Fatwa Activism or Educational Activism

FATWA ACTIVISM OR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVISM I n recent times, various forms of activism have come into prominence—for example, political activism, social activism, community activism, and media activism. One such form is known as judicial activism. By this is meant approaching the courts in matters of public interest and seeking judicial intervention in order to achieve objectives related to the common good through legal means. This method is commonly found among secular groups. Whether this approach is right or wrong is not the subject of discussion here. Some religious circles among Muslims have, for some time now, adopted a method that may be described as fatwa-based activism. With the stated aim of reforming Muslims, they have begun to use the fatwa as a means of activism. For example, they issue fatwas declaring certain forms of dress to be un-Islamic; they declare certain beverages to be un-Islamic and pronounce them forbidden; they issue rulings prohibiting women