MACMILLAN Sharia Dynamics: Islamic Law and Sociopolitical Processes (Contemporary Anthropology of Religion)

This multidisciplinary volume explores the role of Islamic law within the dynamic processes of postcolonial transformation, nation building, and social reform. Here, eleven international scholars examine Islamic law in several contemporary sociopolitical contexts, focusing specifically on  Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, China, Tunisia, Nigeria, the United States, and the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).  The contributors also address the entanglement of Islamic law and ethics with the history of Muslim religious discourses, shifts toward modernity, gender relations, and efforts to construct exclusive or plural national communities. Sharia Dynamics, at once enchanting and enlightening, is a must-read for scholars of contemporary Islam.  Review “At a time that words like Sharia and Fatwa are bandied about in our public and political discourse with reckless abandon, Sharia Dynamics brings urgently needed rigor and scholarly expertise.  Furthermore, the volume focuses on Southeast Asia and South Asia, two regions where the majority of the world’s Muslims live but has received far too little public and scholarly attention.” (Omid Safi, Director, Duke Islamic Studies Center, USA) “By exploring the ways in which Muslims in diverse cultural contexts apply Shariah, this volume offers a new and promising path for anthropologists and scholars in all fields who are interested in understanding Islam as a lived tradition beyond but not ignoring theology.” (Daniel Martin Varisco, Coordinator for Social Science, Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, Qatar University, Qatar) From the Back Cover This multidisciplinary volume explores the role of Islamic law within the dynamic processes of postcolonial transformation, nation building, and social reform. Here, eleven international scholars examine Islamic law in several contemporary sociopolitical contexts, focusing specifically on  Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, China, Tunisia, Nigeria, the United States, and the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).  The contributors also address the entanglement of Islamic law and ethics with the history of Muslim religious discourses, shifts toward modernity, gender relations, and efforts to construct exclusive or plural national communities. Sharia Dynamics, at once enchanting and enlightening, is a must-read for scholars of contemporary Islam.  About the Author Timothy P. Daniels is Associate Professor of Anthropology at Hofstra University, USA.