Islam and the Everyday World

Public policy determines the scope, limits and forms of social action. It is the government's means for encouraging, discouraging or prohibiting some or other acts or behaviors. in an Islamic state, the divine law (Shari'a) must be implemented as a means for the realization of the will of God on earth. The Shari'a is, therefore, the code of social conduct and the means of regulating social discourse as well as social change. Since definition of the Shari'a is itself a matter of interpretation, two fundamental issues arise. First, what is the legitimate source and process of interpretation of the precepts of Islamic law, the Shari'a? Second, how are the specific dictums of the Shari'a affected by fundamental changes in the social and technological circumstances of life? This book investigates how Shari'a law affects public policy both theoretically and in practice, across a wide range of public policy areas, including human rights, family law, labor law, commercial law, taxation and 'interest-free' banking. It is an important new resource for anyone seeking to understand Islam and its wider social and political implications.Behdad, Sohrab is the author of 'Islam and the Everyday World' with ISBN 9780415453059 and ISBN 0415453054.