Reconciliation through fiqh al-aqalliyat: a Sri Lankan perspective

Abstract

Reconciliation activities are essential in Sri Lanka, which has a racially and religiously pluralistic environment. The doctrine of Fiqh al-Aqalliyyat (Minority Jurisprudence) introduced by modern Islamic scholars to formulate the life of minority Muslims includes many guidelines for reconciliation among those living in a pluralistic environment. Hence, the study aimed at finding the necessary guidelines that would be put forward through this doctrine for racial and religious harmony especially in the Sri Lankan context. Based on the review of the literature, the findings reveal that the theory contained proper guidelines for reconciliation, such as playing dual role in the plural context namely members of the race or religion they belong to, and citizens of the country they live in, maintaining flexibility in particular circumstance although each group has its own traditions with respect to the public interest in the plural context, accepting other traditions and avoiding being radical in maintaining individuality. This study could be a reference for future studies on reconciliation and plural circumstances.