Sharia Law, the State & Modernity’s Moral Predicament | Wael Hallaq

Renowned professor of ethics, law and political thought and leading scholar of Islamic Legal Studies, Dr Wael Hallaq, joins us on this episode of the afikra podcast to discuss Sharia law, the modern state, Legal Orientalism, and the idea of a "stateless" yet still orderly world.
Dr Hallaq deals with reductionist understandings of Sharia law, critiques modernism and the modern state, and breaks down the successes and shortcomings of Edward Said's Orientalism. We discuss the concept of Legal Orientalism, delve into the advanced complexities of Sharia law, and talk about his book "The Impossible State: Islam, Politics, and Modernity's Moral Predicament". Finally, Dr Hallaq talks passionately about what he calls the "bankrupt realities" we're facing in the modern era and calls the very states and systems that make up our world into question.
0:00 Introduction
1:12 Most Common Misunderstandings of Sharia Law
7:27 Legal Orientalism
10:48 Different Versions of Sharia Law
20:18 The Impossible State: Islam, Politics, and Modernity's Moral Predicament
30:55 Critiquing Edward Said
35:28 The Impossibility of Building an Islamic State
39:22 A Stateless Society
46:27 Corporations, the Modern State & Colonialism
50:03 Imagining a Corporation-less World
54:38 Warning Against Modernity
1:00:00 Reimagining Modernity, Legacy of Edward Said, and Liberalism
Wael B. Hallaq is the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University, where he has been teaching ethics, law, and political thought since 2009. He is considered a leading scholar of Islamic Legal Studies and Islamic Law. He has written several books including "The Impossible State: Islam, Politics, and Modernity's Moral Predicament" and "Restating Orientalism: A Critique of Modern Knowledge".
Connect with Wael 👉mesaas.columbia.edu/faculty-d...
Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 spoti.fi/47I59ns
Hosted by:
Mikey Muhanna 👉 mikey_mu?h...
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ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region - past, present and future - through conversations driven by curiosity.
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[@meerville]

These are the types of guests that we need. You should def make a part 2 with him.

[@moawiahibrahim3241]

Excellent, excellent interview. Wael Hallaq has a deep understanding of the problems of the modern world and he exposes the issues in a very logical way. Very insightful. No sugar-coating. It is time for all of us to wake up. Thank you for the interview.

[@evangel1737]

Its my first time hearing Wael. I absolutely 💯 ♥️ him and concur with his understanding of modernity. Its a strong pivot from where we are But what we're doing now is only destroying humanity and our world. We need to hear more from him and introduce him to many others. Thanks for doing interview.

[@aymanekouera2302]

finally another podcast with Pr wael, another wisdom to consume

[@natemalhis5519]

Nothing more thought provoking than the issues raised by Professor Hallaq, please do a part 2

[@aehong7332]

Terrific interview!! Thank you for hosting Prof. Hallaq. I'm waiting for a part 2!

[@afikra]

We're happy you enjoyed it!

[@kfie3731]

The last metaphor was perfect. it almost summarisedRestaing Orientalism. Wael Hallaq has explained the life I have lived and the world around me. I am a different person now. Im from Pakistan writing my Mphill thesis in which incorporate his works. Im so grateful to him.

[@afikra]

We're happy you enjoyed the episode!

[@user-ve1jm9ys5d]

I wouldn’t call it “Sharia law”. From my understanding, one of the points of his works is highlighting how language is weaponized, and how the understanding of Sharia was reduced to being just a source of legal rulings. It’s called Sharia not Sharia law, as Sharia is a vast discipline covering the discursive practice where the social, political, economic etc. intersect with the moral and epistemological. And then jurisprudence and rulings out of that is called fiqh, as you know. Glad you brought Hallaq on :)

[@rashedalmansoori1830]

اتمنى يكون في جزء ثاني، هذا أفضل شي سمعته من فتره طويلة! كل التوفيق للجميع 👏🏼

[@afikra]

!يسرنا أن الحلقة نالت إعجابكم

[@commontouch1787]

He’s a visionary, thank you for the podcast

[@MirzaChuchakKhan]

Great interview. Please bring him back for further interviews.

[@naijiri]

Great interview.

[@afikra]

We're happy you enjoyed it!

[@anastaleb641]

A part two please 🙏

[@nmilb1234]

What professor of islamic law is he referring to that taught at Columbia when Said was there?

[@adamkhettabi]

Part 2 pleaseeeeee

[@adamkhettabi]

Top episode

[@leebarry5686]

Modernity includes many components: science, technology,philosophy,secularism, democracy, geopolitics etc. For Muslims , science and technology are to be taken back , while others are just references and most of them to be discarded into trash bin. That means modern Muslims have to hold full Islam and assimilate modern science to build up independence and strength to bring justice and peace and prosperity to the humanity!

[@Dr.ShivashankarNambiar]

Great interview : it is almost like Allahu Himself explaining Shariya for the Kaffirs, is it not ?

[@Dr.ShivashankarNambiar]

Allaah has condemned theft and decreed an appropriate punishment for it. The hadd punishment for a thief is to cut off his hand. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And (as for) the male thief and the female thief, cut off (from the wrist joint) their (right) hands as a recompense for that which they committed, a punishment by way of example from Allaah. And Allaah is All Powerful, All Wise” [al-Maa’idah 5:38] The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The hand should be cut off for (the theft of) a quarter of a dinar or more.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, al-Hudood, 6291) This Shariya punishment for theft must be implemented in America, for all Muslims of America, under the able guidance of the professor of Columbia University

[@Dr.ShivashankarNambiar]

Such an excellent and mind boggling exposition of Sharya. Even Allahu can't beat this trash.