A longitudinal history of Islamic child custody law, challenging Euro-American exceptionalism to reveal developments that considered the best interests of the child.

Explores the present-day realties of Islamic family law, with particular emphasis on the rights of women, and focusing on law in its living social context as reflected in public opinion and personal experience.

As the world becomes smaller, family law is becoming truly global, giving rise to more and more questions for private international law. This book looks at the sensitive and complex question of child abduction, with a unique child rights perspective. Taking Islamic law as its case study, it delves into child abduction in key jurisdictions from Iran to Saudi Arabia and Libya to Pakistan. Rigorous doctrinal analysis is enhanced by empirical insights, namely interviews with abductees, parents and professionals. It is an excellent guide to a complicated field.

Volume 1 on public law provides an introduction to the Nigerian legal system. The various chapters deal with: introduction and sources of law; jurisprudence and Nigerian perspectives; African customary law; Islamic law; comparative constitutionalism and Nigerian perspectives; citizenship, immigration and administrative law; judicial system and legal profession; criminal law, evidence and civil procedure; statutory marriage and divorce laws; customary marriage and divorce; marriage and divorce under Islamic law; matters of children; gender and law in Nigeria with emphasis on Islamic law. Volume 2 has 25 chapters on private law that includes security of the environment and environmental law, land and property administration, commercial business and trade laws, communication, media and press laws, transportation and carrier laws, law enforcement, armed forces and military laws, investments, and intellectual property.

Mona Samadi examines the sources of gender differences within the Islamic tradition, with particular focus on guardianship, and describes the opportunities and challenges for advancing the legal status of women.

Family, Law and Politics, Volume II of the Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures, brings together over 360 entries on women, family, law, politics, and Islamic cultures around the world.

The related issue of introduction of a common civil code, doing away with religiously discriminating laws, is considered.

Understanding Islamic law is crucial not only for Muslims, but for non-Muslims who work with Muslims in legal contexts as well as for anyone wanting to understand the role of Islam in the world today. For unlike western legal systems where religious and legal spheres are kept separate, Islamic law is all-encompassing, directing all human actions. Legal scholar Hisham Ramadan brings together articles to give an excellent overview of the formation of Islamic law and its role in contemporary Islamic and Non-Islamic states. Following an overview of Islamic Law, chapters cover Islamic criminal law, International Humanitarian Law, contract law, & family law. A concluding essay offers an explanation of the legal value of Islam and appendices include original Islamic legal documents from Muhammad's time until today.

“I highly recommend ‘Introduction to Islamic Law: Principles of Civil, Criminal, and International Law under the Shari‘a’ to scholars and any individual who desires to learn about the Shari‘a and its basic values through an objective, methodical study.” Mohamed A. ‘Arafa, Ph.D. Assistant and Adjunct Professor of Law Alexandria University Faculty of Law, Egypt Islamic law (Shari‘a) is an all-inclusive legal tradition that creates a seamless web reaching from the public sphere into the private sphere of life. Thus, the Shari‘a recognizes no bifurcation between legislation and religion, no wall of separation between the mosque and the state, and no compartmentalization of morality, faith, and law. Nonetheless, the duties under Islamic law can be divided into two large subcategories, the first and most important of which mainly concerns the private, individual relationship between God and man. In contrast, the second duty mainly concerns the public, transactional relationships among individuals which – in a secular framework – is most analogous to “law.” Introduction to Islamic Law begins with an overview of Islam as a whole, including a discussion of the sources of Islamic law and sectarian distinctions. Then, the book thoroughly addresses the secondary duties of Islamic law, which govern daily transactions between individuals, including the law of contracts, property, banking and finance, and familial relations as well as criminal law and procedure and the law of war. The legal rules embodied within the Shari‘a are mandatory in jurisdictions adhering to a strict application of Islamic law. However, Islamic law remains highly influential even in Muslim-majority countries with secular legal codes. Nevertheless, given recent developments in the Arab world, as well as the rise of terrorism in the name of Islam, the Shari‘a is a subject that has seeped into the national dialogue of wholly secular, non-Muslim jurisdictions. Thus, Introduction to Islamic Law is offered for scholars and students – both Muslim and non-Muslim, with or without a legal background – for the purpose of obtaining a basic understanding of the foundational concepts of the Shari‘a.

The relationship between modern international law and Islamic law has raised many theoretical and practical questions that cannot be ignored in the contemporary study and understanding of both international law and Islamic law. The significance and relevance of this relationship in both academic and practical terms, especially after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, is now well understood. Recent international events in particular corroborate the need for a better understanding of the relationship between contemporary international law and Islamic law and how their interaction can be explored and improved to enhance modern international relations and international law. The articles reproduced in this volume examine the issues of General Principles of International Law, International Use of Force, International Humanitarian Law, International Terrorism, International Protection of Diplomats, International Environmental and Water Law, Universality of Human Rights, Women's Rights, Rights of the Child, Rights of Religious Minorities, and State Practice. The essays have been carefully selected to reflect, as much as possible, the different Islamic perspectives on each of these aspects of international law.