Islamic Law: A Very Short Introduction

Mashood A. Baderin

Paperback, 176 pages

9780199665594

Islamic law is one of the major legal systems in the world today, yet it is often misunderstood, particularly in the West. It is applicable in different forms as part of state law in countries across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and also has a strong influence on Muslim communities throughout the Western world.

Mashood A. Baderin considers its theory, covering the history and nature of Islamic jurisprudence; its scope, covering Family Law, Inheritance Law, Financial Law, Penal Law, and International Law; and, finally, its practice. He takes into account both classical and modern scholarly perspectives in examining the various facets of Islamic law, to provide an overview of this key legal system.

Contents

1. Historical Development

2. The nature of Islamic law

3. Theory, scope, and practice

4. Family law

5. Law of inheritance

6. Law of financial transactions

7. Penal law

8. International law (al-siyar)

9. Administration of justice

10. The future of Islamic law