Revisiting fiat regime’s attainability of shari’ah objectives and possible futuristic alternatives

Sifat, Imtiaz Mohammad and Mohamad, Azhar (2018) Revisiting fiat regime’s attainability of shari’ah objectives and possible futuristic alternatives. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 38 (1). pp. 1-23. ISSN 1360-2004 E-ISSN 1469-9591

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Abstract

Maqasid of Shari'ah is a millennium old theory on the higher objectives of Islamic divine law. As the discipline of Islamic economics and finance grew in politico-economic importance in the past three decades, a cathartic trend has emerged among Muslim experts to realign economic and financial practices with not merely the minimum legal requirements of religion but also the wisdom and crucial objectives of Shari'ah. An expositive example of this is the monetary economics debate of a Shari'ah consonant currency. Though vast majority of religious clerics have approbated fiat and paper currencies in strict legal terms since the 1980s, a revisionist movement since the mid-1990s seeks to counter it—some going as far as indorsing reversion to gold and silver coinage of medieval Islamic epoch of affluence. Unlike orthodox fiqhi (strict jurisprudentialism) approach that involves legalese with little leeway, Maqasid approach concerns itself with the spirit of the law. This paper operates in the exciting laboratory of Maqasidic framework to appraise the multitudinous role of fiat currency in protecting economic, political, and social public interests, prevention of harm, promotion of egalitarianism, and attainment of ultimate utopic vision of theological and spiritual demands in Shari'ah. The paper contributes, theoretically, by introducing several moral-philosophical arguments against fiat’s compatibility with Shari'ah, and, practically, by prognosticating the future course of discourse in light of advancements in technological innovations—including nascent crypto-currencies.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	3334/62473
Uncontrolled Keywords:	fiat regime’s attainability, shari’ah objectives, futuristic alternatives
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HG Finance > HG3368 Islamic Banking and Finance
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences > Department of Finance
Depositing User:	Dr Azhar Mohamad
Date Deposited:	10 Apr 2018 16:16
Last Modified:	22 May 2018 08:43
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/62473

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