
In Episode 7—drawn from Chapter 7 of Islam in the Contemporary World: A New Narrative by Zafarullah Khan—we explore the complex relationship between Islamic authority, scriptural sources, and jurisprudence. Khan challenges the dominant reliance on Fiqh—human-derived interpretations—arguing that it has eclipsed the Quran and Sunnah, which are Islam’s immutable sources of guidance. The episode distinguishes between Shariah (divine law) and Fiqh (human jurisprudence), calling for a revival of ijtihad (independent reasoning) to address contemporary realities. Through a critique of legalism and religious traditionalism, this chapter urges Muslims to reconnect directly with the Quran’s moral vision and spiritual clarity as a pathway to renewal.