Many Muslims are successful citizens of liberal democracies. Yet numerous scholars and commentators, both Muslim and non-Muslim, have argued that the conceptions of political justice affirmed by modern liberalism and by the dominant strands of the Islamic intellectual tradition are ultimately irreconcilable. If true, this would not prevent Muslims from living peacefully alongside non-Muslim fellow citizens in liberal democracies; but it would imply that commitment to the Islamic tradition of political thought stands in tension with viewing this co-existence as more than a pragmatic ‘modus vivendi’.
Dr Mohammad Fadel, Professor of Law at the University of Toronto, is one of the world’s foremost experts in both Islamic jurisprudence and the theory of political liberalism. He will address the seminar on the question of whether, on the basis of the Islamic tradition itself, a commitment to liberal views of justice can be more than a modus vivendi but instead a full-fledged commitment by Muslims to viewing liberalism not as a pragmatic compromise but a moral ideal.
There will then be an ample opportunity for questions and open discussion, in which all attendees are invited to actively participate. To gain maximum benefit from the Seminar, we will send a paper of Dr Fadel’s addressing the topic to read beforehand, if possible (but you are still welcome to attend if you are not able to read this in advance).
This Seminar is part of the Oxford Islam and Justice Programme, which aims to provide a grounding in the academic debates about the relationship between Islamic views of justice and the modern political order, with particular emphasis on the conceptions of justice appropriate in a religiously plural society.
Dr Fadel will address the group virtually and there will then be an open discussion. Participants are recommended to complete a short pre-reading, if possible, which will be provided after registration.
Please register at: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHpvZ5xrDwyQ1YcE6hLIU1colhEONZnzTrLT5WrOz4p-v30A/viewform?usp=sharing
