Call for Papers: “The Efficacy of Financial Structures for Islamic Taxes and Dues”

The 7th Annual Contemporary Fiqhī Issues Workshop

4^th – 5^th July 2019

Islam has institutionalised, endorsed, and at times even enforced different forms of paying dues with the objective of providing for different categories of social or individual needs and requirements. Both mandatory and recommended categories of taxes and dues that Islam promotes are classified under the generic title of ṣadaqāt, which include zakāt, khums, fidya, kaffāra, fiṭra, waqf etc.

In the contemporary age, Muslims reside in an array of governing models (from Islamic government models to secular states) and this raises important questions relating to the efficacy and the potential for the evolution of financial institutions for Islamic taxes and dues. These questions are pertinent for Muslims living in the West, wherein they are already subject to mandatory dues or state taxation structures, which are levied irrespective of a person’s religious identity.

The 7th annual Fiqhī workshop at the Al-Mahdi Institute seeks to facilitate scholarship by directly addressing questions that analyse the origins, current structures and further development of financial institutions for Islamic dues. The workshop encourages, and invites, paper proposals that survey at least one of the following areas:

• Historical and contextual studies regarding financial institutions for taxes and dues that were institutionalised and endorsed by Islam, and their efficacy for past and present Muslim societies.

• Critical analysis of textual and theological foundations used to derive rulings about financial institutions for Islamic taxes and dues.

• (Re)assessing potential developments in jurisprudential and theological approaches, affecting prospective efficacy of Islamic taxes and dues.

• Empirical research analysing grassroot performances and acceptance of financial institutions for Islamic taxes and dues. In particular, examining how taxes, dues and charity (ṣadaqa) are channelled through religious authority structures and their impact upon the ultimate beneficiaries.

The workshop is pleased to host presenters from both traditional seminary and academic backgrounds, presenting from a range of disciplines. As has become an effective format in our previous annual workshops, the Fiqhī debates will be positioned alongside contributions from broader theological, historical and anthropological approaches – thereby enriching a multidisciplinary understanding of contemporary outlooks dealing with theefficacy of financial structures for Islamic taxes and dues.

Proposals for a single presenter should include the following:

• Contact information, and a brief bio of presenter
• Tentative title
• Abstract(s) (400-word limit)

The deadline for submission of proposals is 15^th May 2019. Successful applicants will be notified by 22^nd May 2019.

Accepted applicants from within the E.U. will be supported for their travel and hospitality during the workshop, with a further limited number of travel bursaries available for those applying from outside the E.U.

Proposals and queries should be sent by e-mail to: Muhammed Reza Tajri at [email protected]

Click here to view our previous Contemporary Fiqhi Issues workshops.