News

The Program in Islamic Law (PIL) is seeking a Managing Editor to begin as early as June 2025 for a one-year term. The Managing Editor will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating the various publications-related operations at PIL, including its Islamic Law Blog, The Journal of Islamic Law (and its associated Forum), and the SHARIAsource Portal. This position reports directly to the Editor-in-Chief, Professor Intisar Rabb, and to the Executive Director. The Managing Editor works closely with PIL Research Fellows, the Lab Coordinator, the Program’s Software Engineer, and other staff members and external authors or peer reviewers.

Key responsibilities of the Managing Editor include, but are not limited to:

• coordinating with the Editor-in-Chief and Executive Director to ensure the smooth operation of all PIL publications-related functions;
• working with the Journal of Islamic Law editor(s)—which may include a volume editor, student editor, tech editor for online formatting, and copyeditor for typesetting—to assist in publishing its annual volume, including providing substantive contributions such as reading and copyediting draft submissions;
• managing the Islamic Law Blog, which includes coordinating with the Guest Blog Editor, with Research Fellows, and with outside authors to ensure the timely publication of guest blog essays, editing and copyediting these submissions, and curating and publishing weekly news and scholarship roundups plus other essays as PIL may deem necessary;
• coordinating with the Editor-in-Chief and PIL staff to organize the annual Islamic Law Blog Roundtable, including editing and copyediting submissions for the Roundtable;
• conducting outreach for PIL, including by liaising with potential authors for the HUP Islamic Law series and for other PIL publications, including the Blog and the Journal;
• promoting PIL and its activities through presentations and other events, as needed; and
• collaborating with the outgoing Managing Editor to ensure a seamless transition and continuity in operations.

Strong candidates will possess a stellar editing record, familiarity with multiple citations styles (including Chicago and Bluebook), experiencing serving on a journal as student or a degree in law (JD preferred) and/or an advanced degree in Islamic, Middle Eastern, or related studies. The application deadline is April 30, 2025. The application should include:

1. a resume; and
2. a statement of interest (maximum 500 words), highlighting your interest and relevant experience in either or both Islamic law and editing and managerial responsibilities.

Salary will be commensurate with experience. Remote or hybrid work may be possible in some circumstances.

This is a 14-hour temporary, non-benefits-eligible position.

All submissions must be made via Formstack.

For any questions, please contact [email protected].

The Program in Islamic Law is seeking RAs to subcite articles selected for publication in the Journal of Islamic Law. The subcite will take place on the weekend of March 29-30, 2025. Each assignment involves approximately 10 hours of work per article, with citations formatted according to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.

One paragraph statement of interest, CV/resume, and familiarity with The Bluebook is required. Prior journal experience, while preferred, is not required. Each RA will be assigned one article, or at most two, depending on their availability. Applications must be submitted via the online form.

Deadline: February 28, 2025

The Program in Islamic Law’s Senior Fellowships are designed to provide tenured professors in the field the opportunity to spend an academic year, semester, or shorter period in residence at Harvard Law School to conduct their own research. Successful applicants will be tenured professors with at least one published book. Please note that these fellowships are typically non-stipendiary, but provide workspace (as available), a Harvard ID and affiliation, and access to the Harvard Library and intellectual community. Fellowship opportunities are subject to space and other considerations, and they are awarded by a fellowship selection committee. Interested scholars should send a letter of interest, including a short description of the proposed research, research period, and a CV to [email protected], with the subject heading Program in Islamic Law Senior Fellowships. Applications are due Jan. 31, 2025 for that spring and/or the following academic year.

Deadline: January 31, 2025

In collaboration with the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, the Program in Islamic Law at Harvard Law School is pleased to invite applications for the 2025-2026 PIL–LC Research Fellowship (due: January 15, 2025). This newly offered fellowship is designed to provide an intellectual home to promising young scholars in Islamic legal studies, to advance their research, and to contribute to the intellectual life of the Program, the greater Harvard community, and the Library of Congress community. The unique opportunity afforded by this joint fellowship award allows the selected fellow to pursue independent research on Islamic law and history that utilizes the extensive collections of the Harvard Libraries and the Library of Congress. The PIL–LC Research Fellowship award is a full-time residential fellowship at Harvard Law School (for nine months, during the academic year) and at the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress (for three months, the following summer).

Successful applicants will have completed an advanced degree (JD, PhD, or SJD) before the start of the fellowship, and plan to pursue a scholarly research agenda in Islamic law that engages legal history, law and society, or comparative law approaches. Fellows will receive a stipend for the duration of the fellowship.

