Wael B. Hallaq is James McGill Professor of 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).

'This path-breaking new history of Islamic law will become a standard introduction to the subject. Professor Hallaq has provided a magnificent overview of the topic, drawing on his wide reading in primary sources and his many important publications on the history of Islamic law and Islamic legal thought.' Joseph E. Lowry, University of Pennsylvania

• Introduction; Part I. Tradition and Continuity: 1. Who's who in the Shari'a; 2. The law: how is it found?; 3. The legal schools; 4. Jurists, legal education and politics; 5. Shari'a's society; 6. Pre-modern governance: the circle of justice; Part II. Modernity and Ruptures: 7. Colonizing the Muslim world and its Shari'a; 8. Modernizing the law in the age of nation states; 9. State, ulama and Islamists; 10. Shari'a then and now: concluding notes.

Wael B. Hallaq is James McGill Professor of 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).

'This path-breaking new history of Islamic law will become a standard introduction to the subject. Professor Hallaq has provided a magnificent overview of the topic, drawing on his wide reading in primary sources and his many important publications on the history of Islamic law and Islamic legal thought.' Joseph E. Lowry, University of Pennsylvania

• Introduction; Part I. Tradition and Continuity: 1. Who's who in the Shari'a; 2. The law: how is it found?; 3. The legal schools; 4. Jurists, legal education and politics; 5. Shari'a's society; 6. Pre-modern governance: the circle of justice; Part II. Modernity and Ruptures: 7. Colonizing the Muslim world and its Shari'a; 8. Modernizing the law in the age of nation states; 9. State, ulama and Islamists; 10. Shari'a then and now: concluding notes.

Wael B. Hallaq is James McGill Professor of 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).

'This path-breaking new history of Islamic law will become a standard introduction to the subject. Professor Hallaq has provided a magnificent overview of the topic, drawing on his wide reading in primary sources and his many important publications on the history of Islamic law and Islamic legal thought.' Joseph E. Lowry, University of Pennsylvania

• Introduction; Part I. Tradition and Continuity: 1. Who's who in the Shari'a; 2. The law: how is it found?; 3. The legal schools; 4. Jurists, legal education and politics; 5. Shari'a's society; 6. Pre-modern governance: the circle of justice; Part II. Modernity and Ruptures: 7. Colonizing the Muslim world and its Shari'a; 8. Modernizing the law in the age of nation states; 9. State, ulama and Islamists; 10. Shari'a then and now: concluding notes.