Maṣlaḥa and the Purpose of the Law

Islamic Discourse on Legal Change from the 4th/10th to 8th/14th Century
1. Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-90-04-18416-9
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 31, 370 Seiten, Format (B × H): 167 mm x 247 mm, Gewicht: 798 g

Reihe: Studies in Islamic Law and Society

Focusing on writings of legal theory by leading jurisprudents, this study traces the Islamic discourse on legal change. It looks at the concept of maslaha (people’s well-being) as a method of extending and adapting God’s law, showing how it evolves from an obscure legal principle to being interpreted as the all-encompassing purpose of God’s law. Discussions on maslaha’s epistemology, ist role in the law-finding process, the limits of human investigation into divinecommands, and the delineation of the sphere of religious law in Muslim society highlight the interplay between law, theology, logic, and politics that make maslaha a viable vehicle of legal change up to the present.

Zielgruppe

Those interested in Islamic intellectual history, Islamic law, legal theory, legal change, and the interplay of law with theology and politics.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Opwis, Felicitas

Fachgebiete

• Rechtswissenschaften Recht, Rechtswissenschaft Allgemein Rechtsgeschichte, Recht der Antike
• Rechtswissenschaften Ausländisches Recht Islamisches Recht
• Geisteswissenschaften Islam & Islamische Studien Islamisches Recht

Über Autor(innen)

Felicitas Opwis, Ph.D. (2001) in Arabic and Islamic Studies, Yale University, is Assistant Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. Her publications address the development of Islamic legal theory in light of intellectual currents and historical environment.