The Status of Women Under Islamic Law and Modern Islamic Legislation

Clearly written by a prominent authority on Islamic law, this succinct volume is a great resource for any westerner, including Muslim women living in the west, looking for a complete overview of the applications of Islamic law to women. Divided into chapters on the different areas of women's life that are regulated by traditional Islamic law--marriage, divorce, inheritance, sexual relations, dower, education, maintenance, parentage, and custody, among others--the volume describes traditional Islamic law (Sharia), as based on the Koran and traditions, and the interpretation of specific laws in Islamic countries, with Jordan, Syria, Tunisia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco among the examples cited. The volume has been completely revised to reflect the many changes in legislation occurring since the 2d edition of 1994. Nasir, who is based in London, the UK, is a former Minister of Justice for Jordan and has practiced law extensively in Europe and the US. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Jamal J. Nasir, BA (Hons), Ph.D. (London) has maintained close contact with his roots in Arabism and Islam while spending many years in practice in the UK, Europe and the States. He has also practiced in many Arab States, being a member of the Jordan and other Arab Bars. The author was formerly Minister of Justice in Jordan, and acting Foreign Minister, where he supervised a radical re-organisation of the Judiciary. This experience provided him with a rare insight into the working and application of the Sharia Law and modern Arab legislation on various aspects of Arab laws. The author has had a number of books published previously, as well as many legal and political articles in international journals. This book particularly supplements an earlier study by the author entitled The Islamic Law of Personal Status which has already become the authoritative textbook in the English language on this important subject, and a reliable reference book for many courts around the world. The author is also legal adviser to several Arab Embassies in London.