Ethics of Disagreement

Ethics of Disagreement is an exposition of the higher principles and objectives of Islamic law, which was originally intended to address opposing Islamic political parties. The course considers the reasons for and effects of Muslim disunity, as well as the nature of disagreements within the historical context of the formative period of Islam.
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Level

Intermediate

Duration

5 hour and 17 minutes in total

Number of Units

4

Course Overview

Ethics of Disagreement is an exposition of the higher principles and objectives of Islamic law, which was originally intended to address opposing Islamic political parties.  The course will be taught by Shaykh Akram Nadwi and will consider the reasons for and effects of Muslim disunity, as well as the nature of disagreements within the historical context of the early generations of Muslims.

About the Text

The text has served as a general and useful introduction to the subject of disagreement and provides an explanation of the etiquette envisioned by Islam for those engaged in judicial discourse. The author analyses instances of judicial disagreement between the early jurists over points of law and procedure. He points out that such disagreements within the academic domain never led them to lose sight of the higher purposes of Islamic law nor of their responsibilities as its administers. He posits that Muslims must relearn the art and etiquette of agreeing to disagree and thus become more capable of dealing with potentially divisive situations and issues.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

  • Understand the nature and spectrum of disagreements amongst the early generations of Muslims.
  • Appreciate the differing juristic perspectives and approaches.
  • Demonstrate an insightful understanding of the fundamental reasons for differences of opinion.
  • Understand the correlation between scholarly and social cohesion.