flagship project, the Encyclopaedia, the Centre has published around 20 titles in around 30 volumes, covering a wide range of topics and different subjects related to the two holy cities. The Encyclopaedia series of Makkah al-Mukarramah and Madinah al-Munawwarah has its main focus on bringing to light and documenting the many roles played by both holy cities of Makkah and Madinah in various fields.

These include the natural environment, the social, economic, cultural, scientific, religious

The First Volume of the Encyclopaedia was published in the year 2007. So far, 6 volumes have been published, with many more to come.

His Excellency's lecture at SOAS on "The Discovery of the House of Khadeejah"

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Al-Furqān and its Centres Al-Furqān and its Centres Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation is a not for profit Foundation registered in the United Kingdom, number: 2329628. It was established in London in 1988 by the Yamani Cultural and Charitable Foundation. HE Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani is the founder of both of these foundations.

Al-Furqān’s Vision To be a leading foundation in preserving and studying the Islamic written heritage.

Al-Furqān’s Mission To survey, preserve, study and publish the Islamic written heritage, as well as assist and promote the research in its fields.

Al-Furqān’s Aims and Objectives • To initiate, promote and support research in the field of Islamic heritage • To assist in the preservation and restoration of the Islamic written heritage • To raise awareness on the richness of the Islamic heritage, its role and importance To achieve its aims and objectives, the Foundation pursues the following activities: - Editing and publishing Islamic manuscripts of particular significance - Publishing studies, bibliographical and encyclopaedic works in the field of Islamic heritage - Organising training courses on various aspects of Islamic heritage - Holding academic seminars, conferences and lectures in order to stimulate discussions and action in the field of Islamic written heritage - Establishing a reference library with the main research tools necessary for the study of the Islamic heritage - Developing an online platform to enable the scholars, researchers and students of the Islamic civilisation and heritage all over the world easier access to the hidden treasures of the Islamic heritage Al-Furqān’s Motto

“Glorious Past, Brighter Future”

Al-Furqān Centres Al-Furqān Islamic Heritage Foundation was established initially with the aim to document and preserve the Islamic written heritage, principally through its work in surveying, imaging, cataloguing, editing, studying and publishing Islamic manuscripts. But, with time, its scope of activity has expanded, and it has become a Foundation consisting of 3 centres under one umbrella, i.e.: 1. The Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts (Manuscript Centre) The Manuscript Centre’s Mission The Manuscript Centre’s mission is to document and preserve the Islamic written heritage through surveying, imaging, cataloguing, editing and publishing Islamic manuscripts, which constitute a significant part of the Islamic heritage.

The Manuscript Centre’s Aims and Objectives • To initiate, promote and support research into the field of Islamic manuscripts • To assist in the preservation and restoration of Islamic manuscripts • To raise awareness on the richness and the importance of the Islamic written heritage To achieve its aims and objectives, the Centre pursues the following activities: - Identifying and surveying the existing collections of Islamic manuscripts - Assisting in cataloguing previously uncatalogued collections of Islamic manuscripts - Editing and publishing Islamic manuscripts of particular significance - Organising training courses on various aspects of Islamic written

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heritage, such as cataloguing, editing and preserving of manuscripts - Organising conferences, symposia and lectures to stimulate research and discussions on topics related to the field of manuscripts - Establishing a reference library with the main research tools necessary for the study of Islamic manuscripts - Developing an online platform/database for online catalogues and other bibliographical works, in addition to enabling the scholars, researchers, and students of the Islamic civilisation and heritage all over the world easier access to the hidden treasures of the Islamic manuscripts and heritage.

The Manuscript Centre’s Boards The International Advisory Board The International Advisory Board is a body of outstanding academics and scholars in the field of the Islamic written heritage, such as: history, history of science, codicology, paleography and Islamic history.

