Review Article
Power, Legitimacy, and Diplomacy: A Critical Analysis of Global Responses to the Palestine–Israel Issue
Shajeer S.
Middle East Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture; 28-37.
https://doi.org/10.36348/mejisc.2026.v06i01.003
The Palestine–Israel conflict remains one of the most enduring and complex geopolitical issues in modern international relations. This article critically examines the interplay of power, legitimacy, and diplomacy in shaping global responses to the conflict, with particular emphasis on the role of the United States, Arab states, and the United Nations. Drawing upon historical and contemporary scholarship, the study argues that the asymmetrical distribution of power has significantly influenced both the trajectory of the conflict and the nature of international interventions. The United States, often positioned as a mediator, has been widely critiqued for its strategic alignment with Israel, raising questions about impartiality and legitimacy in peace processes. Meanwhile, Arab states have demonstrated fluctuating engagement, shaped by regional politics and national interests, often limiting their collective effectiveness. The United Nations, despite its normative authority and legal frameworks, has struggled to enforce resolutions due to geopolitical constraints. By integrating historical analysis with critical perspectives, this article highlights the limitations of existing diplomatic mechanisms and underscores the need for a more balanced and inclusive approach. Ultimately, it argues that sustainable peace requires addressing structural inequalities and rethinking international accountability in conflict resolution.
Research Article
An Analysis of Qur’anic Ethics and Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Critical Study of Revealed Principles for the Governance of Emerging Technologies in the Modern Era
Muhammad Sani Abdullahi
Middle East Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture; 38-44.
https://doi.org/10.36348/mejisc.2026.v06i01.004
Abstract: The rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents profound ethical challenges that extend beyond technical and economic considerations into moral and philosophical domains. This paper critically explores Qur’anic ethics as a comprehensive framework for AI governance, arguing that its principles provide enduring moral guidance for evaluating and regulating intelligent technologies in the modern world. Grounded in the concepts of tawḥīd (divine unity) and khilafa (human stewardship), the study establishes that human technological activity must operate within the bounds of divine accountability. The notion of amana (sacred trust) is interpreted as a governing principle for responsible innovation, particularly in the design and deployment of autonomous systems. The paper applies key Qur’anic ethical principles ʿadl (justice), harm prevention, reason, and human dignity to contemporary AI challenges such as algorithmic bias, inequality, privacy erosion, labour displacement, and autonomous warfare. It argues that the prohibition of injustice (ẓulm) offers a more comprehensive evaluative standard than dominant secular ethical models. Engaging classical Islamic scholarship and modern AI ethics discourse, the study highlights the distinction between beneficial and harmful knowledge as a critical epistemological tool for assessing technological progress. It further critiques autonomous decision-making systems, emphasizing that moral responsibility cannot be delegated to machines within the Qur’anic framework of human accountability. The paper ultimately proposes a Maqaṣid al-Shariʿah-based AI ethics framework centered on the preservation of religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property. It concludes that Qur’anic ethics can make a significant and globally relevant contribution to contemporary AI governance by grounding technological development in a morally coherent vision of human responsibility and social justice.
Research Article
The Concept of I’jaz al-Qur’an: Reassessing the Dimensions of Qurʾanic Inimitability in the Modern Scholarly Discourse
Muhammad Sani Abdullahi
Middle East Journal of Islamic Studies and Culture; 45-51.
https://doi.org/10.36348/mejisc.2026.v06i01.005
The doctrine of Iʿjāz al-Qur’an (the inimitability of the Qur’an) has historically occupied a central place in Islamic theological and literary thought, serving as a foundational proof of the Qur’an’s divine origin. This paper reassesses the classical and contemporary dimensions of Qur’anic inimitability within modern scholarly discourse. The study aims to examine how traditional formulations centered on linguistic excellence, rhetorical uniqueness, and prophetic authenticity interact with emerging perspectives shaped by advances in linguistics, literary theory, and digital analysis. Adopting a qualitative and analytical methodology, the paper engages both classical works of scholars such as al-Bāqillānī and al-Jurjānī, alongside contemporary academic contributions that explore structural, semantic, and interdisciplinary dimensions of the Qur’an. It further investigates how modern challenges, including secular critiques and orientalist approaches, have necessitated a rearticulation of Iʿjāz beyond purely philological arguments. The findings reveal that while the linguistic and rhetorical aspects of the Qur’an remain central, modern discourse increasingly emphasizes its coherence, thematic unity, ethical depth, and transformative impact on human civilization. The study argues that Iʿjāz al-Qur’an is not a static doctrine but a dynamic, multi-dimensional concept capable of engaging diverse intellectual contexts. The paper concludes that a holistic reassessment integrating classical insights with contemporary methodologies offers a more robust and accessible framework for understanding Qur’anic inimitability in the modern age, particularly in addressing both faith-based and academic audiences.
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