Call for Papers: Research Seminar on Reproductive Ethics and Kinship in Contemporary Islamic Thought and Practice

 

 

Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE) at Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU), in collaboration with 

Department of Religions and Philosophies, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)

January 11–13, 2027

 

This research seminar is convened by Prof Yafa Shanneik (Department of Religions and Philosophies, SOAS) in collaboration with Prof Mohammed Ghaly (Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics, HBKU), as part of a publication project with Brill Publishers.

We invite researchers to submit proposals for this seminar, which will explore the ethical dimensions of reproduction, kinship, and family formation in contemporary Islamic thought and practice.

Islamic bioethical scholarship often focuses on the beginning and end of life (Ahaddour 2022; Mahmoud et al. 2024). This seminar shifts attention to the often-overlooked ethical dimensions of the spaces in-between. We seek contributions that explore everyday decisions and moral frameworks that shape intimate and family life, including kinship norms, partner selection, fertility choices and reproductive technologies. The papers should highlight how Islamic ethical reasoning both informs and is shaped by lived experiences, social realities and political agendas. The seminar aims to link between theoretical perspectives and empirical contexts, bridging scholars working at the intersections of Islamic jurisprudence, bioethics, medical practice and social life.

The seminar is structured around two interrelated perspectives:

(1) Normative Ethics

This part of the seminar invites papers that critically examine how Islamic ethical thought has generated rich and diverse modes of reasoning across multiple scholarly disciplines rooted in the Islamic tradition, including theology, jurisprudence (fiqh), legal theory (uṣul al-fiqh), philosophy, moral-literary refinement (adab) and the extensive corpus of fatwa literature.

These intellectual traditions not only developed sophisticated normative frameworks for addressing the complexities of reproductive decisions, kinship norms and belief systems but also engaged in vibrant debates in which scholars advanced arguments to defend their positions and systematically counter those of their interlocutors. These intellectual traditions not only developed sophisticated normative frameworks for addressing reproductive decisions, kinship norms, and belief systems but also engaged in vibrant debates in which scholars advanced arguments to defend their positions and systematically counter those of their interlocutors. This dialogical tradition, ranging from classical juristic disputes on nasab and marital obligations to contemporary fatwa councils grappling with assisted reproductive technologies—underscores the enduring importance of moral analysis in Islamic thought, where ethical reasoning is constantly tested, contested, and reinterpreted.

The aim is to explore how classical and contemporary Islamic normative frameworks continue to be re-examined and reformulated in light of modern scientific advances and shifting social expectations, including reproductive technologies, genetic screening and transformations in family structures.

Particular emphasis will be placed on how religio-moral authority is articulated, negotiated and contested in relation to reproductive choices and kinship practices. By doing so, this part of the seminar seeks to highlight the dynamic and evolving nature of Islamic moral reasoning within Muslim contexts.

Topics may include:

  • Ethical frameworks surrounding assisted reproductive technologies (fertility treatments, IVF, gamete donation)
  • Ethical debates on lineage (nasab) and on donor-conceived children
  • The role of religio-ethical discourse and fatwas in shaping reproductive decisions and policies
  • Gendered ethical expectations on marital obligations, fertility and reproductive responsibilities
  • Perspectives on family planning, human agency, bodily autonomy and divine will (qadar).

(2) Lived Ethics and Empirical Contexts

This part of the seminar examines how ethical questions around reproduction, kinship and family formations are interpreted, negotiated and embodied in everyday life across Muslim contexts. Building on the abovementioned theoretical discussions of normative texts and legal opinions, this part of the seminar invites empirical contributions which examine how individuals, families, policymakers and medical practitioners respond to ethical dilemmas in lived contexts. By doing so, this part seeks to highlight the complex intersections between religious ideals, biomedical possibilities, communal expectations and individual decision-making. It seeks to examine the diverse ways in which Islamic ethical frameworks are applied and contested in practice across different social and institutional settings.

Topics may include:

  • Community debates on consanguinity, endogamy and genetic risks in marriage and reproduction
  • Ethical dilemmas in prenatal genetic testing and selective pregnancy termination, including transnational reproductive care
  • Interactions between healthcare providers and patients around socio-culturally and religio-ethically sensitive reproductive choices
  • Role of normative opinions issued by religious authorities and muftis in people’s decision-making and reproductive counselling
  • Lived experiences of infertility and family planning among men and women (and their families)
  • Impact of state policy and healthcare programmes on access to reproductive options
  • Navigating social and political pressure in producing healthy children
  • Use of alternative religious healing practices in addressing infertility.

Submission Guidelines

  • Abstracts should be max. 400 words.
  • Please include a short biography (max. 200 words) detailing your academic background, research interests, and key publications.
  • Submissions must be original, not published before or submitted for publication elsewhere.
  • Authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to submit full papers (7,000–10,000 words) according to the timeline provided above.
  • For referencing style, please follow the citation style used by the Journal of Islamic Ethics (JIE) and the book series Studies in Islamic Ethics (SIE). Full guidelines are available at the following link:

https://brill.com/fileasset/downloads_products/Author_Instructions/JIE.pdf

Review Process

All submitted abstracts and full papers will undergo a review process conducted by the academic review committee, led by Prof. Yafa Shanneik. The committee will collectively decide which submissions are accepted or rejected, based on specific criteria, including the following:

  • Submissions must fall within the scope of the seminar and clearly outline the key research questions, the research gaps being addressed, the methodological approach, and the anticipated contribution.
  • Papers must demonstrate critical engagement with relevant previous studies. Submissions should aim to advance the field, rather than replicate or merely paraphrase existing research.
  • Papers are expected to explore new research frontiers, provide rigorous and in-depth analysis, and contribute original scholarly knowledge of added value to the topic under discussion.
  • Abstracts must not exceed 400 words, while full papers should be between 7,000–10,000 words.

Languages

  • Submissions (abstracts, bios and full papers) can be written in either English or Arabic.

NOTE: The seminar is part of the ERC Consolidator Grant project Governing Health, Family and Religion: The Biopolitics of Genetic Counselling and Religious Family Formations (RELI-GENE), led by Yafa Shanneik, Professor of Islam and Society at SOAS, University of London.

Important Dates

  • December 30, 2025: Deadline for abstract (max. 400 words) and bio (max 200 words) submission.
  • January 15, 2026: Notification of accepted abstracts and invitation to submit full papers.
  • June 15, 2026: Final deadline for submitting full papers (7,000–10,000 words).
  • August 30, 2026: Notification of accepted full papers and invitation to attend the seminar.
  • Jan 11–13, 2027: Dates of the seminar at Hamad bin Khalifa University, Doha.

Financial Support

CILE will offer the authors of accepted papers the following:

  • Travel and accommodation costs during the days of the seminar.
  • Costs of making the publication available via open access.
  • Simultaneous Arabic-English translation throughout the seminar.

Contact details

  • All submissions are to be sent by email to info@cilecenter.org  
  • For inquiries relevant to this call, please contact Professor Yafa Shanneik ys32@soas.ac.uk
  • For inquiries relevant to Journal of Islamic Ethics and Studies in Islamic Ethics book series, please contact jie@brill.com