Application of Phenomenology on Fiqh

A Philosophical Endeavour by Hasssan Hanafi

Abstract

Renowned Egyptian philosopher, Hassan Hanafi (b.1935), wishes to develop a rigorous Islamic method for philosophical investigation. He has already made such an attempt in his doctoral thesis. Study of Phenomenology generally, and that of noted Phenomenologist Edmund Husserl (1859-1938) particularly influenced him to revisit his research plan so as to make an Islamic model of Strenge Wissenschaft, that is, “rigorous studies”. This project, however, proved a land-mark and gradually became Hanafi’s life-long ambition. The objective of Hanafiis to reformulate, re-describe and reinterpret the classical Islamic disciplines including i- Theology, ii- Philosophy, iii- Mysticism and iv- Scriptural Subjects (Qurʾan, Hadith, Tafsir, Sira, Fiqh) by using the phenomenological method of Edmund Husserl. This paper intends to study in-depth the application of Phenomenology on ‘Ilm Usul al-fiqhby Hanafi. He has chosen ‘Ilm Usul al-fiqh, because it is the principal discipline related to the legislative needs of the Muslim community. The method used by Hanafi employs:
 Phenomenology
 Hermeneutics
 Liberation Theology
The result is going to be:
 Conversion of Fiqh from a Theocentric discipline to an Anthropocentric science.
 Replacement of the obsolete with the fresh and novel terminology.
 Substitution of Conservative Hermeneutics with a progressive and masses-friendly one.