Editorial in English

Abstract

The College of Sharia and Islamic Studies at Qatar University emphasises scientific research, primarily focusing on religious education at the university level. Today, according to the QS World University Rankings, it counts among the top 100 colleges worldwide for theological and religious studies. The college’s interest in scientific research is apparent at the individual and institutional levels. At the individual level, faculty members at the college conduct individual research, which they publish in local and international peer-reviewed journals, amounting to around 100 peer-reviewed articles annually. They also supervise scientific projects, some of which have won funding competitions to support them. About twenty three projects of faculty members have received funding over the past five years. Similarly, graduate students at the master’s or doctoral level conduct research, most of which falls under research projects for various departments in the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies or within the research priorities of Qatar University. The college’s research unit oversees and guides research support, including the recently issued book “The Research Personality,” (Qatar, 2023). The research unit also holds regular discussion sessions to develop scientific research and exchange ideas in this field. Among the college’s institutional research achievements, it hosted the Isesco Chair for Dialogue among Civilizations, which resulted in the publication of “The Book of Wonder” in collaboration with Qatar University Press (2022). The journal of the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies at Qatar University is an essential pillar of scientific research in the college. It is the oldest research platform in the college, with a publication history of more than forty years. With the publication of its second issue of volume forty-one, the journal remains dedicated to its journey, constantly striving for growth and improvement. The editorial board has been keen on enhancing the journal’s publication policies, aiming to deepen Islamic research and encourage specialised researchers to explore relevant research areas related to current topics of public concern or those relevant to Islamic studies, locally and internationally. Many scientific journals are dedicated to Islamic studies, but what sets them apart is the quality of the topics they publish on and the depth of their analyses. Our journal is committed to maintaining and ensuring these standards. Furthermore, it introduces new methodological approaches that offer a fresh perspective on previously studied subjects, revealing hitherto unexplored aspects. Considering the college and the journal’s commitment to promoting and advancing Islamic studies, the journal announced this year (2023) a call for specialised research papers in Islamic or comparative studies. Specialists with relevant experience are invited to participate by submitting their research proposals for publication in the journal’s regular or special issues. The journal has stipulated that the paper’s topic should align with the journal’s interests, specifically within the field of Islamic studies in general. It welcomes studies that address contemporary issues, offer critical insights, or provide methodological approaches to the paper’s subject area. Additionally, the journal welcomes proposals related to interdisciplinary studies. The journal will review the submitted proposals and announce the winning proposal, publishing it in its next issue and referencing it on its website. Specialists will be invited to contribute to the file’s topic, and their articles will jointly appear in a special issue of the journal. A scholarly seminar dedicated to the subject will conclude the cycle. This second issue of Volume 41 features six papers in Arabic and one in English by researchers from several countries. These papers address various fields of Islamic studies. For example, in his “Ibn Qutayba’s Approach to Solving the Semantic Ambiguities of the Holy Qurʾān: A Morphological Approach“, Nour Al-Din Al-Kharrazi (Morocco) aims to identify Ibn Qutayba’s methodology in understanding the semantic ambiguities of the Holy Qurʾān, focusing on the morphological structure of its vocabulary. He concludes that Ibn Qutaybah’s interpretive method can be a general model for understanding the Qurʾān. Based as they were on the conventions of Arabic as the living language in which the Qurʾān was revealed and addressed itself to mankind, Ibn Qutayba’s interpretations gained wide acceptance among his fellow commentators. In his “Abrogation (naskh) in Yūsuf b. Hilāl al-Ṣafadī’s (696 AH) Qurʾān Commentary Kashf al-asrār wa-hatk al-astār”, Salam Ahmad Freijat (Jordan/USA) concludes that al-Ṣafadī’s commentary on the Qurʾān is the first integral commentary to address the issue of abrogation from the perspective of those who reject its occurrence in the Qurʾān. Now even if al-Ṣafadī allows in principle for the abrogation of one Qurʾānic text by another, he finds its abrogation of rulings in other revealed books more relevant and appropriate. In his research titled „The Term “Preference” in the Holy Qurʾān: A Terminological Study”, Adil Elouade (Morocco) examined the term “preference” in its Qurʾānic framework. Employing a terminological approach, he integrated statistical analysis, lexicography, and textual analysis to explore the nuances and meanings of this term in the Qurʾānic texts. Through this comprehensive methodology, he provided a detailed definition of the term based on its specific connotations as conveyed in the Qurʾān. Concerning the Principles of Islamic Law, Lena Al-Harbi (Kuwait), in her “An Applied Study on Contemporary Jurisprudential Issues: The Difference Between Abuse in Exercising Rights and the Roles of Stratagem and Closing the Means,” explores the intricate relationship between abuse in exercising rights vis-à-vis stratagem and closing the means. She underscores relevant jurisprudential theories' significance in tackling contemporary societal challenges and emerging issues. Her study sheds light on the interconnectedness of these concepts and their implications for legal reasoning and decision-making in the modern context. Within the realm of the history of ideas, Belkheir Omrani (Algeria) delved into the topic of “Imām ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd b. Bādīs’ Stance towards Sufism.” Omrani employed textual analysis and inference to understand Ibn Bādīs’ positions on the subject. His research sheds light on Ibn Bādīs’ perspective on Sufism, examining it through a historical lens that contextualises his views in their respective settings. The English-language study in the journal by Fouzia bint Abdulaziz al-Hreashy, (Family Medicine Consultant at the Saudi Ministry of Health) in collaboration with Omar Bin Ibrahim Al Mohaimeed (Associate Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence at Qassim University) focuses on the topic of “Non-Puerperal Induced Lactation among Married Women: Islamic Jurisprudence and Contemporary Practice”. The study addresses the phenomenon of using lactation inducers outside of pregnancy, raising questions about the possibility of considering it as a definite indication of a maternal or paternal connection through the mother‘s milk. The research focused on exploring jurisprudential perspectives and real-life instances, particularly the practice of induced lactation and its psychological and social implications for Muslim families. The study examined the experiences of ten families to shed light on the subject. The research findings highlighted infertility as a critical factor motivating fostering among the participants in the study. We are confident that the studies featured in this edition offer valuable contributions to their respective fields and further the debate surrounding their subjects. The editorial board, dedicated to upholding the journal’s standards and rigorous peer-review process, welcomes specialised researchers to share their knowledge and engage in discussions. We also encourage scholars to provide critical feedback on the published content, fostering a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment.