Shariah: What Everyone Needs to Know (Book report)
The title is a book by John L. Esposito and Natana J. DeLong-Bas, by Oxford University Press. The following is a report of the book.[1]
Overview
• Acts as an easy-to-read guide to understanding a widely misunderstood concept
• Written by two internationally regarded scholars of Islamic Studies
• Provides both historical and contemporary coverage on a wide range of disciplines
• Gives attention to possibilites for reform and progress, including those already underway
Description
Shariah is by now a term that most Americans and Europeans recognize, though few really understand what it means. Often portrayed as a medieval system used by religious zealots to oppress women and deny human rights, conservative politicians, media commentators, and hardline televangelists stoke fear by promoting the idea that Muslims want to impose a repressive Shariah rule in America and Europe. Despite the breadth of this propaganda, a majority of Muslims-men and women-support Shariah as a source of law. In fact, for many centuries Shariah has functioned for Muslims as a positive source of guidance, providing a moral compass for individuals and society. This critical new book by John L. Esposito and Natana Delong-Bas aims to serve as a guide for what everybody needs to know in the conversation about Shariah, responding to misunderstandings and distortions, and offering answers to questions about the origin, nature, and content of Shariah.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Shariah Today: Myths and Realities
Chapter 2: Shariah: The Big Picture (or Shariah & Islamic Law?)
Chapter 3: Shariah Courts
Chapter 4: The Five Pillars and Community Life
Chapter 5: Women, Gender and The Family
Chapter 6: Government, Law and Order
Chapter 7: Freedom and Human Rights
Chapter 8: War, Peace and The Common Good
Chapter 9: Criminal Law and Justice
Chapter 10: Islamic Finance in a Global World
Chapter 11: Science, Bioethics, and Human Life
Author Information
John L. Esposito, University Professor of Religion and International Affairs, Georgetown University, and Natana J. DeLong-Bas, Assistant Professor of Theology, Boston Colllege
John L. Esposito is professor of Religion and International Affairs and of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. He is the author or editor of more than 45 books, including Islamophobia: The Challenges of Pluralism in the 21st Century, and What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam. He is the Editor of the Oxford Islamic Studies Series.
Natana DeLong-Bas is Assistant Professor of Theology at Boston College and the author of Wahhabi Islam: From Revival and Reform to Global Jihad.
Reviews and Awards
This book could not be more timely. It provides a clear, lucid and scholarly guide to Shariah which should shatter the ignorant myths that surround it with an aura of evil. If we wish to win hearts and minds it is essential that we learn what is actually in them and not rely on what we imagine might be there. This eminently accessible introduction will help people to do just that. - Karen Armstrong, author of Islam: A Short History
The clear writing and solid scholarship make it [Shariah] a valuable reference work. - Publishers Weekly