The International Advisory Board has a legislative status, with a role to: ✓ Define the Manuscript Centre’s fields of activities and an overall strategy for future expansion ✓ Establish guidelines for the Centre’s fields of activities ✓ Issue decisions regarding the amendments or addition to the Centre’s policies, regulations and activities The International Advisory Board Members: • Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani: Chairman • Professor Abdu-l-Hadi al-Tazi: Member • Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu: Member • Professor Enes Karić: Member • Professor Nasir al-Din al-Asad: Member • Professor Sayed Hossein Nasr: Member • Professor Sayed Waheed al-Din: Member The Board of Experts The Board of Experts is a body of outstanding academics and scholars in the field of the Islamic written heritage, such as: history, history of science, codicology, paleography and Islamic history.

The Board of Experts is a decision-making body, with a role to: ✓ Review the activities of the Manuscript Centre on a yearly basis and provide the appropriate directions ✓ Elaborate on and discuss themes for projects to be adopted by the Centre on a yearly basis ✓ Inspect projects and scholarly works submitted to the Centre for financing and publishing, and issuing decisions as to its acceptance, request for modifications, or rejection.

The Board of Experts Members: • Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani: Chairman • Professor Abdullah Yusuf al-Ghonaim: Member • Professor Ahmed Chouqi BinBine: Member • Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu: Member • Professor Ibrahim Chabbouh: Member • Professor Mohammed Adnan al-Bakheet: Member 2. The Centre for the Encyclopaedia of Makkah and Madinah (Makkah and Madinah Centre) The Makkah and Madinah Centre’s Mission The Makkah and Madinah Centre’s main goal is to acknowledge Makkah and Madinah’s scientific and cultural roles and their historical significance throughout history.

The Makkah and Madinah Centre’s main aims and objectives are: • To promote research into and specialised study of the two holy cities, Makkah and Madinah • To acknowledge Makkah’s and Madinah’s scientific and cultural roles and their historical significance • To compile a comprehensive Encyclopaedia about these two holy cities To achieve its aims and objectives, the Centre pursues the following activities: WWW.AL-FURQAN.COM

Newsletter No. 13

Winter 2014 uted to the study of maqāṣid • Incorporating maqāṣid theories in the methodology and philosophy of various social sciences and humanities • Reinforcing the link between the study of maqāṣid and the study of the basic rules of the Islamic law • Establishing a comprehensive maqāṣid encyclopaedia.

To achieve its aims and objectives, the Centre pursues the following activities: - Publishing new critical editions of maqāṣid books of particular significance - Publishing bibliographical references in the field of maqāṣid - Publishing studies on the maqāṣid of Islamic law - Organising training courses on understanding the maqāṣid - Holding conferences, symposia, seminars and lectures to stimulate research and discussions on topics related to the field of maqāṣid - Establishing a reference library with the main research tools necessary for the study of maqāṣid (philosophy of Islamic jurisprudence) - Encouraging Islamic studies departments and programmes outside traditional Islamic institutes, to conduct research that shows the universality of Islamic law in all cultural contexts - Encouraging versatile students and young researchers to study the philosophy of Islamic law, the maqāṣid The Maqāṣid Centre’s Boards The International Advisory Board The International Advisory Board includes a distinguished group of scholars and researchers in different fields of Islamic studies.

The International Advisory Board has a legislative status, with a role to: • Define the Maqāṣid Centre’s policies, goals and strategies • Establish guidelines for the Centre’s fields of activities • Issue decisions regarding the amendments or addition to the Centre’s policies, regulations and activities The International Advisory Board Members: • Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani: Chairman • Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayah: Member • Professor Abdu-l-Wahab abu Sulaiman: Member • Dr Abdullah Fad’aq: Member • Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu: Member • Dr Issam al-Basheer: Member • Sheikh Mohammed Mukhtar al-Salami: Member • Dr Mohammed Salim al-Awa: Member • Dr Sayid Hadi Khasroshahi: Member • Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi: Member The Board of Experts The Board of Experts includes a distinguished group of scholars and researchers in different fields of Islamic studies.

