Fatwa Selection or Synthesis: A Paradigm for Shari‘a Law-Making in Iran

Context & Objective: The conversion of Sharia (Islamic law) into codified modern law has long been a subject of debate among thinkers and policymakers in Muslim-majority societies, a challenge that persists today. As modern states in these nations feel obligated to implement Sharia, they face the complex task of drafting legislation that is either derived from or not in conflict with Islamic principles. To navigate this, various legislative models have been developed. This article focuses on the "Takhyeer and Talfiq" pattern. "Takhyeer" is defined as the discretion to select a legal ruling on an issue from the various Fatwas (Juristic Opinions) available within Islamic schools of thought, while "Talfiq" refers to the practice of combining elements from different Fatwas to form a single, composite ruling. This model was primarily theorized and implemented in some Sunni schools of thought. The purpose of this research is to re-examine this legislative model, addressing a significant gap in the existing literature, which has largely overlooked its application from a Shia perspective. The article's innovation lies in its assessment of the model's religious authority [Hujjiyyah] within Imami (Shia) jurisprudence. Accordingly, the central research question is: What are the concept and applications of the Takhyeer and Talfiq pattern, and how can it be validly and effectively utilized within the legislative system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is founded on Shia jurisprudence?
Method & Approach: The research is conducted using a doctrinal method. It relies on documentary tools for the collection of materials. The article's argument is structured in three main sections. The first section provides a conceptual analysis of the "Takhyeer" and "Talfiq" model. The second section examines concrete examples (applications) of this model in various legal systems. Finally, the third section assesses the model's religious authority and legitimacy within the legal system of Iran, aiming to clarify the benefits it could offer the country's legislative framework.
Findings: The research finds that the Takhyeer and Talfiq model is a mechanism for creatively adapting Islamic laws to contemporary societal needs, operating within the paradigm of Sharia's inherent flexibility. This pattern is particularly prevalent in legal systems based on Sunni jurisprudence, with applications in personal status laws and modern economic matters. However, the study determines that the application of this model as practiced in Sunni-based systems—which may involve selecting from non-Shia Fatwas—is not permissible within the framework of Shia jurisprudence. According to Imami jurisprudence, a Fatwa must be issued by a fully qualified Twelver Shia jurist to be considered a valid source for legislation in Iran. The appropriate approach for Iran, therefore, is to select an efficient and suitable Fatwa from the diverse opinions existing among qualified Shia jurists. This ensures that laws are both Sharia-compliant and effective, while also preventing the uncritical adoption of Western legal principles that have no connection to Sharia. An analysis of legislative practice in Iran reveals that this Shia-compliant version of the model is already an accepted norm in legislative custom, with numerous examples in major statutes like the Civil Code and the Islamic Penal Code.
Conclusion: The article concludes that a systematically regulated use of the Takhyeer and Talfiq model, confined to the Fatwas of Shia jurists, is preferable to abandoning Sharia rulings entirely when legislative alternatives are needed. The implementation of this model, however, must be subject to strict constraints. It should be limited to matters that are open to juristic reasoning [Ijtihad] and must not be applied to the undisputed fundamentals of Sharia, such as the obligation of prayer or the prohibition of alcohol. Its use should also be minimal, akin to other secondary rulings, to ensure the dynamism of Islamic jurisprudence in modern law-making without creating a pretext for altering divine religion or neglecting established Sharia rulings. The application of the model will necessarily differ across legal systems, depending on the foundational school of law each system follows. Finally, considering the model's importance and its existing de facto use, the article recommends that the Iranian legislator officially adopt Talfiq as a formal legislative model and articulate its regulations in a transparent manner.