Responding to Orientalists’ Misconceptions in the Domains of Discretion and Imitation

Abstract

This study is aimed to clarify the claims of orientalism in the domain of discretion and imitation. It analyzes these allegations objectively without fanaticism. It demonstrates the falsehood of the orientalists’ sayings in one place and the validity of their sayings in other places. The importance of discretion in Islamic legislation has been presented through the study. Islamic nations can't make advancement without it. It is opposite to the orientalism views, which believes that discretion cannot be achieved due to the depletion of the Islamic legislation sources and their distance from reality. Besides, the consensus has impeded the discretion process, which has been proven in this research. The research also highlights the importance of reconsidering many issues that need discretion. It recommends the necessity of encouraging Muslim scholars to pursue discretion. They need to provide its means and to oppose the orientalist thought through objective research and criticism based on facts that are far away from fanaticism.