FACULTY OF THEOLOGY 

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON GRADUATE STUDIES IN ISLAMIC LAW -XII-

The 12th International Symposium on Graduate Studies in Islamic Law, organized by the Department of Islamic Law at the Faculty of Theology, Istanbul University, will be held on October 19-20, 2026, in collaboration with the Institution Dar al-Hadith al-Hassania at University of al-Qarawiyyin, and with the support of Istanbul Dâru’l-Fünûn Theology Foundation, İlim Yayma Foundation, and Ensar Foundation.

This symposium provides a platform for postgraduate students (master's and doctoral) from diverse disciplines to share and discuss their research and ideas related to Islamic law directly with other scholars. The aim is to enhance the quality of these studies and ideas. Additionally, the symposium seeks to foster interaction and integration among young researchers in Islamic law, paving the way for intra-disciplinary knowledge and experience sharing and collaboration.

The main theme of this year’s symposium is animal law. Accordingly, priority will be given to papers that address issues in animal law—particularly those that draw on the conceptual and historical resources of Islamic legal thought—and fall within the thematic areas outlined below:

- The conception and ontological status of animals in Islamic thought

- Animal ethics and human–animal relations

- Theoretical foundations of animal rights and animal welfare

- The legal and ethical status of animals in Islamic law

- Rulings and practices relating to animals in classical fiqh literature

- Practices concerning animals in Ottoman and other Islamic societies

- Contemporary legal and juristic issues concerning animals

- International animal law

While the main theme is animal law, the symposium will also include classical and modern discussions on other issues of Islamic law. Priority will be given to studies that connect Islamic legal issues with contemporary contexts or address current problems from an Islamic legal perspective. Submissions are expected to move beyond descriptive texts to critically discuss issues and propose solutions.

Papers will be accepted in Turkish, Arabic, and English. Abstracts must not exceed 350 words, and applications should be submitted via the website: https://ihls.istanbul.edu.tr/tr/. Submitted manuscripts will undergo an open review process, and acceptances will be announced accordingly.

Symposium Topics:

The main topics of the symposium include but are not limited to:

- Waqf Law in Classical and Contemporary Contexts.

- Islamic Economics and Finance.

- Bioethics in Islamic Law.

- Contemporary Fiqh Institutions.

- Halal Food Standards.

- Environmental Law in Islam.

- Islamic Family Law.

- Fiqh and Modern Methods of Understanding.

- Contemporary Approaches to Fiqh.

- Fiqh and Social Sciences.

- Islamic legal history.

- Ottoman Law.

- Islamic law in the Mamluk Era.

- Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence).

- Fiqh and Other Islamic Sciences.

Important Dates:

Abstract Submission Deadline: June 19, 2026

Preliminary Acceptances Announcement: July 3, 2026

Full Text Submission Deadline: September 4, 2026

Final Acceptances and Program Announcement: September 18, 2026

Symposium Dates: October 19-20, 2026

Symposium Venue: Dean's Conference Hall, Faculty of Theology, Istanbul University