The Islamic Theology of Interfaith Marriages between Theology, Law and Individual Ijtihad

Main author: Abdelnour, Mohammed Gamal
Format: Monographs and Working Papers           
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id eprints-33406
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
topic BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc
description There is a growing body of literature that recognises the importance of revisiting the question of interfaith marriages in Islamic thought. Hence, this paper attempts to illustrate the Islamic theology of interfaith marriages in general, with particular emphasis on exogamy. In doing so, the theological and sociological factors that have led to the traditional consensus on the prohibition of exogamy are explored. The article, firstly, investigates the contributions of al-Ghazālī (d. 1111) and Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328) in advancing the discussion beyond its contours in formative Islam. Secondly, it engagingly presents the unstudied views of Muḥammad ‘Abduh (d. 1905) and ‘Abd Allāh al-‘Alāylī (d. 1996) on the question of exogamy. Thirdly, it points out that the Islamic legal maxim sadd al-ḏharā’i‘ (blocking the means) cannot stand alone in justifying the prohibition of exogamy, illustrating thatt he moment a faqīh (Muslim jurist) appeals to sadd al-ḏharā’i‘ is the moment they implicitly acknowledge the original permissibility of the question in point. Finally, it brings to the fore the need to revive the tradition of individual ijtihad.
format Monographs and Working Papers
author Abdelnour, Mohammed Gamal
author_facet Abdelnour, Mohammed Gamal
authorStr Abdelnour, Mohammed Gamal
author_letter Abdelnour, Mohammed Gamal
title The Islamic Theology of Interfaith Marriages between Theology, Law and Individual Ijtihad
publisher The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies: Interreligious Relations: Occasional Papers of The Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies Programme, no.17
publishDate 2020
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/33406/