Routledge Shari‘a As Discourse: Legal Traditions and the Encounter with Europe (Cultural Diversity and Law)

This volume exposes some of the various issues raised in relation to Muslim communities in Europe by putting the intellectual and legal traditions into dialogue. It brings together a number of scholars of Shari’a and Islamic law with counterparts from the parallel European disciplines of hermeneutics, philosophy and jurisprudence, to explore how the processes of theological-legal thinking have been expressed and are being expressed in a more or less common intellectual framework. It provides a valuable reference for all those interested in exploring how Muslims and non-Muslims view Shari’a law, looking at ways the European legal systems can provide some form of accommodation with Muslim customs. Review 'Islamic law cannot be left to theologians to ascertain application by state and non-state actors in today's globalising world. Not denying divine supremacy, Muslim legal pluralism (ikhtilaf) remains challenged by various 'secular' legal methodologies today. This excellent book confirms that searching for common principles remains difficult everywhere, but is possible.' Werner Menski, University of London, UK 'A splendid volume, presenting relations between Islamic and European laws as a non-conflictual encounter of traditions, with discourse as the dominant theme. Theoretical enquiries, in both law and discourse, are superbly combined with rich local experiences, in both Europe and the Arab world. May it calm some of the furies.' Patrick Glenn, McGill University, Canada 'Bringing together considerations arising from Islamic Law and European Legal contributors, this coherent volume offers valuable solutions for widespread social-legal conflicts faced by Muslims in Europe.' Mathias Rohe, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany About the Author Jørgen S. Nielsen is Professor of Islamic Studies and Director of the Centre for European Islamic Thought, Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Lisbet Christoffersen is Associate Professor in Public Law at The University of Roskilde and Professor in Law & Religion, Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.