JUDICIAL REFORM IN ISLAMIC LEGAL SYSTEM AND MODERN CHALLENGE

This research examines judicial reform processes within Islamic legal systems, exploring how these religious legal frameworks adapt to contemporary challenges while maintaining doctrinal authenticity. The study addresses critical gaps in understanding how traditional religious law navigates modernization pressures through institutional adaptation mechanisms rooted in Islamic jurisprudential tradition. Using a multi-theoretical approach combining legal pluralism theory, institutional change theory, and Weber's legal rationalization framework, this research investigates how Islamic legal systems balance religious legitimacy with functional effectiveness. The analytical framework employs multi-level analysis examining macro-institutional structures, meso-organizational dynamics, micro-procedural changes, and individual stakeholder experiences across different Muslim-majority countries. The study reveals that Islamic judicial reform operates through distinctive mechanisms including institutional layering, interpretive evolution through scholarly consensus (ijma), and creative application of jurisprudential reasoning (ijtihad). Key findings demonstrate that successful reforms require careful legitimacy management across religious, legal-rational, and social dimensions. Institutional capacity, stakeholder engagement, and professional training emerge as critical factors enabling sustainable reform implementation. The research identifies consistent patterns of adaptation including procedural standardization, educational modernization, and technology integration while maintaining core Islamic legal principles. The research demonstrates that Islamic judicial systems can contribute meaningfully to rule of law development and social justice enhancement through contextually appropriate reform strategies that honor both religious heritage and contemporary requirements