Adaptation Speed Gap and Epistemic Disconnect: Rethinking Fiqh al-Aqalliyyat in Muslim Minority Contexts

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between structural pressures, societal adaptation strategies, and normative responses in Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh al-Aqalliyyat) in the context of Muslim minority communities. Using a qualitative approach through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) guided by the PRISMA framework, the study analyzed 120 selected articles indexed in Scopus. The findings indicate that Muslim minority communities develop flexible, context-dependent, and responsive adaptation strategies to existing socio-cultural challenges. However, the normative development of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh al-Aqalliyyat) tends to be slower and remains largely doctrinal. The study identifies two key gaps: the speed of adaptation gap, which refers to the temporal mismatch between societal needs and normative responses, and the epistemic gap, which indicates the limited integration of empirical experience into the development of Islamic law. Based on these findings, the study proposes a conceptual model that explains the mismatch between social dynamics and normative frameworks. This study argues for a reorientation of Islamic jurisprudence toward a more proactive, context-sensitive, and empirically grounded approach. Theoretically, this research contributes by offering a new conceptual perspective that positions Muslim minority communities as active agents in shaping the development of Islamic legal thought.