Contemporary Issues in Islamic Law - UG Level 6

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 6
• Convenor: Qudsia Mirza
• Assessment: a 4000-word essay (100%)

This module offers an outline of classical Islamic law including an introductory overview of its origins and the historical development of the main schools of jurisprudence. The primary focus of the module is the application of Islamic law within the context of three main contemporary issues: human rights, gender and finance. The course analyses the practices and theories of different Islamic schools of law and legal opinions (fatwa) in relation to the core subjects of the module namely human rights, gender and finance.

By the end of this module, you will:

• have developed a systematic understanding of Islamic legal precepts and norms and how they are conceptualised within 'Western' democracies as well as in Muslim majority societies
• have the critical skills to evaluate arguments, assumptions, interpretive and hermeneutical approaches as well as specific legal concepts in Islamic law and its operation in a variety of contexts.