Journal of Islamic Civilization and Culture

قواعدِ فقہیہ اور حلال و حرام: “الأصل في الأشياء الإباحة” کا تطبیقی مطالعہ

2026-01-15T13:11:30+00:00

This research article examines the fiqhī legal maxim “الأصل في الأشياء الإباحة” (“The original ruling regarding things is permissibility”) and its role in determining ḥalāl and ḥarām in Islamic law. The study begins by defining qawāʿid fiqhiyyah (legal maxims) and showing their importance as concise, general principles that organize many detailed rulings and guide juristic reasoning in new issues. It then explains the distinction between ʿibādāt (acts of worship) and muʿāmalāt (transactions and social dealings): in worship the basic rule is prohibition until there is proof of legislation, whereas in worldly matters the basic rule is permissibility unless there is proof of prohibition.

The article presents Qur’anic and Prophetic evidences supporting the principle of permissibility, and surveys how leading jurists in the four Sunni schools have adopted and applied this maxim. It further explores its practical use in classical and contemporary fields such as food and drink, financial transactions, medical treatments, technology, and digital tools. At the same time, the study clarifies the limits of the maxim through other legal principles, including the removal of harm. the pursuit of public interest, blocking the means to evil, and the higher objectives of Sharīʿah.

The conclusion stresses that this maxim is a powerful instrument for ijtihād and for dealing with emerging issues, but it must always operate under the authority of explicit texts and within the framework of Sharīʿah objectives, avoiding both excessive restriction and reckless permissiveness.

التطبيقات البلاغية في تفسير الزمخشري: دراسة في علم البديع

2026-02-19T06:31:00+00:00

This study examines the rhetorical applications in Al-Zamakhshari’s Qur’anic exegesis (Al-Kashshāf) with a specific focus on the science of Al-Badī‘—the branch of Arabic rhetoric concerned with stylistic and aesthetic devices. Al-Kashshāf stands as one of the most influential works in rhetorical Qur’anic interpretation, demonstrating Al-Zamakhshari’s exceptional mastery of Arabic eloquence and his ability to use rhetorical principles to clarify the meanings and subtleties of the Qur’anic text.

The study adopts a descriptive–analytical method, collecting selected examples from Al-Kashshāf and analyzing them through the lens of classical rhetorical theory. It explores Al-Zamakhshari’s use of various Badī‘ devices such as antithesis, parallelism, paronomasia, saj‘ (rhymed prose), tawriya (double entendre), and stylistic shifts. Through these devices, Al-Zamakhshari reveals the aesthetic harmony, semantic precision, and rhythmic beauty inherent in the Qur’anic discourse.

The findings show that Al-Zamakhshari does not regard Badī‘ as mere decoration; rather, he employs it as an interpretive tool that illuminates semantic relationships, highlights textual coherence, and deepens the reader’s understanding of the Qur’anic message. His rhetorical analyses demonstrate a careful integration of form and meaning, showcasing the Qur’an’s artistic structure and communicative power.

The study concludes that Al-Zamakhshari’s rhetorical applications significantly enriched the field of Qur’anic exegesis and contributed to shaping later scholarship in Arabic rhetoric. It also recommends further research linking classical rhetorical analysis with modern linguistic and stylistic approaches to broaden the understanding of Qur’anic eloquence.

اصولِ حدیث اور فہمِ حدیث کے جدید اصول: ایک تحقیقی و تجزیاتی مطالعہ

2026-04-28T00:51:58+00:00

This research presents a comprehensive and analytical study of the principles of Hadith and contemporary approaches to Hadith understanding. The primary objective is to harmonize classical Hadith methodologies with modern intellectual, social, and academic demands. The study examines key elements such as riwayah (transmission) and dirayah (critical understanding), along with isnad verification and textual criticism, as essential tools for accurate interpretation. It further highlights the importance of contextual and linguistic analysis in understanding Hadith. In addition, the research explores the impact of the digital age, social media, and emerging scholarly trends on Hadith studies. A critical, analytical, and comparative research methodology is employed, incorporating perspectives from both classical and contemporary scholars. The findings demonstrate that developing contemporary principles of Hadith understanding, grounded in traditional Hadith sciences, is essential for ensuring accurate interpretation and effective application of Islamic teachings in the modern context.

Free Will and Determinism in the Poetry of Ghani Khan: A Philosophical Inquiry

2026-06-01T17:05:46+00:00

This article argues that Ghani Khan offers a poetic version of compatibilism, in which God imposes a cosmic structure of deterministic order, and human freedom is exercised as conscious involvement in that order. This dimension of Ghani Khan's work has been largely overlooked, as existing scholarship on him focuses on his Sufi philosophies, existential ideas, and poetics. The article provides a textual analysis of some of the selected poems from Latoon to explore Ghani Khan's view of determinism and free will, and analyzes his emphasis on the importance of human choice in a divinely designed world. The article also draws connections between Ghani Khan and Islamic theologians such as Al-Ghazali, as well as modern compatibilists such as Hume and Frankfurt, arguing that the poet offers a unique philosophical vision in which the self is free in necessity.

مكانة الشعر والشعراء عند ابن رشيق القيرواني

2026-06-01T16:04:59+00:00

This study examines the critical views of Ibn Rashīq al-Qayrawānī on the status of poetry and poets as articulated primarily in his seminal work al-ʿUmda fī Maḥāsin al-Shiʿr wa Ādābih. It explores his clear preference for poetry over prose within the broader Arabic literary tradition that long debated the merits of the two forms. The paper analyzes the arguments Ibn Rashīq advances to establish poetry as the highest form of Arabic expression, emphasizing its aesthetic power, mnemonic strength, rhetorical influence, and cultural authority.

Drawing on textual evidence, prophetic traditions, reports from the Companions, and statements of early scholars, Ibn Rashīq frames poetry as a legitimate, noble, and socially effective medium that shapes moral values, preserves language, and elevates both individuals and communities. The study highlights how he responds to critics of poetry, refutes arguments favoring prose, and demonstrates that poetry, when aligned with truth and ethical purpose, becomes a vehicle of wisdom, refinement, and social reform.

The research further investigates Ibn Rashīq’s portrayal of the poet as the spokesperson of his people, a defender of honor, and an influential cultural figure whose words can raise or lower social status. Through numerous historical examples, he illustrates how poetry functioned as a tool of intercession, persuasion, and reputation in Arab society. The study concludes that, for Ibn Rashīq, poetry is not merely an artistic form but a civilizational instrument that integrates eloquence, emotion, imagination, and moral function, thereby occupying the highest rank among the arts of expression.