Weekend Scholarship Roundup

SCHOLARSHIP ROUNDUP On Islamic Law: Female Religious Authority in Shi’i Islam (Edinburgh University Press, 2021), edited by Mirjam Künkler (Princeton University) and Devin Stewart (Emory University), brings together contributions that … Continue reading Weekend Scholarship Roundup

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

Al Sudais, the President of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques in Saudi Arabia, appointed two women, Dr. Fatima Al Rushood and Dr. Al Anoud … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup

The Duality of State Law and Sharīʿa in the Islamic Republic of Iran

By Marzieh Tofighi Darian Islamic Republic of Iran has designed an elaborate and stringent system of Islamic constitutionalism under its 1979 Constitution. Not only does the Constitution aim at making … Continue reading The Duality of State Law and Sharīʿa in the Islamic Republic of Iran

ʾAlī al-Sīstānī: Guiding Conduct of Pro-Government Militias in Iraq

By Marta Wojtowicz Description: The Advice and Guidance to the Fighters on the Battlefields[1] was issued by ʾAlī al-Sistānī in February 2015 and directed to the fighters involved in the … Continue reading ʾAlī al-Sīstānī: Guiding Conduct of Pro-Government Militias in Iraq

Legal Incapacity and the Concept of Hajr Under Iranian Law: An Analysis of Civil Code in Relation to Mental Health

By Anicée Van Engeland The Islamic Republic of Iran is not spared from the increasing number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s. Yet, Shīʿī jurisprudence provides little insight into the status … Continue reading Legal Incapacity and the Concept of Hajr Under Iranian Law: An Analysis of Civil Code in Relation to Mental Health

The Irony of Sharī’a Bans: Part III

By Haider Ala Hamoudi In my two previous posts on the matter of mahr in U.S. courts, I made the point that the enforceability of the mahr, or the nuptial … Continue reading The Irony of Sharī’a Bans: Part III

Scholarship in “Plain English”: Joseph Lowry on the Prophet as Lawgiver and Legal Authority

By Cem Tecimer Abstract: Joseph Lowry elaborates on the prophetic authority of Muhammad as a lawgiver. While the Qur’ān remains the undisputed ultimate source for Muslims, Lowry draws attention to … Continue reading Scholarship in “Plain English”: Joseph Lowry on the Prophet as Lawgiver and Legal Authority

Scholarship in “Plain English”: Noah Feldman on Constitutional Politics and Text in the New Iraq

By Cem Tecimer Citation: Cem Tecimer, Review of Noah Feldman, Constitutional Politics and Text in the New Iraq: An Experiment in Islamic Democracy [75(2) L. Rev. 883-920 (2006) (with Roman … Continue reading Scholarship in “Plain English”: Noah Feldman on Constitutional Politics and Text in the New Iraq

Historical Roots of Twelver Shīʽī Legal Tax Theory

By Mohammad Sagha This post provides a basic historical background, evolution, and categorization of Shīʽī[1]  attitudes on religious financial obligations (known as zakāt and khums) as conceived of by Shīʽī … Continue reading Historical Roots of Twelver Shīʽī Legal Tax Theory