Fiqhi Seminar and Methods
Fiqhi seminars are one of the most important activities of the
IFA. The Academy has utilized this method as a tool for advancement of
collective Ijtihad among the contemporary jurists.
The Academy follows a unique methodology for debating new issues and
the decisions are arrived at after passing several stages of research and
discussions. The first stage is to select topics to be discussed in the
seminar. For this purpose the opinions in writing are sought from personalities
participating in seminar for forthcoming seminars. All opinions forwarded so
far in different seminars have been completely listed. The Academic Council of
the Academy comprised of distinguished writers and academicians also gives its
advice concerning the subjects, thereafter; the Executive Body selects topics
for forthcoming seminars in view of all the suggestions for national and
international circumstances. The attempts are made so that these topics should
be related to diverse spheres of life and are in tune with the present
conditions and requirements.
Now the secretaries of the Academy prepare the questionnaire containing
points to be discussed on for the topics. Thereafter, the Secretary General
tries to elaborate and scrutinize the questionnaire further. In preparation of
the questionnaire the experts of modern sciences are engaged in discussions for
finding out relevant knowledge as per need. Then, the questionnaire is sent to
the jurists and scholars in the country and abroad. If the question concerns
scientific invention or social or economic issues, the papers are written by
the experts of these fields on its academic and scientific aspects. In case
these papers are prepared in English Language, they are translated into Urdu,
and these versions are also sent to the jurists and Islamic scholars so that
the nature of the issue could be elaborated and they could be aware of its
particulars and nuances. The invitations of Fiqhi seminars are sent to the
jurists of the important institutions of all schools of thoughts as well as to
those personalities who are involved in writing, teaching and jurisprudence or
they are involved in Fiqh in any way.
The papers coming from academicians are very large in numbers and the
Academy abridges these articles so that the opinions of all the papers written
by scholars should be included in every issue. In case of unanimous opinion and
otherwise the dissent is elaborated. The conclusions inferred by the paper
writers on the basis of Quran and Sunnah are also mentioned in brief. The
formal beginning of this process commenced from the 7th Seminar.
This abridgment is distributed among the participants on the occasions
of seminars for the purpose of easy reference at the time of discussion.
Thereafter, “Presenters” are selected
for different aspects of the topic out of the paper writers themselves in view
of the semantic structure of the papers. The photocopy of all the research
papers concerning this aspect are provided to them, they arrange the points
given in the research papers and express their preferred opinions in the light
of proofs mentioned in them.
Then the participants in the seminars express their opinions in view of
their research and study, and the abridgment of papers and discussion of the
presenters. All the participants are permitted to take part in the discussion
and sufficient time is granted to them for the purpose. This discussion is also
recorded by a tape recorder and an able person is appointed for this work as to
note down all the points coming in during the discussion. By the grace of
Allah, all discussions are carried out in a serious, tranquil and peaceful
atmosphere with the aim of of arriving at the truth and right decision keeping
in mind that due to dissent no unpleasant event occurs mutual respect is
accorded