Routledge Adjudicating Family Law in Muslim Courts - Islamic Legal Practice

This comprehensive study examines how Islamic family law operates in practice across diverse Muslim jurisdictions, covering both Sunni and Shi'a traditions as well as Arab and non-Arab legal systems. Rather than focusing solely on legal theory, the book investigates the actual interpretation and application of shari'a law by judges working within different cultural and political contexts. The author demonstrates how judicial creativity emerges from the existence of multiple interpretations of shari'a principles and the extensive body of legal material available to courts. By analysing real cases from the contemporary Muslim world, the book illuminates how judges navigate complex family law matters using established jurisprudential traditions. This work fills a significant gap in the literature by moving beyond abstract legal principles to explore enforcement mechanisms and practical decision-making in Muslim family courts. Ideal for legal scholars, practitioners, and students seeking to understand shari'a law as it actually functions in modern judicial settings.