To apply for this fellowship, please submit the following materials via the research fellowship online application form by January 15, 2025:

1. a curriculum vitae

2. a research proposal consisting of

• a single-paragraph abstract of your proposed research
• a research statement, not to exceed 1500 words (3 single-spaced pages), and
• a bibliography of works you have consulted that describes the proposed work during the fellowship period.

The proposal should outline research in your area of expertise or interest related to contemporary or historical issues of Islamic law that can be accomplished during the fellowship term; projects are to utilize the Harvard and Library of Congress collections to advance a novel contribution to scholarship through research in Islamic law, with a legal history, comparative law, or law and society approach.

3. an explanation of why Harvard/PIL and the Library of Congress are the required venue for your research (e.g., identification of specific Harvard/PIL resources and Library of Congress collections that are necessary to pursue the research project)

4. a writing sample of no more than 25 pages in length, in English (which can be a recent publication or unpublished work; works-in-progress are especially welcome)

5. 3 reference letters from recommenders who are to upload letters directly at the referee link.

A panel of scholars at both Harvard and the Library of Congress will review your application materials. The panel will consider your application in relation to numerous other proposals. Evaluation criteria will include:

• The significance of the contribution that the project will make to knowledge in the field
• The quality or the promise of quality of the work
• The quality of the conception, definition, organization and description of the project
• The likelihood that the applicant will complete the project
• The appropriateness of the research for Harvard/PIL resources and the Library of Congress collections

Please ensure that your references have ample time to consider and comment on your proposal. Letters of reference are more highly regarded if they address the specific proposed activity and how well the candidate is suited to undertake it, as opposed to letters that verify character, limit comments to previous work, or make only general observations on the topic.

Following a process of committee review, applicants will be notified of decisions in February 15.

Apply today!

Deadline: January 15, 2025

The Journal of Islamic Law invites papers that explore both theoretical discussions and practical applications concerning the ḥudūd, penalties that Muslim jurists consider to be divinely ordained punishments for a Special Issue on “Moratoriums on Islamic Criminal Punishments: Legal Debates and Current Practices.” With the establishment of modern Islamic states and the incorporation of ḥudūd into their legal systems, these punishments have become a cause célèbre, contributing to heightened anti-Muslim sentiment, Islamophobia, and criticism from international human rights organizations. In response, some contemporary Muslim scholars have called for the suspension of ḥudūd, presenting a range of theological, jurisprudential, and political arguments. These calls, however, face substantial resistance from traditionalists who view ḥudūd as an essential component of sharīʿa. This has resulted in a polarized debate between proponents and opponents of ḥudūd, with each side presenting consequentialist and deontological arguments. The ongoing debate between pro-and anti-ḥudūd jurists not only underscores the conflict between progressive and conservative viewpoints but also challenges the foundational socio-legal and ethical norms within diverse societies. This debate invites further arguments and reflections to uncover subtler dimensions, challenge prevailing assumptions, and contribute to a deeper understanding of the intersection between Islamic law, human rights, international relations, and the global reputation of Muslims.

This special issue calls for work that will delve into both theoretical and practical dimensions of ḥudūd suspension, offering a comprehensive examination of this complex issue. Thematically, we invite papers that explore juristic and theological arguments related to the suspension of ḥudūd punishments, including interpretations of the Qur’ān and ḥadīth, as well as the theoretical and practical challenges that impede the suspension of ḥudūd across various jurisdictions. Papers offering real-world examples of the implementation or suspension of ḥudūd laws in countries such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Malaysia, and other relevant states are particularly welcome. Submissions are also encouraged to address the broader implications of these legal practices, including their impact on social and political dynamics, and their influence on international perceptions of Islamic law. We encourage discussions that incorporate a diverse array of perspectives—legal, political, and sociological—to elucidate the complexities and challenges of navigating ḥudūd laws in today’s global context. By integrating these varied viewpoints, we aim to foster a nuanced understanding of the ongoing debates and practical realities surrounding ḥudūd suspension.

We seek articles of up to 15,000 words for the Journal of Islamic Law, and essays of up to 5,000 words for the Journal of Islamic Law Online Forum. Submissions for this year’s special issue are due by January 13, 2025, and must be submitted through either Scholastica or our online submissions portal. Once accepted, the paper goes through a process of peer review, a final decision on acceptance, editing, and publication. This special issue of the Journal of Islamic Law is edited by Bahman Khodadadi ([email protected]), research fellow at Harvard Law School’s Program in Islamic Law, and will be published in April 2025. For detailed submission guidelines, please visit our submissions webpage. For further questions, please contact us at [email protected].

 

Professor Intisar Rabb is accepting applications for Fall/Spring Term student Research Assistants for work on various projects related to Islamic law (1 RA) and criminal law (1 RA), for pay (~10 hrs/week). Positions are open to all HLS students.

