The punishments of Islamic criminal law and in particular, the notoriously severe ḥadd punishments, were never systematically justified in classical Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). However, the fiqh tradition is ripe with debates about ḥadd punishments, and theories of justification, while not fully spelt out, are often implied in the writings of Muslim jurists. In Part I of this thesis, three fiqh strategies for the justification of ḥadd punishments are described and critically evaluated: one that seeks to characterize the ḥadd punishments as divinely ordained, immutable “rights of God” (ch. 1), one that describes the purpose of ḥadd punishments as serving general as well as individual prevention (ch. 2), and one that stresses that to suffer ḥadd is an expiatory act that amends for sins and thus ensures salvation in the Hereafter (ch. 3). The Sunnī legal schools (madhāhib), salient representatives of which are studied in this dissertation, controversially discussed the meaning and purpose of ḥadd punishments in the context of each of these three fiqh discourses. Part II of this thesis proceeds to describe and discuss contemporary Muslim debates about the applicability and justifiability of ḥadd punishments today. While only few Islamic regimes currently implement ḥadd, the topic has a large symbolical importance because it exemplifies the struggle of Muslim thinkers to reconcile Islam with modernity. In a first step, this thesis aims to clarify to what extent contemporary positions echo, attack or simply sidestep classical fiqh positions: how, in other words, the present is connected to the traditional fiqh framework of the past (ch. 4). In a concluding chapter, a number of salient topics of debate in the contemporary ḥadd controversy are analysed within the cultural and political contexts in which they are located (ch. 5). While classical legal doctrines about ḥadd punishments, despite the controversies between the madhāhib, tend to be rigid, emphasizing the immutable character of the criminal law norms found in the Sharīʻah, the periodic calls among contemporary thinkers for the implementation of ḥadd are, it is suggested, largely driven by political agendas.

The emergence of the theory of maqāṣid al-sharīʿa as a legal theory, which is a purposive approach to the law in which the main purposes of the law are considered as deriving elements of the legal rulings, has occurred in a particular socio-political and cultural context for the Shīʿa and within a particular epistemological construction. Given the lack of a historical reading of Shīʿī jurisprudence and the limitations of the methodological approaches which have to date been employed, this research applies a holistic approach. “The Bahbahānian paradigm” is identified as the overarching epistemological paradigm in modern and contemporary Shīʿī jurisprudence. The Bahbahanian paradigm was formed during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and is arguably characterised as being a combination of Aristotelian epistemologically, formalist methodologically and soft utilitarianism. Within this paradigm in the context of the twentieth century, maqāṣid al-sharīʿa emerged in Shīʿī thought, especially in its systematic and comprehensive theorisation by Muḥammad Taqī al-Mudarrisī - a contemporary Shīʿī scholar. The introduction of the maqāṣid al-sharīʿa approach represents a paradigm shift that departs epistemologically, methodologically and functionally from the Bahbahānian paradigm. Mudarrisī’s maqāṣid al-sharīʿa paradigm is characterized as pragmatic epistemologically, more accessible and dynamic methodologically and employing a virtue ethic. Mudarrisī’s maqāṣid al-sharīʿa reflects the eclipse of the quietist character of the previous paradigm and the ambition of the contemporary Shīʿī religious institution. This ambition comprises a more significant role in the public sphere, which is embodied in the application or renewal of the sharīʿa in reality on one hand, and confronting the systematical secularization of the modern nation-state of the public sphere on the other. Mudarrisī’s version of maqāṣid al-sharīʿa is obligated to challenge three intellectual enterprises; that is, the classical Shīʿī jurisprudential reasoning by embracing hermeneutical tools which are more accessible to religious knowledge; the Sunnī soft utilitarian maqāṣidī approaches by providing virtue ethical jurisprudence; and the secular nation-state by providing a flexible legal system.

