Violent radicals are often described as jihadists. A scholar explains what the word means and why those using the word to justify terrorism are often misrepresenting their sources.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Islamic law
Displaying 1 - 20 of 23 articles
Brunei's new anti-gay Sharia laws are the harshest in the world. Yet few countries have publicly condemned them, and an international boycott could backfire.
There is no inherent tension between Islam and democratic values. Like any use of religion in politics, the application of Sharia as law depends on who is using it – and why.
Islamic dispute resolution is a way of avoiding court but resolving disputes under Islamic law. Other countries use this approach. But is it right for Australia?
A guerrilla movement in Mozambique could upend the government's plans for stability and prosperity.
Food plays an integral role during the 30-day period of Ramadan. This Speed Read explains how Muslims determine what foods are 'halal,' an Arabic word that means 'permissible.'
Reformists are calling for the emancipation of religion from a state that's seen to exploit Islam for purposes of political power. This remains the most formidable challenge to Iran’s ruling clergy.
Muslim women in India struggle with a host of challenges, such as widespread poverty and lack of access to education. Arbitrary divorce was only one of many injustices.
There are many myths around Sharia. A scholar explains the moral and ethical principles behind it, as also why there are different interpretations.
A campaign to provide information for Muslim couples about English civil marriages could mean Sharia councils fade away.
Since Islam is predicated on law, variations in the interpretation of that law – along with geography and distinct legal schools – have all contributed to differences in the religion.
A Muslim scholar proposes the discussion of an alternative interpretation of Sharia that will challenge ISIS' claims to Islamic legitimacy.
A struggle is underway for the heart and soul of Islam. Moderate Muslims need to engage in the contest to ensure their view of Islam is the one that prevails.
The Caliphate has inspired disputes among Muslims for centuries, but attempts at revival in modern times are unlikely to succeed. Most of the world's Muslims would not accept its authority over them.
Financial assets compliant with sharia are growing at a much faster pace than the conventional kind, yet North American banks are still stuck on the sidelines.
In the late summer of 2014, the international community watched helplessly as Islamic State (IS) unleashed widespread human rights abuses against civilians across Syria and Iraq, with little standing in…
For many Muslims, adherence to Islamic dietary laws, known as halal, is an intrinsic part of their everyday lives. Even those who are relatively lax with other rituals of the faith tend to adhere to halal…
If a movie is ever made about the life of the well-known PUP senator from Tasmania, we can be sure it won’t be titled “Silence of the Lambie”. After a little over two months in public life, quiet and stillness…
Islam, like Judaism, is a religion of law. The usual Arabic word for Islamic law is sharia (pronounced shar-ee-ah), originally the track leading to a waterhole in the desert. For Muslims, the morally good…
Imagine being a young Muslim in the UK today. You are committed to your religious belief – which tells you that lending money at interest is forbidden in Islam – but you want to further your education…
Top contributors
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PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science, McMaster University
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Honorary lecturer, School of Social Sciences, UNSW
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Associate professor, Monash University
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Professor of Human Rights Law, Monash University
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Associate professor, RMIT University
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Senior lecturer, National School of Arts, Australian Catholic University
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Professor of Arabic Studies, University of Exeter
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Lecturer, history and political thought, Islamic studies, Western Sydney University
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Professor of Middle-Eastern and Islamic Studies, Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès
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Director, International Development Department, University of Birmingham
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Visiting Professor and Director of the Centre for Islamic Finance, University of Bolton
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Lecturer in History, Massey University
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Lecturer in Traditional Islamic Studies, Charles Sturt University
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Professor of Islamic Studies and former Chairperson, Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, Indiana University
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Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law, Emory University
