ED I T 0  RIAL 

Since its inception fourteen years ago, AJZSS has built a considerable 
reputation as an academic Islamic journal. In addition to being a global 
forum for intellectual exchange between Muslim academicians from var- 
ious disciplines, AJZSS has contributed to efforts at Islamization of 
knowledge and the reorientation of Islamic thought. And while the 
Journal has made sigmficant strides in reorienting Islamic thought, 
AJZSS cannot be the sole provider of guidance for the Islamization of 
knowledge effort. Certainly, the necessary radical reorientation of 
knowledge will only occur with planned coordination with other acade- 
mic activities, conferences, seminars, study circles, etc., and with the 
contributions of other individuals and communities of scholars from var- 
ious parts of the world and academic disciplines. 

From time to time, the Journal must stress the importance of Islamic 
epistemology as the framework for its academic efforts. In view of our 
ever-developing understanding of theoretical principles drawn from 
authentic sources, and also in view of developing issues and challenges, 
it is important to re-examine this framework to c o n f i i  that it is indeed 
appropriate. If the Islamic epistemology is functioning appropriately, it 
should define an Islamic methodology for resemh and inquiry in all top- 
ics and issues =levant to the Journal. All research articles should state 
its methodology, which should be consistent with our system of knowl- 
edge, as well as interpret results within its own framework by using the 
needed instruments and procedures for collecting and analyzing relevant 
data and evidence. 

Although the Journal has dealt with these two themes, namely, episte- 
mology and methodology, they still need to be defined definitively. 
Muslim scholars and researchers should not just refer to Islamic episte- 
mology and Islamic methodology as a given or something known and 
understood; mther, they need to delve deep into the very heart of these 
matters to provide more in-depth and thought-provoking contributions. 
We understand that many of our Muslim scholars find themselves under 
the pressure of their practical circumstances when choosing their 
research topics. In the upcoming issues, God willing, the Journal will 
facilitate the endeavors of the authors to make their contributions more 



vi The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 14:3 

meaningful. With the intent to improve MISS and to develop its mission 
and vision, we welcome comments and suggestions from all our readers. 
We promise to study them very carefully and to make use of them. 

All four of the 1997 issues of MISS are dedicated to single themes. 
This issue is dedicated to “Islamic Law and Zjtihrzd.” The theme is par- 
ticularly crucial in light of the emerging body of scholarship that is seek- 
ing to divulge the essence and nature of the Islamic law. 

This issue has three principle articles. First, Mehmet Pacaci has writ- 
ten “The Role of the Subject (Mujtahid) in al-Shafi‘i’s Methodology: A 
Hermeneutic Approach” in which he seeks to understand the nature of 
ijtihrzd as it was originally conceived. Second, Mohammad Hashim 
Kamali’s article, “Islamic Commercial Law: An Analysis of Options” 
presents us with an empirical dimension of how the Shari‘ah relates to 
options trading. Finally, an actual implementation of ijtihrzd in a case 
study is formulated by Shaykh Tah2 Jabir al-‘Alw&ii in his article, “The 
Role of Islamic Zjtihrzd in the Regulation and Correction of Capital 
Markets.” All converge in the quest to further our understanding of 
where Islamic law has been, and where it has yet to go. 

The editors at M I S S  would like to take this opportunity to announce 
that the topic for the March 1998 Spring issue will be on psychology. We 
invite all contributions on the topic to be submitted to our m c e  no later 
than December 15,1997. We hope that you will take this opportunity to 
help develop the field of psychology, a field of social science to which 
MISS has yet to apply more fully its Islamization mission.