Full Description
Since Europeans first colonized Arab lands in the 19th century, they have been pressing to have the area's indigenous laws and legal systems accord with Western models. Although most Arab states now have national codes of law that reflect Western influence, fierce internal struggles continue over how to interpret Islamic law, particularly in the areas of gender and family. From different geographical and ideological points across the contemporary Arab world, Haddad and Stowasser demonstrate the range of views on just what Islam's legal heritage in the region should be. For either law or religion classes, Islamic Law and the Challenges of Modernity provides the broad historical overview and particular cases needed to understand this contentious issue.
Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction: Islamic Law and the Challenges of Modernity Part 2 Modernization and Legal Reforms in the Arab World Chapter 3 Can the Shari'a be Restored? Chapter 4 Inscribing the Islamic Shari'a in Arab Constitutional Law Chapter 5 A Typology of State Muftis Chapter 6 A Contextual Approach to Improving Asylum Law and Practices in the Middle East Part 7 Legal reforms and the Impact on Women Chapter 8 Internationalizing the Conversation on Women's Rights: Arab Countries Face the CEDAW Committee Chapter 9 Tahlil Marriage in Shari'a, Legal Codes, and the Contemporary Fatwa Literature Chapter 10 Egyptian Feminism: Trapped in the Identity Debate Chapter 11 Muslim Women and Legal Reform: The Case of Jordan and Women's Work
