Ijtihad: Reinterpreting Islamic Principles for the 21st Century

As the U.S. led coalition works to build a foundation for a stable and secure democratic future for Iraq, what Islamic traditions and practices can be utilized in rebuilding Iraqi civil society?

On March 19 the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy co-hosted a Religion and Peacemaking Workshop to explore the concept of Ijtihad and the challenge of reinterpreting Islamic Principles for the 21st Century. Held as part of USIP's ongoing series of public workshops on religion and peacemaking, the session featured a panel of distinguished Islamic scholars from around the United States. Issues the panel explored include:

• What is Ijtihad (religious interpretation in Islam), and how can it be used to address the needs of Muslim societies in the 21st century?
• How can the door of Ijtihad be reopened, and who has the right to perform Ijtihad?
• What are the main problems, challenges, and handicaps facing the Muslim world and how can we address them?
• How can Muslims resolve their differences of opinion without resorting to violence or repression?
• What role can American Muslim leaders and organizations play in promoting a more tolerant, modern, and moderate interpretation of Islam?

Co-moderated by David Smock, director of USIP's Religion and Peacemaking Initiative, and Radwan Masmoudi, president of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, the presentations were followed by a general discussion including questions from the floor.

Speakers

• Muneer Fareed
  Professor, Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan)
• Muzammil Siddiqi
  Director, Islamic Community of Orange County, California
• Ingrid Mattson
  Professor, Hartford Seminary
• Hassan Qazwini
  Imam, Detroit, Michigan
• Radwan Masmoudi, Moderator
  President, Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy
• David Smock, Moderator
  Director, Religion and Peacemaking Initiative, U.S. Institute of Peace