Islamic Law and Political Ideology

Abstract

This article suggests a new way of looking at the preeminent methodological principles informing the oeuvre of Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the greatest Muslim scholar of our generation, specifically with regard to his rulings for and about Muslims living in Europe. The case study presented here is taken from the field of Muslim prayer law, a field that has to date been subjected to very little research. By comparing the discussions of classical Muslim scholars on the topic with the new interpretations proffered by al-Qaradawi, one can notice the process of change undergone by the Shari‘ah concerning prayer under extraordinary circumstances from Islam’s early days down to the present. We can also see how his political outlooks have influenced his ruling on this issue and the discussion thereof among Muslims who do not reside in the West.