Interested applicants should submit a single paragraph of interest, resume, and unofficial transcript, all in PDF Format to Marzieh Noori at [email protected]. Position terms run through Spring 2024.

DEADLINE: Sep 05, 2024, midnight [notifications by Sep 09]

 

Professor Intisar Rabb is accepting student applications for the Fall Term to participate in the SHARIAsource Lab for 1 credit.

Led by Professor Rabb & Research Data Scientist Noah Tashbook, the Lab meets every week, and is part of the Harvard Program in Islamic Law’s initiative to build data science tools to aid the study of Islamic law and history. Participation in the Lab is an opportunity for students to conduct research, data preparation, and/or text analysis on materials related to Islamic law with the use of data science tools; participants may also have opportunities to write and get short essays published on the Islamic Law Blog with acknowledgement credit as authors/student editors.

Positions are open to all HLS students for credit, and VERY limited slots available for pay (~10 hr/week). Knowledge of Arabic and/or Persian is a plus, but not required. [Harvard students not at HLS with knowledge of Computer Science and/or Arabic language are eligible to apply.]

Interested applicants should submit a single paragraph of interest, resume, and unofficial transcript, all in PDF Format to Marzieh Noori at [email protected]. The assumption is that you are applying for credit; please indicate if you are seeking one of the limited RA positions. Position terms run through Fall 2024, with the possibility of renewal for Winter 2025 and Spring 2025 dependent on need and performance.

DEADLINE: Sep 05, 2024, midnight [notifications before Sep 09]

 

Professor Intisar Rabb is accepting applications for the Fall term to participate in the Writing Group: Topics in Islamic Law and History course for 1 or 2 credits.

Interested applicants should submit a single paragraph of interest, resume, and unofficial transcript, all in PDF Format to Marzieh Noori at [email protected]. If accepted, applicants are expected to attend the first four sessions of the Islamic Law Course – which meets Mondays, 6-8pm, and then sessions on select Mondays thereafter for paper development and peer/professor review. Also if accepted, students enrolling in writing groups are required to submit a signed Writing Group Registration Form to the Registrar’s Office prior to the course registration deadline.

DEADLINE: Sep 05, 2024, midnight [notifications before Sep 09]

 

Call for Papers:

Authority and Jurisprudence: The Interplay of Governance and Islamic Law

The Journal of Islamic Law invites papers that study how political authority and governance function as a branch of Islamic law and their intersection with fiqh. From the Islamic Middle Ages to the present day, the administrative-political rubrics of sīyāsā (governance) and qānūn (sultanic law) have shaped several spheres of Islamic law, among them criminal justice, financial administration, and courts of readdress. The Abbasids and the Ottomans used sìyāsā and qānūn respectively to legitimize their legislative authority and non-jurisprudential procedures. Colonialism or European imperialism built on this political-religious dichotomy and created new legal separations in the form of Islamic Law and the laws of European empires.

Scholars have debated the contours of sīyāsā and qānūn, with some declaring these administrative-political approaches as aligned with jurisprudence (fiqh), and others referring to them as extrajudicial frameworks rooted in foreign and external influences. But we still know little about the origins of sīyāsā, the continuity between it and qānūn, and the reasonings that underpinned these non-jurisprudential practices. Further work remains to be done on how colonialism and European imperialism transformed these political-legal dynamics in the Islamic world. This includes a thorough investigation into the extent to which modern interactions between political authority and Islamic law diverge from, or adhere to, historical paradigms, as well as an analysis of contemporary interpretations and applications of these frameworks.

This special issue calls for work that will expand our understanding of the evolution and/or functioning of sīyāsā and qānūn and other forms of government law in relation to Islamic law, from the birth of Islam to the present day. Thematically, we invite papers that show the adaptation, borrowing, and creativity involved in the development of governmental law in the Islamic world and its relationship with fiqh, especially in the context of authority, continuity, and expediency. We welcome papers that place these evolutions in comparison with other global articulations of governmental law, such as Roman law, Imperial Chinese law, and common law, with the aim to begin to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how Islamic law and governance shaped each other.

We seek articles of up to 15,000 words. To signal interest, please submit a proposed title and abstract of 250–500 words by February 5, 2024, using our online submissions portal. Once accepted, soon thereafter, the deadline for the submission of full drafts is February 26, 2024, after which the paper goes through a process of peer review, a final decision on acceptance, editing, and publication. This special issue of the Journal of Islamic Law is edited by Mohammed Allehbi ([email protected]), research fellow at Harvard Law School’s Program in Islamic Law, and will be published in April 2024. For further questions, please contact us at [email protected].