Editorial 

In this issue of MISS, we present four main research articles. In a 
critique of modernist synthesis in Islamic thought, M. A. Choudhury 
sets the horizon for his inquiry with this question: Is there a possibility 
for the unification of knowledge in modernist epistemological com- 
prehension? This is, of course, a pivotal question for Muslim social 
scientists, for whom social and epistemological theories are the main 
concern. What prompted this line of inquiry from a small but 
growing body of Muslim theorists was their realization of the 
conflictive and dichotomous nature of the dominant western 
theoretical constructs. Of equal importance is the ubiquitous and 
profound sense of crisis that has afflicted the human soul and life in 
the postindustrial age. 

For more than a century, Muslim ulama, intellectuals, and 
reformists statesmen could discern no alternative to the adoption of 
western sciences and, subsequently, its concepts of social order and 
knowledge. What was simply seen as a benign synthesis between 
Islam and modernity led to the obscuring of the taw&& traditions and 
worldview, as well as to the hindering of the possible emergence of 
an alternative route for humanity’s future. 

Choudhury’s focus on theory is met with Mawdudur Rahman’s 
concerns about reality. In his endeavor to provide a holistic analysis 
of Islamic education, however, Rahman strictly avoids separation 
between what is theoretical, moral, and normative on the one hand, 
and what is practical, worldly, and positivist on the other. 

Also in this issue, Taha J. a1 ‘AlwFuii concludes his study of the 
rights of the accused in Islam. Our hope is that he has succeeded in 
bringing to light the relevance of the Islamic fish heritage to contem- 
porary Islamic societies, as the debate over civil and human rights has 
intensified significantly. In another sphere of inquiry, Shahid Vawda 
makes a substantial contribution to the understanding of anthropo- 
logical aspects of the spread of Islam in a South African township. 



There are two other important points that deserve mention here: 
first, concerning the future issues of M Z S S ,  every winter issue will be 
dedicated to a specific topic on an annual basis. Abdel Wahab 
Elmessiri, an eminent Muslim scholar from Egypt, has kindly 
accepted the task of editing our first special issue for December 1995, 
whose theme will be secularism. In the research note of this issue, he 
defines the scope within which the debate on secularism is to be 
placed. 

Finally, as we conclude AJZSS’s eleventh year, we would like to 
acknowledge the distinguished efforts of all those who contributed to 
our four issues of 1994. A special note of appreciation and recogni- 
tion goes to the MISS reviewers, who carefully and anonymously 
analyzed many articles. Their input was indispensable for the 
advancement of AJZSS, in particular, and for the Islamic social 
sciences, in general. 

‘AbdulHamid AbuSulaymM