Issue №11 / 2025

The article is devoted to the need for representatives of different madhhabs to study each other’s opinions. Based on examples of statements made by representatives of madhhabs, the author demonstrates the possibility of compromises in certain religious matters.

Arabic calligraphy, especially the Kufi script, began to penetrate the artistic culture of Western Europe from the end of the 8th century. Pseudokufiya is a decorative imitation of Arabic script without real meaning, widely used in European painting, architecture and decorative art from the 10th to the 16th century. The article examines examples of such ornaments by European masters, their connection with Islamic influence and their role in conveying a universal Christian message. Special attention is paid to how the West perceived Arab culture through form rather than content, reflecting the multifaceted relationship between the Islamic East and the Christian West.

The article examines the role and contribution of the journal Ad-din wal-adap (1906–1917) (Religion and Culture) to Islamic thought, spiritual enlightenment, and the national cultural life of the Kazan Tatars in the early 20th century. It examines the pressing social issues raised in its pages, as well as the status and role of the first editor-in-chief, the renowned Muslim scholar, religious and public figure, theologian, and educator, one of the theoreticians of the religious reform movement Galimdzhan al-Barudi. The article also provides a brief overview of the history of Tatar religious life and a brief analysis of the national press.

The article is devoted to the concept of “Islamic financial products” used in Islamic banking. The author describes the main Islamic financial products used in Ak Bars Bank (debit card, leasing, Islamic mortgage, project financing for manufacturers) and the financial instruments on which these products are based (musharaka (partnership), mudaraba (commercial agreement), and ijarah (rent)).

This article attempts to correlate the problem of the ontological foundations of law, characteristic of Western philosophical and legal thought, with the Islamic theological and legal tradition and, ultimately, to offer our perspective on the root causes of this phenomenon. The author will address several key points which includes outlining the differences between theological and philosophical approaches to the problem of the ontological foundations of law, highlighting positions on the understanding of the tools and limits of knowledge, briefly illustrating the developmental vector of Western philosophical and legal thought and its intersection with theology, and revealing the resolution of controversial issues which metaphysics of law suggests.

This study is dedicated to a comprehensive analysis of one of the fundamental and, simultaneously, most contentious issues in the methodology of Islamic law (usul al-fiqh) — the dilemma of “at-taswib wa at-takhtiʼa” (lit. “infallibilism” vs. “fallibilism”). This problem touches upon the very foundation of the validity of fiqh, as it raises the question of the status of legal decisions issued by mujtahids in the process of ijtihad. The essence of the dilemma is as follows: is every mujtahid who exerts maximum effort (ijtihad) to derive a legal ruling (ḥukm) automatically considered to have reached the truth (muṣib), or is the truth in legal matters singular and objective, meaning only one can be correct while all others are mistaken (mukhti)? The answer to this question has far-reaching implications for understanding pluralism and the very nature of divine law in the Islamic tradition. Within the framework of this research, a detailed comparative analysis is conducted of two key spheres of ijtihad application: matters of creed (ʻaqaʼid) and the fundamentals of religion (usul ad-din), on the one hand, and the practical branches of jurisprudence (furuʽ), on the other. The methodology of the work is based on intertextual analysis of primary sources (the Quran and Sunnah), the study of arguments put forth by classical jurists, as well as a logical examination of the consequences arising from each position. In the course of the analysis, the argumentative systems of both approaches are identified and compared. The study pays particular attention to analyzing the arguments of the proponents of the at-takhtiʼa position, who appeal to the authority of religious texts, principles of logic, and also reference the historical consensus (ijmaʽ) of early authorities. Simultaneously, the potential methodological and ideological consequences arising from the acceptance of the doctrine of the multiplicity of truth (at-taswib) for the fundamentals of religion and the objectivity of divine law are examined.

