Wael B. Hallaq is James McGill Professor in Islamic Law in the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University. He is a world-renowned scholar whose publications include The Origins and Evolution of Islamic Law (Cambridge University Press, 2004), Authority, Continuity and Change in Islamic Law (Cambridge University Press, 2001) and A History of Islamic Legal Theories (Cambridge University Press, 1997).

• Part I. The Pre-Modern Tradition: 1. The formative period; 2. Legal theory: epistemology, language, and legal reasoning; 3. Legal education and the politics of law; 4. Law and society; 5. The circle of justice and later dynasties; Part II. The Law: An Outline: 6. Legal pillars of religion; 7. Contracts and other obligations; 8. Family law and succession; 9. Property and ownership; 10. Offenses; 11. Jihad; 12. Courts of justice, suits and evidence; Part III. The Sweep of Modernity: 13. The conceptual framework: an introduction; 14. The jural colonization of India and South-East Asia; 15. Hegemonic modernity: the Middle East and North Africa during the nineteenth and early twentieth century; 16. Modernizing the law in the age of nation-states; 17. In search of a legal methodology; 18. Repercussions: concluding notes.

'This masterpiece, to which Wael Hallaq brings the full force of his unparalleled knowledge of the Shari`a … supplies a riveting account of the history of Islamic legal institutions and doctrines, as well as the lived experience of the law. His discussions … mark the coming to full fruition of a new and compelling paradigm in Islamic legal studies. This book promises to be the seminal work in the field for many years to come.' Judith E. Tucker, Professor of History and Director, Academic Programs in Arab Studies, Georgetown University