March 2019-Issue I

This issue of the Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization brings to bear the impact of the Revolutionary philosophy of Dr Ali Shariati to the baseless accusations of Bernard Lewis on Islam and its contested relationship with slavery. We also hope to expand upon the illuminating discourse of Muhammad Asad’s approach to the Shariah. It also covers the relationship between man in the roles of both, in a position of leadership that was exemplified in the character of the Prophet (SAW) and in relation to the environment.

This issue of the Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization focuses largely on the financial and economic aspects of the Islamic tradition and development. An array of contemporary financial issues in the light of Islamic thought like the role that Islamic Finances can play in Sustainable development, the relationship between worship and the importance of attaining a halal income and wealth and poverty in the relation to Islamic teachings. We also explore the work and teachings of Dr Ismai’il Raji al Faruqi and his contribution to the Islamization of knowledge.

This issue of the Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization brings you a wide range of engaging articles of importance that pertain to current events in the Muslim world including a glance at the role of reformers in the Middle East like Muhammad Abduh and Said Nursi to the evolution of religious education over the past few decades in Pakistan. We also explore the impressive architectural heritages of the mosques of Lahore to the Al-Jami‘al-‘Atiq Mosque in Jidda. The editors of this issue have taken pains to incorporate articles for serious scholars and the enlightened general reader. In the present issue, we also hope to shed some light on the issue of Women’s empowerment through housing microfinance in Pakistan.

From the rich treasures of Dagestani manuscripts at Princeton and a crash course on historiography to current developments gripping the Muslim world, this issue of the Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization is noticeable for the diversity of topics covered. While compiling this issue, the editors have taken care to include articles that are likely to arouse the interest of the general reader as well as the serious scholar. So the insight into the Arab Spring or the recent controversy surrounding the visual depictions of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) will be read with special interest. The critique on Orientalism and cultural hybridity in colonial India will evoke strong interest as many among us still identify with the ramifications of both.
The focus of the JITC has always been broad based, encompassing myriad facets of the Islamic Thought and Civilization because the subject itself is vast and largely unexplored. It is our mission to devote our energies towards exploring it.

The diverse range of articles that comprise this issue of the Journal touch upon issues that affect the Muslim communities in this life as in the hereafter. Drawing upon knowledge gleaned from scholars across the world and in Pakistan, the editors have made an attempt to bring to the limelight pressing issues - such as Islamic economics and distribution of estates in Nigeria to religious dialogue, the concept of evil, and bridging the gap between religion and the modern sciences - to name a few. It is sincerely hoped that the readers would benefit from the scholarly endeavors and painstaking research conducted by the contributors.

This issue of the Journal of the Islamic Thought & Civilization consists of exclusive contributions of UMT academicians and scholars. It is dedicated to highlight the research  output of UMT scholars for the benefit of the society at large and academicians in particular. Maintaining the tradition of the Journal, the authors have contributed articles on a variety of subjects ranging from management of madrassa education to definition of Islamic Tradition, postmodern equipment of research of Arkoun and an analysis of the  intertwined roles of faith and reason in contemporary Islam. An effort has also been made  in this issue to highlight the importance of ijtihad in Islamic civilization and culture.

The present issue of the Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization (JITC) comprises of the aesthetic aspect of Muslim culture, i.e., Epigraphy of Bengal and Andalusia and Architecture of Uzbekistan besides covering the mystic dimension of the Islamic Tradition of Imam Ghazali, RA. As in its previous issues, JITC has maintained its tradition of covering various aspects of Islamic Thought and Civilization.

This is the third issue of the Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization. Unlike the first two issues which focused on certain topics (first issue was on "Islam and Modernity" and second was on "Islamic Civilization – Potentials and Challenges"), this issue covers a diverse range of topics from wealth management in Islam to Foucault‘s refutation of religion and from reconstruction of humanities in Islamic perspective to a reflection on the Muslim world‘s resources. This variety of topics not only depicts heterogeneity of Islamic Thought and Civilization but may also attract the interests of researchers from multiple fields of life.