Diya and the Legacy of Empire

By Rabiat Akande The tussle over diya (compensation for unlawful killing) was one over the locus of sovereignty in the colonial state. For colonial officials, the colonial state and, ultimately, … Continue reading Diya and the Legacy of Empire

Siyāsa Authority in the Colonial State

By Rabiat Akande In 1958, as negotiations over Nigeria’s impending independence from the British Empire were underway, the colonial government invited the muftī of Sudan, Sheikh Mohammed Abul Gasim, to … Continue reading Siyāsa Authority in the Colonial State

Colonialism and Islamic Law

By Rabiat Akande There has been an explosion of interest in interrogating the impact and legacies of European colonialism in recent decades. To an extent, this interest reflects a broader … Continue reading Colonialism and Islamic Law

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

ISLAMIC LAW IN THE NEWS "A Quran burning and a string of requests to approve protests involving the destruction of more holy books have left Sweden torn between its commitment … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup

Weekend Scholarship Roundup

SCHOLARSHIP ROUNDUP On Islamic Law In "Religion Inspired The Nation-State, But Politics Made The Difference" (Eurasia Review, April 14, 2023), James M. Dorsey (Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of … Continue reading Weekend Scholarship Roundup

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

ISLAMIC LAW IN THE NEWS "Afghanistan had more than 300 female judges presiding over judicial departments that ranged from women’s issues to criminal and terrorism-related cases. Several hundred judges have … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES PIL & Harvard Calendar: Student work opportunity: Research assistant, Widener Library, Harvard University. Call for Papers: The 22nd Vagantes Conference on Medieval Studies, Harvard University, November … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

ISLAMIC LAW IN THE NEWS Muslim scholars have continued to issue a variety of legal opinions (fatwās) on the permissibility of cryptocurrencies under Islamic law, some deeming them permissible and … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

ISLAMIC LAW IN THE NEWS According to data from India's Darul Qaza, or Islamic arbitration center, more divorces have been sought through khula, whereby the woman petitions a judge for … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

ISLAMIC LAW IN THE NEWS In response to the Supreme Court's overruling of Roe v. Wade, some Muslim American lawyers have argued that restrictive abortion laws infringe on Muslims' religious … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup