The science of fatwa is the discipline in Islamic law where a religious ruling is sought for a specific issue, and this question is answered in accordance with its established methodology. In today's world, new issues brought about by the digital age increasingly highlight the importance of the science of fatwa. Questions arising in finance, medicine, technology, and social relations are contemporary problems for which we cannot find direct answers in classical fiqh texts. The courses on Fatwa Methodology and Contemporary Fiqh Issues, taught during DİDAR Academy's fourth-year specialization period, equip students to approach these matters soundly.
A prerequisite for issuing a fatwa is a solid foundation in fiqh and usul al-fiqh. In the DİDAR curriculum, by the fourth year, students have studied classical fiqh and usul texts, from Sarakhsi to Ibn Abidin, and from Pazdawi to Ibn al-Humam. Issuing rulings on contemporary issues without this foundation is like building on an unstable structure. Takī Usmānī's work, Usûlü'l-İftâ ve Âdâbuhû, studied in the Fatwa Methodology course, systematically teaches the rules, limits, and etiquette of issuing fatwas. Students understand that a fatwa is not a personal opinion but a scholarly decision based on established methodology.
One of the fundamental principles of the science of fatwa is that one who is not a mujtahid should not act as one. A DİDAR student does not reach the level of a mujtahid by the end of four years of education; however, they become capable of asking the right questions, referring to reliable sources, and understanding the language of fatwa. This distinction is crucial. Today, everyone expressing opinions on every subject on social media undermines the seriousness of the fatwa discipline. At DİDAR, students are taught that knowing the limits of one's scholarly competence is a virtue. Being able to say what one does not know is more valuable than claiming to know.
In the contemporary fiqh issues course, students learn how classical rulings are applied to new situations. Topics such as interest, insurance, organ transplantation, artificial intelligence, social media usage, and environmental law are typical subjects of the course. To find solutions for these issues, one must first correctly understand classical fiqh principles, then determine the fiqh classification of the issue, and finally, carefully use methodological tools such as analogy (qiyas) or juristic preference (istihsan). The inter-madhhab perspective gained through Mahmûd Sheltût's Mukâranetü'l-Mezahib in the DİDAR curriculum is also beneficial for contemporary issues.
Source selection is of vital importance in the science of fatwa. Students should follow the opinions of reliable fatwa institutions and scholars but also critically evaluate them. At DİDAR, students are taught the questions to ask when evaluating a fatwa: What is the scholarly competence of the person issuing the fatwa? What evidence was used to approach the issue? Were different opinions considered? Was the reason for preferring one existing ijtihad over others explained? These questions enable students to move from being passive consumers of fatwas to active scholarly reasoners.
One of the most common mistakes in contemporary issues is to detach the issue from its context. Whether a financial product is permissible (halal) or impermissible (haram) is evaluated not merely by its name but by its contract structure, risk distribution, and classical fiqh categories. At DİDAR, students learn to approach issues holistically. Instead of rushing to judgment, thoroughly researching the issue and consulting experts if necessary is part of the etiquette of fatwa. This patience and meticulousness are fundamental to scholarly responsibility.
The relationship between the science of fatwa and ethics and moral upbringing should also not be neglected. A fatwa is not merely about saying
In conclusion, the science of fatwa and contemporary fiqh issues is one of the most important courses in DİDAR Academy's fourth-year specialization period. Classical knowledge, methodological discipline, critical thinking, and moral responsibility—when these elements come together, students can approach contemporary issues soundly. Learning the science of fatwa at the final stage of the scholarly journey transforms students not only into knowledgeable individuals but also into scholars with a sense of responsibility. DİDAR graduates aim to become reliable scholarly reference points in society with this preparation.