Understanding Sharia

Name: Understanding Sharia
Brand: Bloomsbury Publishing PTY Ltd
SKU: 9781788313193
Price: 199.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

Islamic Law in a Globalised World

By Raficq S. Abdulla and Mohamed M. Keshavjee

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Summary

Understanding Sharia explores the history and development of sharia, or Islamic law, within its social and historical contexts. Authors Raficq S. Abdulla and Mohamed M. Keshavjee, both British-trained lawyers, argue that sharia and its derived laws, known as fiqh, are neither fixed nor exclusive, but adaptable legal systems rooted in ethical principles. The book critically examines contemporary issues related to sharia, including human rights, criminal penalties for apostasy, blasphemy, adultery, commercial law, and bio-medical ethics, encouraging fresh perspectives on sharia's role today.
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Format: Hardback

$199⁰⁰

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Understanding Sharia

$199⁰⁰

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers interested in Islamic law, legal history, and contemporary debates about religion and human rights, including students, legal professionals, and general readers seeking an informed and balanced introduction.

Explores the reality of sharia, identifying the context in which it was conceived and how it developed in line with historical circumstances until the present day

Explores the reality of sharia, identifying the context in which it was conceived and how it developed in line with historical circumstances until the present day

Description

I.B.Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies

Understanding Sharia: Islamic Law in a Globalised World sets out to explore the reality of sharia, contextualising its development in the early centuries of Islam and showing how it evolved in line with historical and social circumstances. Sharia has been a source of misunderstanding and misconception in both the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. The authors, Raficq S. Abdulla and Mohamed M. Keshavjee, both British-trained lawyers, argue that sharia and the positive law flowing from it, known as fiqh, have never been an exclusive legal system or a fixed set of beliefs.

In addition to tracing the history of sharia, the book offers a critique concerning its status today. Sharia is examined with regard to particular issues that are of paramount importance in the contemporary world, such as human rights; criminal penalties, including those dealing with apostasy, blasphemy and adultery, commercial transactions, and bio-medical ethics, amongst other subjects. The authors show that sharia is a legal system underpinned by ethical principles that are open to change in different circumstances and contexts, notwithstanding the claims for 'transcendental permanence' made by Islamists. This book encourages new thinking about the history of sharia and its role in the modern world.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Times Literary Supplement praises the book as a well-balanced, accessible study providing historical context to contentious issues like adultery, apostasy, and blasphemy. The Financial Times describes it as a lucidly argued, richly informative corrective with notable clarity in explaining Islamic jurisprudence's classic schools.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781788313193

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 30 July 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: I.B. Tauris

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 218.0mm

Weight: 560g

Pages: 352

Collections

Education & Reference Mohamed M. Keshavjee Non-Fiction Raficq S. Abdulla

About the Author

Raficq Abdulla is a South African-born lawyer, writer, public speaker and broadcaster who read Jurisprudence at Oxford. He was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in the 1960s. He is currently a Visiting Fellow of the Faculty of Business and Law, Kingston University. He is also a founder member of the Advisory Panel of the Muslim Law Shariah Council (United Kingdom). He is a trustee of the Poetry Society, Planet Poetry and of PEN. In 1999, he was awarded an MBE for his interfaith work among Muslims, Jews, and Christians.
Mohamed Keshavjee is a South African born-lawyer called to the Bar at Gray's Inn in 1969. He completed his LLM at London University and his PhD at SOAS with a focus on Islamic Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). He has practised law in Kenya, Canada and the United Kingdom. His first book, Islam, Sharia and Alternative Dispute Resolution deals with how Muslims engage with sharia, customary practices and the laws of the United Kingdom. He has spoken on ADR at conferences in Europe, North America and Asia, and has trained family mediators in the EU countries and imams and pastors in mosque and church conflicts in the UK and the USA, respectively. In 2016, he was awarded the "Gandhi, King, Ikeda Peace Award" at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, for his work on peace and human rights education.