Wael B. Hallaq is the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University. He is a leading authority in Islamic law,  and has published widely on legal theory, Orientalism and the critical problems of modernity. His previous books include Restating Orientalism and The Impossible State.

'Hallaq has already authored definitive books on how Islamic civilisation articulated law and how both Western scholarship and many Islamist movements have grossly misunderstood Islamic law and the premodern state. Now this latest, fascinating volume draws on a career of expertise to bring these studies together, laying out how the Shariah and state fit together and should be understood today.' Jonathan A. C. Brown, author of Islam & Blackness

Wael B. Hallaq is the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University. He is a leading authority in Islamic law,  and has published widely on legal theory, Orientalism and the critical problems of modernity. His previous books include Restating Orientalism and The Impossible State.

'Hallaq has already authored definitive books on how Islamic civilisation articulated law and how both Western scholarship and many Islamist movements have grossly misunderstood Islamic law and the premodern state. Now this latest, fascinating volume draws on a career of expertise to bring these studies together, laying out how the Shariah and state fit together and should be understood today.' Jonathan A. C. Brown, author of Islam & Blackness

Wael B. Hallaq is the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University. He is a leading authority in Islamic law,  and has published widely on legal theory, Orientalism and the critical problems of modernity. His previous books include Restating Orientalism and The Impossible State.

'Hallaq has already authored definitive books on how Islamic civilisation articulated law and how both Western scholarship and many Islamist movements have grossly misunderstood Islamic law and the premodern state. Now this latest, fascinating volume draws on a career of expertise to bring these studies together, laying out how the Shariah and state fit together and should be understood today.' Jonathan A. C. Brown, author of Islam & Blackness