The Program in Islamic Law at Harvard Law School is pleased to announce that Mona Rahmani has joined the Program as our new Associate Director. Mona comes to Harvard with deep experience and vast background in data-driven research, international relations, and higher education administration. She brings these skills to the growing community of Islamic law … Continue reading Message from the Director
Welcome to our April Guest Blogger: Fahad Bishara
It is my pleasure to introduce our guest blogger for the month of April: Fahad Bishara, Assistant Professor in the Department of History at the University of Virginia. Fahad specializes in the economic and legal history of the Indian Ocean and Islamic world. His book, A Sea of Debt: Law and Economic Life in the Western Indian Ocean, 1780-1950 (Cambridge … Continue reading Welcome to our April Guest Blogger: Fahad Bishara
Thank you, Yossef Rapoport!
Many thanks to Yossef Rapoport for joining us as the guest blog editor throughout the month of March. In case you missed any of his blog posts on the theme of customary law, here they are: Problematizing Custom and Customary Law Whose Custom is it? On the Disinheritance of Women Bury the Hatchet, Bedouin Style … Continue reading Thank you, Yossef Rapoport!
COVID-19 and Islamic Law Roundup (3/3)
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Brooklyn mosques close indefinitely as number of positive COVID-19 cases rise. Egypt imposes two week night-time curfew to contain the spread of coronavirus. Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta issues fatwa calling people to abide by medical regulations against COVID-19. Iran's Ayatollah Sistani declares the presence of COVID-19 patients in gatherings haram. Iraqi government and religious leaders campaign … Continue reading COVID-19 and Islamic Law Roundup (3/3)
Weekend Scholarship Roundup
Shamshad Pasarlay discusses the Afghan Shīʿī communities’ position on the idea of constitutionalism and their vision for a modern constitutional state in "Shīʿī Constitutionalism in Afghanistan: A Tale of Two Draft Constitutions", Islamic Law & Law of the Muslim World (originally published in the Australian Journal of Asian Law). Drawing on two draft constitutions that … Continue reading Weekend Scholarship Roundup
Bury the Hatchet, Bedouin Style
By Yossef Rapoport The burying of the hatchets was part of the diplomatic culture among the Iroquois Five Nations of northeastern North America. In negotiating with outsiders, they refer to burying hatchets in a deep hole, over which they planted a tree to symbolize peace. This localized Iroquois custom was encountered by European settlers in … Continue reading Bury the Hatchet, Bedouin Style
COVID-19 and Islamic Law Roundup (2/3)
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Countries and communities around the world are working to contain COVID-19 and mitigate its effects. The following digest represents a variety of sources in which law, particularly Islamic law, was invoked in the decision making process. Read the first roundup at this link. Kuwait amends the adhan to urge prayer at home amidst mosque closures. Egypt … Continue reading COVID-19 and Islamic Law Roundup (2/3)
Weekend Scholarship Roundup
Daniel Peterson discusses a 2013 decision of Indonesia’s Constitutional Court (Mahkamah Konstitusi) and a series of lower court judgments issued following that decision in "Case Note: Constitutional Court Decision No 93/PUU-X/2012 on Shari’a Banking Dispute Resolution," Islamic Law & Law of the Muslim World eJournal (originally published in Australian Journal of Asian Law).
On the Disinheritance of Women
By Yossef Rapoport In his introduction to his influential and widely-cited survey on tribal law in the Arab world, Frank Stewart posits that weak pre-modern Muslim states were unable to extinguish the customary laws of the Bedouin, and even allowed these customary laws to take hold in village communities. Following Schacht, Stewart leads us to … Continue reading On the Disinheritance of Women
COVID-19 and Islamic Law Roundup (1/3)
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Countries and communities around the world are working to contain COVID-19 and mitigate its effects. The following digest represents a variety of sources in which law, particularly Islamic law, was invoked in the decision making process. Bahrain's Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim calls for the suspension of religious and social activities throughout the country. Iran cancels … Continue reading COVID-19 and Islamic Law Roundup (1/3)