Text in French / This thesis studies the relations between Christians and Muslim in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in the light of the Sermon on the Mount. Both communities, each from its own side, claim to have received the divine message to proclaim to all humanity. In the eastern DRC, as elsewhere, the encounter between these two communities often causes tension and conflict, leading to violence. These facts were established by analyzing the general context in the East since the end of the 19th century until today. The war at the end of the 19th century, which saw anti-slavery groups pitted against Arabs and their Islamic allies, is seen as one of the main original causes of the conflict. The memories of that war revive the spirit of the crusades in the Middle Ages. This has affected the relationship between the two communities. Fear of the other drives the defence mechanism that produces violence. The strategy to restore peace is an irenic approach based on the identity of the disciples as peace builders, true descendants of Abraham, agents of surpassing justice, and participants in the new humanity. Concretely, the disciples of Jesus should work for a mission that has the following simultaneous features: making peace with a view to establishing the reign of God; practising Abrahamic hospitality by opening oneself even to one‟s enemies; building the home of justice that takes into account the values of Shari‟ah and Christian virtues to create a pluralistic world; taking upon itself the promotion of intercultural and interreligious dialogue. The mission of peace is the main task. It is an attempt to restore broken relations and an effort at reconciliation. It establishes peace as equally important as other dimensions of mission, but it does not constitute the totality of mission. It is one dimension of the salvation of humanity and of the re-establishment of the reign of God on earth. Peace is about more than the cessation of hostilities or the absence of war; it refers to shalom, or total peace. This is the gospel of peace announced by Jesus Christ. / Cette thèse étudie les relations de chrétiens et musulmans à l‟Est de la RDC à la lumière du Sermon sur la montagne. Tous, chacun de son côté, se réclament avoir reçu le message divin pour annoncer à tous les hommes. A l‟Est de la RDC comme ailleurs, la rencontre de ces deux communautés occasionne souvent de tensions et conflits, source de violence. Ces faits ont été établis par l‟analyse du contexte général de l‟Est depuis la fin du XIXe siècle jusqu'à nos jours. La guerre qui a opposé vers la fin du XIXe siècle les troupes de la société anti-esclavagistes contre les arabes et leurs alliés islamisés, est perçue comme l‟une des principales causes lointaines du conflit. Ainsi, les souvenirs de cette guerre font raviver l‟esprit de la guerre des croisades du Moyen-âge. Ceci a affecté les relations de ces deux communautés. La peur de l‟autre pousse à développer le mécanisme de défense qui a instauré le règne de la violence. La stratégie pour restaurer la paix est celle d‟une approche irénique basée sur l‟identité des disciples comme des artisans de paix, des fils authentiques d‟Abraham, des agents de l‟excellente justice, et des participants à l‟humanité nouvelle. Concrètement, les disciples de Jésus doivent oeuvrer pour une mission à la fois shalomatique en vue d‟instaurer le règne de Dieu ; dans l‟esprit d‟hospitalité abrahamique en s‟ouvrant même à ses ennemis ; bâtissant la maison de justice qui prend en compte les valeurs de la Shari‟a et des vertus chrétiennes pour un monde pluraliste ; et assumant la promotion interculturelle par le dialogue interreligieux. La mission de paix est la tâche principale. Elle est un essai de restauration de relations brisées et un effort de réconciliation. Elle englobe aussi bien la paix que d‟autres dimensions. Mais, elle ne constitue pas tout le contenu de la mission. Elle est une composante du salut de l‟homme et du rétablissement du Royaume des Cieux au monde. Ainsi, la paix envisage plus que la cessation d‟hostilités ou absence de guerres. Ici, elle désigne le shalom ou la paix totale. C‟est l‟Evangile de paix annoncé par Jésus. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)

Text in French / This thesis studies the relations between Christians and Muslim in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in the light of the Sermon on the Mount. Both communities, each from its own side, claim to have received the divine message to proclaim to all humanity. In the eastern DRC, as elsewhere, the encounter between these two communities often causes tension and conflict, leading to violence. These facts were established by analyzing the general context in the East since the end of the 19th century until today. The war at the end of the 19th century, which saw anti-slavery groups pitted against Arabs and their Islamic allies, is seen as one of the main original causes of the conflict. The memories of that war revive the spirit of the crusades in the Middle Ages. This has affected the relationship between the two communities. Fear of the other drives the defence mechanism that produces violence. The strategy to restore peace is an irenic approach based on the identity of the disciples as peace builders, true descendants of Abraham, agents of surpassing justice, and participants in the new humanity. Concretely, the disciples of Jesus should work for a mission that has the following simultaneous features: making peace with a view to establishing the reign of God; practising Abrahamic hospitality by opening oneself even to one‟s enemies; building the home of justice that takes into account the values of Shari‟ah and Christian virtues to create a pluralistic world; taking upon itself the promotion of intercultural and interreligious dialogue. The mission of peace is the main task. It is an attempt to restore broken relations and an effort at reconciliation. It establishes peace as equally important as other dimensions of mission, but it does not constitute the totality of mission. It is one dimension of the salvation of humanity and of the re-establishment of the reign of God on earth. Peace is about more than the cessation of hostilities or the absence of war; it refers to shalom, or total peace. This is the gospel of peace announced by Jesus Christ. / Cette thèse étudie les relations de chrétiens et musulmans à l‟Est de la RDC à la lumière du Sermon sur la montagne. Tous, chacun de son côté, se réclament avoir reçu le message divin pour annoncer à tous les hommes. A l‟Est de la RDC comme ailleurs, la rencontre de ces deux communautés occasionne souvent de tensions et conflits, source de violence. Ces faits ont été établis par l‟analyse du contexte général de l‟Est depuis la fin du XIXe siècle jusqu'à nos jours. La guerre qui a opposé vers la fin du XIXe siècle les troupes de la société anti-esclavagistes contre les arabes et leurs alliés islamisés, est perçue comme l‟une des principales causes lointaines du conflit. Ainsi, les souvenirs de cette guerre font raviver l‟esprit de la guerre des croisades du Moyen-âge. Ceci a affecté les relations de ces deux communautés. La peur de l‟autre pousse à développer le mécanisme de défense qui a instauré le règne de la violence. La stratégie pour restaurer la paix est celle d‟une approche irénique basée sur l‟identité des disciples comme des artisans de paix, des fils authentiques d‟Abraham, des agents de l‟excellente justice, et des participants à l‟humanité nouvelle. Concrètement, les disciples de Jésus doivent oeuvrer pour une mission à la fois shalomatique en vue d‟instaurer le règne de Dieu ; dans l‟esprit d‟hospitalité abrahamique en s‟ouvrant même à ses ennemis ; bâtissant la maison de justice qui prend en compte les valeurs de la Shari‟a et des vertus chrétiennes pour un monde pluraliste ; et assumant la promotion interculturelle par le dialogue interreligieux. La mission de paix est la tâche principale. Elle est un essai de restauration de relations brisées et un effort de réconciliation. Elle englobe aussi bien la paix que d‟autres dimensions. Mais, elle ne constitue pas tout le contenu de la mission. Elle est une composante du salut de l‟homme et du rétablissement du Royaume des Cieux au monde. Ainsi, la paix envisage plus que la cessation d‟hostilités ou absence de guerres. Ici, elle désigne le shalom ou la paix totale. C‟est l‟Evangile de paix annoncé par Jésus. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D.Th. (Missiology)