Contemporary Jurisprudence

Hujjat al-Islam Mohammad Ali Heidari

Principle of media jurisprudence/30

We often see documentaries on television, such as social documentaries, where an individual has committed an unethical act, for example, harassing others’ family members. The crew, with cameras rolling, approaches the person and asks, “Sir, why did you do this?” Initially, the individual defends themselves but later expresses deep remorse and regret because the behavior was indefensible. While their face may be blurred, their family, friends, neighbors, or acquaintances can still recognize them by their voice, demeanor, or characteristics, making it abundantly clear that this constitutes backbiting (gheibat).

Interview with the Author of Media Futurology

Principle of media jurisprudence/29

Media, as a societal communication tool, holds an unparalleled position in the daily life of contemporary societies. Given its constructive role in shaping and directing public opinion, it can be utilized as a tool to optimize a society’s overall affairs across various domains, including cultural, political, social, and even economic spheres. In this regard, the science of communication, by entering this field, strives to transition media from its traditional past to the modern world and the emergence of new media, thereby effectively fulfilling its role. One of the tools that the science of communication can employ to complete this transformation and convergence is the authorship, compilation, and writing of new books, as well as presenting new findings in this area. With the presence of graduates in this field in our country, the promise of unveiling new books in this domain has come to fruition. One such book, written by capable authors, is titled Media Futurology, authored by media graduates Hadi Alborzi, a researcher at IRIB, and Ahmad Kouhi, a researcher in the field of media and communication. In this context, an interview was conducted with Hadi Alborzi, one of the book’s authors, which is presented below.

Mostafa Dorri

Principle of media jurisprudence/28

If you ask me, I would tell you that some issues within these domains cannot be separated by any scholarly means. For instance, does the depiction of a romantic relationship between a man and a woman who are not religiously permissible to each other (namahram) in a performance fall under the jurisprudence of art or media jurisprudence? Is this issue viewed from an aesthetic perspective or from the perspective of message transmission? The answer is: both perspectives!

Exclusive Interview with Hojjat al-Islam Mohammad Qotbi by Contemporary Jurisprudence

Principle of media jurisprudence/27

The knowledge of jurisprudential rules, compared to related disciplines such as jurisprudence (fiqh) and principles of jurisprudence (usul al-fiqh), has a shorter history, making it a challenging area to address. This difficulty is compounded when dealing with emerging fields like media jurisprudence. To explore the rules of media jurisprudence, we turned to Hojjat al-Islam Mohammad Qotbi. Over decades of diverse activities, he has consistently prioritized media as one of his key concerns. As the head of the Eshraq Creativity and Innovation Center, he has emphasized the media component in nearly all his roles, from deputy governor to head of the Isfahan Propagation Office and director of the Eshraq Center. Years of management and research have established him as a media theorist. Although his focus has been less on jurisprudential knowledge, when discussing media jurisprudential rules, he proposed rules—whether correct or not—that are rarely addressed in jurisprudential circles. As the head of the Art and Creative Industries Working Group at the Islamic Research Center of the Parliament, he highlighted approximately 20 specific or widely applicable rules in media jurisprudence during this exclusive interview, providing examples for each.

Exclusive Interview with Hujjat al-Islam Dr. Ahmad Ali Qane’ by Contemporary Jurisprudence

Principle of media jurisprudence/26

Hujjat al-Islam Dr. Ahmad Ali Qane’, one of the few communication scholars who has experienced this field both theoretically and practically, has authored various books and articles in the realm of media and communication, including Discourses on the Jurisprudence of Culture and Communication. Coupled with his extensive missionary activities inside and outside the country, he is one of the best individuals to discuss the competitive advantages of media jurisprudence in the international arena. A faculty member at Imam Sadiq University, he believes that while Shia media jurisprudence has significant distinctions and advantages over other religions and sects, it cannot effectively address media-related jurisprudential issues without serious attention to subject identification and the objectives of Sharia. The full text of Contemporary Jurisprudence’s exclusive interview with this professor of media and communication jurisprudence follows: