Lahore: Punjab University Pakistan Study Centre (PSC), in collaboration with the American Institute of Pakistan Studies (AIPS), recently held a lecture titled ‘Tradition and Technology: Fatwas in the Computer Age’. The event took place at the university campus and featured Dr. Mashal Saif, an associate professor from Clemson University, as the keynote speaker.
Dr. Amjad Abbas Khan, Director of the PSC, opened the event by welcoming Dr. Saif and the assembled faculty members, as well as PhD and MPhil scholars from various departments. He expressed optimism about the event’s potential to benefit researchers.
Dr. Saif’s lecture focused on the intersection of technology and the practice of issuing fatwas. She noted that technological advancements have increasingly influenced this traditional practice. While fatwa issuance has historically been seen as a domain of flexible and context-specific Islamic law, technology is contributing to a process of standardization and depersonalization.
Throughout her address, Dr. Saif highlighted several key changes in the nature of fatwas. These include modifications in the length of fatwas, how sources are cited, the tone and manner of address, and a reduction in specificity. She also pointed out a trend toward standard doctrine in the digital age.
The lecture provided an opportunity for attendees to engage with complex issues surrounding the integration of technology into religious practices.