Musa Bigiev’s Methodology of the Fatwa Issuing

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the Russian theologian Musa Bigiev’s views on accepting modern theological and legal conclusions in Islam, i. e. on the fatwa issuing. After comparing his various works, a conclusion is made about his adherence to absolute ij tihad, not limited to the framework of one madhhab. At the same time, Bigiev gives the main role in this process to the methodology of Islamic law, which, in his opinion, should also be modernized in accordance with the goals of the Shariʻah. This doctrine was fi rst developed in the history of Muslim thought by the medieval faqih Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi, whose work Al-Muwafaqat Bigiev recommends to introduce as a handbook in Islamic educational institutions. According Bigiev’s views, it is necessary to train mujtahids capable of making decisions based on sacred primary sources, system of goals of the Shariʻah and objective conditions of life.