Journal of Religion and the Contemporary World

Journal of Religion and the Contemporary World

Fiqh and Personal Autonomy: From Conflict to Structured Coexistence

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Mofid University, Qom, Iran.
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between personal autonomy—as a key component of modern thought—and the Islamic legal (fiqh) system. At first glance, these two concepts appear fundamentally opposed. Autonomy emphasizes the individual's right to free choice and the authority of self-grounded reason, while Islamic fiqh is based on adherence to divine commandments and submission to God's will. Using a descriptive-analytical method and drawing on theological foundations of Islamic jurisprudence, the article argues that legal obligation (ta'abbud) in fiqh can be interpreted as structured autonomy. In this view, the individual, at the macro level, freely chooses the religious framework as a life system, and at the micro level, remains committed to its legal rulings within that chosen framework. This model—likened to a driver following traffic rules—illustrates that the conflict between autonomy and fiqh is not inherent, but stems from a failure to distinguish between different levels of decision-making. The findings suggest that this perspective can help mitigate tensions between tradition and modernity.
Keywords

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