In Pursuit of the Pagans: Muslim Law in the English Context

RELIGARE Working Paper No. 9

17 Pages Posted: 4 Apr 2012

See all articles by Prakash Shah

Prakash Shah

Queen Mary, University of London

Date Written: March 4, 2012

Abstract

Western and Muslim law. Muslim law is itself a complex, pluralistic amalgam of different legal ‘bricks’, and in the context of the struggle for Islam to be acknowledged as a legitimate source of value pluralism in the Western context, the religious aspects of Muslim law, with their doctrinal justifications, are being foregrounded. With the English case as the main focus, I further argue that customs among Muslims are suppressed in this process of ‘shariatisation’. Beyond that, even Muslim doctrines are being placed under the spotlight in various ways. These changes are taking place as a result of Muslims living as nondominant communities in Europe, where they are under the gaze of the dominant culture and are judged to be potential or actual violators of human rights and the rule of law. Relying on Balagangadhara’s (2005) explanation of the ‘dynamic of religion,’ I present these processes as an outcome of the collision of two religious cultures, the Islamic and the Western.

Suggested Citation

Shah, Prakash, In Pursuit of the Pagans: Muslim Law in the English Context (March 4, 2012). RELIGARE Working Paper No. 9 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2034463 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2034463

Prakash Shah (Contact Author)

Queen Mary, University of London ( email )

Mile End Road
London, London E1 4NS
United Kingdom

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
144
Abstract Views
863
Rank
364,703
PlumX Metrics