The Social Impact of Legal Patchworking (Talfīq)

Date: 

Tuesday, October 2, 2018, 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Location: 

Austin 102

Featuring:

Aaron Spevack, Visiting Fellow, ILSP: SHARIAsource, Harvard Law School

Talfīq--the juristic practice of combining differing legal opinions to resolve a new issue and thereby produce an unprecedented ruling--is often framed as an impious and capricious endeavor aimed at cutting corners. However, jurists have used this practice in ways that have had tremendous social impact, both positive and negative. This talk will address various debates on the permissibility of using talfiq, its social impact, and prominent instances of state legislation in which legislators in the modern Muslim world have used talfīq to serve the public good. RSVP to shariasource@law.harvard.edu.