"Fiqh al-Mizan" Forum Kicks Off in Istanbul: A Bid to Reshape Islamic Thought on the Basis of Balance

ISTANBUL – Under the banner "Towards a More Balanced and Revived Ummah," the international scholarly forum "Fiqh al-Mizan" (The Jurisprudence of Balance) commenced in Istanbul on Saturday, June 21, 2024. The forum is jointly organized by the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Fatih Sultan Mehmet Waqf University, and the Waqf of Muslim Scholars, featuring the participation of a distinguished group of scholars, researchers, and academics from various Islamic countries.

The primary objective of the two-day forum is to transform the concept of "Fiqh al-Mizan" from a theoretical framework into an effective and practical program capable of addressing contemporary challenges and resolving the crises facing the Islamic Ummah.

Al-Qaradaghi: Imbalance is the Cause of Civilizational Decline
In his opening address, Professor Dr. Ali Mohiuddin al-Qaradaghi, President of the IUMS, emphasized that the forum is "the culmination of a long-standing scholarly endeavor" to establish the jurisprudence of balance as a comprehensive life program.

He warned that "imbalance in the principles of Sharia, whether in understanding or application, has led to discord and civilizational decline." He also criticized the reduction of religion to superficial slogans and stressed that revival and progress can only be achieved by returning to the true essence of Islam and implementing balance in thought and action.

The IUMS Leadership's Vision: Balance is the Answer to Crises
Meanwhile, the vice presidents of the Union shared their perspectives:

• Sheikh Muhammad al-Hassan al-Dido al-Shanqiti, in a recorded speech, stressed the importance of applying Fiqh al-Mizan practically to confront the rapid changes of our time.

• Prof. Dr. Essam Bashir stated that Fiqh al-Mizan is a crucial methodological tool to protect scholars (Mujtahids) from intellectual deviation and called for adopting new methodologies to solve problems.

• Mr. Abdulwahab Ikinci noted that the Islamic reality suffers from imbalance, and the forum is an attempt to fill a significant jurisprudential gap in this field.

• Dr. Abdelmajid Akrout, head of the preparatory committee, declared, "The crisis of the Ummah is a crisis of methodology," emphasizing that balance is the primary path to sound understanding and revival.

Key Themes of the Forum
Over two days, the forum will discuss five main themes:

1. Fiqh al-Mizan in Islamic heritage.

2. The causes of imbalance in the modern era.

3. The impact of balance on Islamic discourse.

4. Applications of Fiqh al-Mizan in political and social jurisprudence.

5. Contemporary examples of resolving challenges through this jurisprudence.

Organizers hope the forum's outcomes will lay the groundwork for rebuilding Sharia awareness and providing practical answers to modern challenges based on moderation and balance.