In this article, the author explores the question of whether the book “al-Ibanah an usul al-diana” was written by Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Ashari, one of the most prominent figures in Islamic kalam and theology. The goal of this article is to provide evidence of Ashariʼs authorship based on textual, historical, and stylistic considerations. The article begins by discussing the significance of Ashariʼs contributions to the development of Sunni dogma and provides a brief overview of his works. The main focus is on comparing the content of al-Ibanah with his other works, especially Makalat al-Islamiyyin and al-Lumaʼ fi ar-rad ‘ala ahl al-zayg wa-l-bidʼa. The similarity in wording and style demonstrates that the author of these works is the same person. The evidence of scholars such as al-Bayhaqi, Ibn Asakir, Ibn Qasir, and Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, who explicitly stated that al-Ibanah was authored by the same person, is presented.

This work is devoted to analyzing the status, rights, and attitude towards women in Islam based on religious sources and historical facts. The text refutes the widespread notion of the oppressed position of women in the Islamic tradition. Examples from the Quran and the Hadiths, as well as from the life of the Prophet Muhammad, are provided to affirm the high spiritual and social status of women and to establish her rights and responsibilities equal to those of men in matters of faith, alongside the special respect accorded to mothers and daughters. The paper argues that Islam, emerging in the 7th century, was a revolutionary force that granted women a wide range of rights and legal protections in the spheres of marriage, divorce, inheritance, and financial independence, which they had been denied in pre-Islamic society. It further emphasizes the important role of women in the religious and public life of the Muslim community. The article concludes that the communicative model of the Prophet serves as a universal ethical benchmark for gender interaction in Muslim society, remaining relevant in the modern era.

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the contemporary status and development of the Shafiʼi school in the Republic of Dagestan, focusing on its educational, theological, and outreach activities. It examines the efforts of the Muftiate of Dagestan, Islamic universities, and specialized departments for fatwas, science, and enlightenment operating within the framework of the Shafiʼi tradition. Particular attention is given to initiatives such as the organization of republican gatherings of scholars (majlis), national competitions for young Islamic scholars, publication of classical Islamic texts, and the integration of Islamic knowledge into general and extracurricular education systems. The paper explores strategies for increasing religious literacy among youth, preventing extremist ideologies, and preserving traditional Islamic identity in the context of globalization and digitalization. The use of modern media tools, mobile applications, and online platforms in religious education and communication is also discussed. The conclusion emphasizes the crucial role of the Shafiʼi school as a core component of Dagestan’s religious and cultural heritage, contributing to the spiritual resilience and social stability of the region.

The article explores the reflection of spiritual and patriotic values through the motif of the native land in the works of Tufan Minnullin. The study highlights how national ideals and cultural orientations are embodied in the playwright’s dramaturgy through artistic images, symbols, and narrative structures. Special attention is given to the concept of the “small homeland”, which functions not only as a space of memory and traditions but also as a spiritual source shaping the individual’s worldview and moral choices. The analysis demonstrates that Minnullin’s interpretation of the native land is multifaceted: it expresses the deep connection between people and their ancestors, emphasizes cultural rootedness, and at the same time conveys the idea of patriotic devotion to the nation.

The article explores the role of Prophetic hadiths in shaping and developing critical thinking among Muslims. The author examines hadiths not merely as a source of moral and ethical guidance but as an intellectual tool that cultivates reasoning, reflection, and decision-making grounded in faith and justice. Prophetic sayings, which appeal directly to human intellect, establish within the Islamic worldview a distinctive mode of thinking that integrates spiritual contemplation with rational analysis. The study demonstrates that the hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad aim to develop in believers the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood, the right from the wrong, and to evaluate actions and events through the lens of moral and social responsibility. Particular emphasis is placed on the teachings of compassion, solidarity, patience, and trust in Allah, which foster self-reflection and analytical understanding of life’s circumstances. The author concludes that Prophetic traditions contribute not only to spiritual growth but also to intellectual maturity. They nurture a model of thought in which faith and reason coexist harmoniously, forming the foundation for critical perception of reality and the strengthening of moral consciousness in the Muslim individual.