Most Americans and Europeans have by now heard of Shariah. In the West,
politicians, media commentators, televangelists, and others have stoked
fears that Muslims intend to impose a repressive rule based on Shariah
in America and Europe. Shariah has been portrayed as a medieval system
that oppresses women, stifles human rights, and imposes harsh
punishments like stoning and amputation. In reality, however, Shariah is
a complex concept that has been interpreted in many ways over time and
around the world. It plays a vital role in the lives of Muslims around
the world, offering guidance on everything from personal morality to
ritual practices, family life, and finance.
In this timely addition to Oxford's What Everyone Needs to Know(R)
series, John Esposito and Natana DeLong-Bas offer an accessible and
thorough guide to this little-understood, but often caricatured system.
The book provides clear and even-handed answers to a wide range of
questions, covering the history, development, content, and practice of
Shariah. What are its origins? What is a Shariah court and how does it
work? How does a person become a Muslim in the eyes of Islamic law? Does
Islamic law allow Muslims to marry non-Muslims? What are blasphemy laws,
and how are they enforced? How does Islamic law govern trade and
contracts of sale? Do Muslims in the West want Shariah Law? Is there a
need to protect American and European societies from the imposition of
Shariah?
By answering the questions that so many people have about Shariah and
its role in Muslim life, this book makes an invaluable contribution to
the crucial task of fostering mutual understanding in our globalizing,
pluralistic societies.
