Contemporary Ijtihad: Limits and Controversies

by L. Ali Khan, Hisham M. Ramadan

Overview

The resurgence of Islam, geopolitical crises involving Muslim nations, violence associated with Islam and the immigration of millions of Muslims to Western countries have generated a strong interest in understanding Islamic law. The challenges of these new realities have impressed upon Muslims the need to rethink classical jurisprudence and a powerful contemporary ijtihad - the process of making a legal decision by independent interpretation of the legal sources - has unleashed a tremendous intellectual energy that is transforming legal systems across the Muslim world. This book explores the limits and controversies of this development in the context of the diverse needs of Muslim cultures and communities living in Muslim and non-Muslim nations and continents including Europe and North America.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780748668564
Publisher:	Edinburgh University Press
Publication date:	09/17/2012
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

L. Ali Khan is Professor of Law at Washburn University, Kansas.

Hisham M. Ramadan obtained his Doctor of Juridical Sciences degree from University of Wisconsin School of Law in 2003, having previously studied at SUNY (Buffalo), The University of Auckland, and Ain Shams University, Cairo. In addition to his academic appointments, he has also served on the UNHCR and has published numerous books and articles. Hisham M. Ramadan is Professor of Criminology at Kwantlen University, Vancouver.

Table of Contents

Preface iv

Introduction 1

1 Classical Era of Ijtihad, 632-875 14

2 Free Markets of Fiqh 47

3 Islamic Positive Law 80

4 Islamic Constitutionalism 113

5 Covenants with Non-Muslims 146

6 Western Views of Islamic Law 181

7 Muslim Diaspora Law 215

Glossary 249

Index 253

Editorial Reviews

An interesting study which offers a bird's eye view on the role of ijtihad in the Islamic legal system.

Muslim World Book Review