A legal perspective of the Quran

Ziauddin University held a special guest lecture with Ahmer Bilal Soofi – one of the leading international law experts in Pakistan and founder of Research Society of International Law (RSIL) on the topic of Covenants in the Quran – A legal perspective of the Quran.

I opened up the session focusing on the word – mithaaq (covenant) and the usage of it through out the Quran for example where it states:

And [always] remember the blessings which God has bestowed upon you, and the solemn pledge by which He bound you to Himself when you said, “We have heard, and we pay heed.” Hence, remain conscious of God: verily, God has full knowledge of what is in the hearts [of men] (5:7)

And how the foundational element of the Quran and it’s message has always surrounded by this term – a pledge/covenant. Just as Abraham(AS) when he approached God about his progeny – God responded his promise does not encompass the wrongdoers. There the use of the word ahd (unilateral promise) is used. Even the famous Misaaq-e-Madina (the Covenant of Medina) is an example of usage at a very high-level setting the tone for what is to come within.

Mr. Soofi elaborate that it was this thought that made him work on this interesting project to re-analyze the Quran from a legal perspective and see it as a covenant or contract. Within which we find a plethora of other contracts including universal promises, threats & sanctions in the form of a legal notice, and many other similar legal principles.

There is Jurisprudence or fiqh extracted from the Quran by religious sciences from days old but nothing of the sort to discuss the Jurisprudence OF the Quran which is something Mr. Soofi attempts to do. Dipping into the core reality of the message of the Quran he engages in a discussion similar to Maqasid-Ash-Shariah or the purposes of Islamic Law.

By arriving at the core of the value we can better understand the general picture or the spirit of the word to better understand it and analyze it. The work is reflective of an expert legal lens scanning the Quran like a lawyer and trying to understand its various terms and conditions.

Mr. Soofi truly has stumbled onto something unique and he is working with various experts in Islamic Contemporary Thought to put out his book for lawyers in particular to reflect on the Quran as a contractual relationship between man and God at the center with man and others within that framework.

There has been preliminary work here and there but nothing comprehensive as Mr. Soofi has done. The work is due to be published most-likely next year and will hopefully be a great tool to critically think about the Quran. Looking forward to working with him to bring this to fruition.