This thesis covers the distinctions in Shariah approach in Sunni and Shia traditions of Islam. It provides both the historical background for origins and evolution of Sunni and Shia branches of Islam, particularly in Ukraine. It contains detailed characteristics of the structure of Shariah, its structural parts, hierarchy of its sources, and status of those sources within Sunni and Shia theology. The research reveals differences in Sunni and Shia interpretations of the main sources of Shariah, and indicates the role of Qur’anic Studies among other instruments for interpretation of the Holy Qur’an. The work also indicates sources of Shariah that belong to either Sunni or Shia tradition exclusively, and outlines the features that both the branches have in common.
Through a comparative analysis of the essence of theological teachings is Sunni and Shia Islam, it pinpoints common features and differences in spiritual practices of both branches. Proceeding from the fact that both branches consider the Qur’an as their main source, the author reveals common features and differences in development of the framework of Qur’anic Studies in Sunni and Shia Islam, along with the performance features of Sunni and Shia madhhabs.
Based on that comparative analysis, the research reveals how those two branches depend on the basic principles of the Qur’anic theology. This study provides a semantic analysis of both Islamic theology and religious practices, along with internal dynamics of evolution of both Sunni and Shia Islam. The author studies both the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam, taking into consideration the interrelation with their sources and structural parts, without setting apart any field of Shariah.
The thesis provides characteristics of different methods of interpretation of Shariah and issuing fatwas in different maddhabs. Analysis of similarities and differences in approaches to Shariah among the Sunni and Shia Muslims, with the consideration of historical and cultural context of evolution of the two key branches of Islam, allows the author to make an assumption on the prospects of Sunni-Shia dialogue, both on the global and the Ukrainian scale. In particular, analysis of Sunni-Shia relations in the Ukrainian Ummah revealed that, as of today, there is no open conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims in Ukraine, although there is a certain degree of intraconfessional tension among Sunni organisations. This research offers a thorough analysis of every Muslim organisation in Ukraine that has influence on Ukrainian Muslims. It describes ideological, confessional and madhhab affiliations, and pays special tribute to relations between those Muslim organisations. The study depicts the stages of reestablishment and evolution of Muslim institutions in Ukraine, and specifically covers the events of 2014 that lead to some dramatic change of Ukrainian Muslims from the two regions with the most prominent Muslim population (Crimea and Donbass) that ended up under Russian occupation.
This research contains an offer to develop a policy of interaction between every religious organisation (Islamic in particular) and the State, based on justice, equality and democracy. This would facilitate maintaining interconfessional peace and stability and avoiding conflict between different Muslim organisations and communities in Ukraine. The research offers means and forms of communication between different Muslim organisations and unions, including the possibility of dialogue that is facilitated by the State institutions.
Theoretical relevance of this research lies in further expanding of the Ukrainian Religious Studies, due to introduction of an amplitude of literature on internal structure of Sunni and Shia theology to the Ukrainian academic circles. The results obtained in this work would bridge the knowledge gaps in terms of understanding the phenomenon of Shariah. Provisions of this research facilitate improvement of conceptual and cathegorial constructs of the Religious Studies regarding further explorations in Islamic theology. Methods used in this research, along with its conceptual provisions and findings, could boost further Religious Studies and theological research in Shariah along with politological research of the processes in the Muslim world. This research’s findings will help understand factors predicating the important geopolitical developments in the Muslim world.
Practical utility of this research stems from the prospects of using this data and findings for the purposes of education, namely in Religious Studies, History of Religion, Religious Philosophy and sociology, in both secular and theological educational institutions (theological seminaries), and for publishing guidelines and textbooks for the academic subject areas mentioned above. Findings of this research can be useful for developing guidelines for the Ukrainian State institutions working in the field of communication with Muslim organisations in Ukraine.
