Perspectives on Islamic Law, Justice, and Society

This book provides an accessible introductory discussion of issues in Islamic law, justice, and society. At the center of the volume is a discussion of some interrelated theological, historical, legal, and practical issues facing Islamic law in such different countries and regions as Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, and South Asia. The contributors adopt a comparative cross-cultural perspective on three interdependent aspects: first, Islamic ideals and formal legal institutions and scholarship; second, regionally varied historical interpretations and social adaptations of Islamic law under differing political conditions; and third, Islamic approaches to such modern-day practical problems as women's status in legal testimony and modern medical definitions of death. This will be a valuable book for students and scholars of Middle Eastern studies, law, and history.