SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The thesis deals with Mahmud Shaltut (Shaykh al-Azhar 1958-63), an important contemporary Muslim scholar and reformer. Following a chapter on Shaltut's life and reform work at the Azhar, the material is divided into three major chapters, on tafsir, law and social issues. The chapter on tafsir describes the innovations of the Muhammad cAbduh school of tafsir and the work of certain key scholars prior to Shaltut, with a brief description of developments after Shaltut. A detailed analysis of his methodology with reference to form and content aims to show the extent of his contribution to that development. The chapter on law is divided into four sections: (1) the sources of law, where we see Shaltut's theoretical exposition of the workings of the Sharica; (2) Shaltut's fatwas, which illustrate his practical application of those principles; (3) penal law, chosen as a case study because Shaltut deals with it in considerable depth, and (4) comparative jurisprudence, an area in which Shaltut took an especial interest in connection with his work for al-taqrib bayna al-madhahib (the coordination of the schools of law). The chapter on social issues initially describes the normative values of Islamic society, then proceeds to describe aspects of the contemporary reality, with reference to the impact of imperialism and the religious response to the needs of the modern age in general. The ideal and the real are thus juxtaposed in a way which reflects Shaltut's own writings. In this area comparative analysis is of particular value in view of the widely differing responses to particular issues; we have selected for discussion controversial issues such as polygamy, birth control and financial transactions, in order to highlight those differences. An attempt has been made throughout to place Shaltut within the context of modern Muslim scholarship and to define his own contribution in each area.