Formerly under the rubric of the Islamic Legal Studies Program, we now announce a revamped Program in Islamic Law at Harvard Law School and the opening of applications for Visiting and Senior Fellowships. Applications are due Feb 1, 2019. Please direct questions to shariasource@law.harvard.edu. Apply to the Visiting Fellowship. Apply to the Senior Fellowship.
Recent Scholarship: New Book on Ottoman Legal System
Forms and Institutions of Justice: Legal Actions in Ottoman Contexts, edited by Yavuz Aykan and Işık Tamdoğan This volume examines the concept of "justice" across different times and places that were under Ottoman rule. It challenges the unitary conception of an "Ottoman Justice" and the legal and procedural dominance accorded the kadi in Ottoman historiography. … Continue reading Recent Scholarship: New Book on Ottoman Legal System
In the News: Islamic Burial Traditions
SHARIAsource Senior Scholar Mohammad Fadel recently wrote an article in the Middle East Eye reflecting on current events in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and the historical significance of violating someone’s right to a proper burial. “In Islamic law,” Fadel explains, “burying the dead is a collective obligation—an obligation that falls on the entire community of … Continue reading In the News: Islamic Burial Traditions
FEATURE :: Roundtable on Pakistan’s Landmark Blasphemy Case: Asia Bibi v. The State (2018)
Three scholars of Islamic constitutionalism and law consider the Pakistan Supreme Court's recent decision on Asia Bibi v. The State, the blasphemy case that has drawn widespread international attention since 2010. Last month the Pakistan Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi of blasphemy charges, bringing Asia Bibi v. The State to a judicial conclusion. Asia Bibi's … Continue reading FEATURE :: Roundtable on Pakistan’s Landmark Blasphemy Case: Asia Bibi v. The State (2018)
The Asia Bibi Blasphemy Law Case in Pakistan: Winning the Battle, Losing the War
Editor Rachel Mazzarella comments on the Pakistan Supreme Court decision for Asia Bibi v. The State. The Pakistan Supreme Court's decision to acquit Asia Bibi of blasphemy charges brought forth questions about evidence, judicial independence, procedure, and the state's authority in matters of law and religion. On October 8, 2018, the Supreme Court of Pakistan vacated … Continue reading The Asia Bibi Blasphemy Law Case in Pakistan: Winning the Battle, Losing the War
Reasserting the Authority of State: Comment on Asia Bibi v The State
Editor Zubair Abbasi comments on the Pakistan Supreme Court decision for Asia Bibi v. The State. The Pakistan Supreme Court's decision to acquit Asia Bibi of blasphemy charges brought forth questions about evidence, judicial independence, procedure, and the state's authority in matters of law and religion. Summary While acquitting Asia Bibi after finding inconsistencies in the statements … Continue reading Reasserting the Authority of State: Comment on Asia Bibi v The State
Asia Bibi v. The State: Problems of Evidence and Procedure in Pakistan
Guest contributor Imran Ahmed comments on the Pakistan Supreme Court decision for Asia Bibi v. The State. The Pakistan Supreme Court's decision to acquit Asia Bibi of blasphemy charges brought forth questions about evidence, judicial independence, procedure, and the state's authority in matters of law and religion. The Supreme Court ruling in the case against Asia … Continue reading Asia Bibi v. The State: Problems of Evidence and Procedure in Pakistan
Islamic Law & Law of the Muslim World eJournal: Nov 30th
This week’s issue of the Islamic Law & Law of the Muslim World eJournal includes: "Security Design, Incentives, and Islamic Microfinance: Cross Country Evidence" by Yaoyao Fan, Kose John, Hong Liu, and Luqyan Tamanni This study finds that Sharia-compliant microfinance institutions have less credit risk than conventional ones, have better poverty outreach, are less likely … Continue reading Islamic Law & Law of the Muslim World eJournal: Nov 30th
SHARIAsource Lunch Talk :: Between Legal Conservatism and Legal Change: Fault Lines in Ayyūbid Damascus.
On November 28th, Dr. Mariam Sheibani, current Visiting Fellow at ILSP: SHARIAsource, shared her research on the developments of the Shāfiʿī tradition in twelfth-century twelfth-century Ayyūbid Damascus. She focused on the rivalry between the leading Shāfiʿī authorities of Damascus, Taqī al-Dīn b. al-Ṣalāḥ (d. 1245) and ʿIzz al-Din b. ʿAbd al-Salām (d. 1262), using it as … Continue reading SHARIAsource Lunch Talk :: Between Legal Conservatism and Legal Change: Fault Lines in Ayyūbid Damascus.
In the News: Child Custody in Islamic Law
Last month, the ex-daughter-in-law of former Nigerian president Ibrahim Babangida took to Instagram to share her frustration with how the court was handling her child custody case, accusing the judge of having “changed the sharia law to fit his client” (her politically prominent ex-husband). Child custody, like other aspects of law, varies between countries—even in … Continue reading In the News: Child Custody in Islamic Law