Islamic Law: The Sharia from Muhammad's Time to the Present
The sharia is a set of traditional laws that define a Muslim's obligations to God and his fellow human beings. Westerners often misunderstand the nature of the sharia, born as it is of a complicated legal and academic tradition that may not always seem relevant to today's world. Written for those unfamiliar with Islam, this volume provides an accurate and objective assessment of the sharia's achievements, shortcomings and future prospects. It explores the fundamentals of Islam and traditional...
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The sharia is a set of traditional laws that define a Muslim's obligations to God and his fellow human beings. Westerners often misunderstand the nature of the sharia, born as it is of a complicated legal and academic tradition that may not always seem relevant to today's world. Written for those unfamiliar with Islam, this volume provides an accurate and objective assessment of the sharia's achievements, shortcomings and future prospects. It explores the fundamentals of Islam and traditional sharia laws. In addition, the sharia is discussed with respect to Ottoman law, puritanism and jihad. The sharia's relevance to today's world events is also explored. Among items provided in appendices are a commentary on a Western translation of the concept of jihad and an analysis of the sharia in 29 selected countries.
Acknowledgments vIntroduction 1Fundamentals of Islam 9Traditional Sharia Law: Obligations to God and to Fellow Human Beings 28The Sharia and Its Jurists: From the Beginnings to al-Shatibi's Legal Reforms 48Ottoman Law in the Golden Age of the Empire: Suleyman the Magnificent 81The Sharia Under Wahhabi Puritanism and Incursions by the West 88The Sharia and Jihad 105The Sharia in the World Today 130Islamic Banking 170The Future of Islamic Law: Reform or Retrenchment? 175Al-Shafi'i's Views on Legal Knowledge 179Translating the Concept of Jihad 181The Sharia in 29 Selected Countries Today 182Selected Chronology, c. 570-2001 183Glossary 187Chapter Notes 191Bibliography 199Index 205
