Shariah

John L. Esposito is professor of Religion and International Affairs and of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. He is the author or editor of more than 45 books, including Islamophobia: The Challenges of Pluralism in the 21st Century, and What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam. He is the Editor of the Oxford Islamic Studies Series.Natana DeLong-Bas is Assistant Professor of Theology at Boston College and the author of Wahhabi Islam: From Revival and Reform to Global Jihad.

• INTRODUCTIONCHAPTER 1: SHARIAH TODAY: MYTHS AND REALITIESCHAPTER 2: SHARIAH: THE BIG PICTURE (or SHARIAH & ISLAMIC LAW?)CHAPTER 3: SHARIAH COURTSCHAPTER 4: THE FIVE PILLARS AND COMMUNITY LIFECHAPTER 5: WOMEN, GENDER AND THE FAMILYCHAPTER 6:  GOVERNMENT, LAW AND ORDERCHAPTER 7: FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTSCHAPTER 8: WAR, PEACE AND THE COMMON GOODCHAPTER 9: CRIMINAL LAW AND JUSTICECHAPTER 10: ISLAMIC FINANCE IN A GLOBAL WORLDCHAPTER 11:  SCIENCE, BIOETHICS, AND HUMAN LIFE

This book could not be more timely. It provides a clear, lucid and scholarly guide to Shariah which should shatter the ignorant myths that surround it with an aura of evil. If we wish to win hearts and minds it is essential that we learn what is actually in them and not rely on what we imagine might be there. This eminently accessible introduction will help people to do just that.