Shariah Law: An Introduction

by Mohammad Hashim Kamali

Overview

Providing a comprehensive and accessible examination of Shari’ah Law, this well considered introduction examines the sources, characteristic features and various schools of thought of a system often stereotyped for its severity in the West. In a progressive and graduated fashion, Mohammad Hashim Kamali discusses topics ranging from juristic disagreement to independent reasoning. Also broaching more advanced topics such as the principle of legality and the role and place of Shari’ah-oriented policy, Kamali controversially questions whether Islam is as much of a law-based religion as it has often been made out to be. Complete with a bibliography and glossary, and both a general index and an index of Arabic quotations, this wide-ranging exploration will prove an indispensable resource for Islamic students and scholars, and an informative guide to a complex topic for the general reader. Professor Dr Hashim Mohammad Kamali is the Dean of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC) at the International Islamic University, Malaysia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781851685653
Publisher:	Oneworld Publications
Publication date:	04/25/2008
Series:	One World (Oxford) Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	398
Sales rank:	366,787
Product dimensions:	5.63(w) x 8.75(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Foreword     vii
Preface     ix
Introduction     1
Nature, Sources and Objectives of Shari'ah     14
Characteristic Features of Shari'ah     39
The Leading Schools of Law (Madhahib)     68
Disagreement (Ikhtilaf) and Pluralism in Shari'ah     99
Goals and Purposes (Maqasid) of Shari'ah: History and Methodology     123
Legal Maxims of Fiqh (Qawa'id al-Kulliyyah al-Fiqhiyyah)     141
Independent Reasoning (Ijtihad) and Juristic Opinion (Fatwa)     162
Shari'ah and the Principle of Legality     179
Democracy, Fundamental Rights and the Shari'ah     199
Beyond the Shari'ah: An Analysis of Shari'ah-oriented Policy (Siyasah Shar'iyyah)     225
Adaptation and Reform     246
Reflections on Some Challenging Issues     262
Conclusion     298
Bibliography     311
Glossary     322
General index     328
Index of Arabic quotations     337