The Board of Experts is a decision-making body, with a role to: • Review the activities of the Maqāṣid Centre on a yearly basis and provide the appropriate directions • Elaborate on and discuss themes for projects to be adopted by the Centre on a yearly basis • Inspect projects and scholarly works submitted to the Centre for financing and publishing, and issuing decisions as to its acceptance, request for modifications, or rejection The Board of Experts Members: • Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani: Chairman • Professor Abdu-l-Wahab abu Sulaiman: Member • Sheikh Abdullah Farraj al-Shareef: Member • Dr. Abdullah Fad’aq: Member • Dr Ahmad al-Raisouni: Member • Dr Hasan Jaber: Member • Dr Ibrahim al-Bayoumi Ghanem: Member • Dr Issam al-Bashir: Member • Dr Mohammed Kamal Imam: Member • Dr Mohammed Salim El-Awa: Member • Dr Saif al-Din Abdu-l-Fattah: Member

- Compiling a comprehensive Encyclopaedia about these two holy cities - Publishing books, studies and theses on Makkah and Madinah - Publishing critical editions of historical references related to Makkah and Madinah - Holding lectures and other public activities to stimulate research and discussions on topics related to Makkah and Madinah - Compiling and publishing a multi-lingual bibliography of published works, references, theses and articles on Makkah and Madinah - Establishing an Information Centre holding a collection of texts, references, photographs, documents, maps, theses, travellers’ accounts, journals, microfilms and audio-visual material on Makkah and Madinah The Makkah and Madinah Centre’s Boards The Encyclopaedia project is implemented under the supervision of the Advisory Board, the Academic Board, a number of specialised committees and the executive management.

The Makkah and Madinah Centre’s Boards The Advisory Board Members: • Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani: Chairman • Professor Abdu-l-Wahab abu Sulaiman: Member • Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu: Member • Professor Kazim al-Musawi al-Bojnourdi: Member • Professor Nasir al-Din al-Asad: Member • Professor Robert McHenry: Member • Professor Tayyar Altikulaç: Member The Academic Board Members: • Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani: Chairman • Professor Abbas Saleh Tashkandy: Member • Professor Abdu-l-Lateef bin Abdullah bin Duhaysh: Member • Professor Abdu-l-Wahab abu Sulaiman: Member • Dr Abdullah Saleh Ahmed Shawoosh: Member • Dr Abdu-l-Rahman Sulaiman al-Mazeni: Member • Dr Adnan Mohammed al-Shareef: Member • Professor Asim Hamdan Ali: Member • Professor Ghazi bin Obaid Madani: Member • Dr Mi’raj Nawab Mirza: Member • Dr Mohammed Abdu-l-Karim bin Obaid: Member • Dr Omar Hasan Falatah: Member • Dr Yusuf Ahmed Hawalah: Member The Secretary General of the Makkah and Madinah Centre is Dr Abbas Saleh Tashkandy 3. The Centre for the Study of the Philosophy of Islamic Law (Maqāṣid Centre) The Maqāṣid Centre’s Mission The Maqāṣid Centre’s mission is to revitalise the knowledge of maqāṣid, in order to develop the process of ijtihād and the renewal of Islamic fiqh, its fundamental theory (uṣūl), and Islamic thought in general. The Centre also aims to broaden the horizons of knowledge for students of Islamic studies everywhere.

The Maqāṣid Centre’s Aims and Objectives • Encouraging studies and research which contribute to the Islamic philosophy of law, inside and outside the academic world • Co-operating with Islamic universities and Islamic studies departments in order to include the maqāṣid in their curricula or syllabi • Calling upon scholars to elaborate on the correlation between contemporary ijtihād and maqāṣid, so as to facilitate understanding the wisdom behind, and objectives of Islamic rulings • Giving special consideration to new research in the theories of priorities, utility, consequences and universal principles of Islamic law • Calling upon scholars and Islamic institutes of fatwa to illustrate the link between the Islamic texts, fatwā and maqāṣid • Refuting attempts to misuse the idea of maqāṣid in order to “deconstruct” the Islamic principles and fundamentals • Promoting and publishing biographies of scholars who have contrib-

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Al-Furqān

Islamic Heritage Foundation Glorious Past, Brighter Future

The entrance of Al-Furqān headquarters - London Address: 22A Old Court Place London, W8 4PL England – UK

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3130 1530 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7937 2540

Email: info@al-furqan.com Website: www.al-furqan.com

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