Shari'a in the Modern Era

In response to the challenges of maintaining religious identity in the West, modern Islamic jurists developed the fiqh al-aqalliyyāt doctrine of religious law. In this book, a judge at the Shari'a Court of Jerusalem outlines the doctrine's theory and practice in a manner accessible to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

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Written by the Qadi (judge) of the Shari'a Court of Jerusalem and former director of the Shari'a Court system in Israel, this book offers a unique perspective on the religious law of Muslim minorities living in the West. Specifically, it explores the fiqh al-aqalliyyāt doctrine of religious jurisprudence developed by modern Islamic jurists to resolve the challenges of maintaining cultural and religious identity in majority non-Muslim societies. The author examines possible applications across numerous cultural and geographical contexts, answering such questions as: what are the rules for assuming political and public roles, and should one deposit money that incurs interest? Building on a growing scholarship, this book aims to resolve points of view and facets of religious law that have been neglected by previous studies. Accessibly written, Shari'a in the Modern Era is designed to promote cross-cultural understanding among readers of all faiths.