Land Law And Islam

In this pioneering work Siraj Sait and Hilary Lim address Islamic property and land rights, drawing on a range of socio-historical, classical and contemporary resources. They address the significance of Islamic theories of property and Islamic land tenure regimes on the 'webs of tenure' prevalent in the Muslim societies. They consider the possibility of using Islamic legal and human rights systems for the development of inclusive, pro-poor approaches to land rights. They also focus on Muslim women's rights to property and inheritance systems. Engaging with institutions such as the Islamic endowment (waqf) and principles of Islamic microfinance, they test the workability of 'authentic' Islamic proposals. Located in human rights as well as Islamic debates, this study offers a well researched and constructive appraisal of property and land rights in the Muslim world.

The monograph focuses on the basic features of the legal systems of the Middle Eastern countries, land law in force in these countries, Islamic land and water law, Bedouin tribal land ownership, customary water rights. The monograph contains a description of the regime of property and land in Jewish law. The author analyzes the current state of land law in the Middle Eastern countries, including title to land, title to other natural resources, types of rights to land, correlation of formal law and conventional land tenure systems. For students, graduate students and teachers of law schools, employees of legislative, executive and judicial authorities, as well as for all those interested in issues of land, civil law and comparative jurisprudence.

This book, first published in 1988, argues that a close inspection of the development of Hanafite law in the Mamluk and Ottoman periods reveals changes in legal doctrine which were not restricted to civil transactions but also concerned the public law. It focuses in particular on the interrelated areas of property, rent and taxation of arable lands, arguing that changes in the relationship between tax and rent led to a redefinition of the concept of landed property, a concept at the very heart of the Islamic legal system. This title will be of particular interest to students of Islamic history.

This book is a humble essay on some topics in Islamic law. It is divided into two main parts. The first part presents some legal studies carried out by a jurist in Islamic commercial law. The second part takes up land law in the Ottoman Empire. Nonetheless, we should admit that one of the most obvious features of the Ottoman Empire was its wide territory and characteristics of its administration. The Ottoman Empire lasted for more than 600 years and extended across three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. Economically, this worlwide empire, known as the “Pact Ottomana” is important for the Ottoman treasury. The land law of the Ottoman Empire can be a model for Islamic countries today, both with respect to administration and economics (the latter is very important). These countries should adopt the land system of the Ottoman Empire, and this book will elucidate the main justifications and reasons for this claim.

Richard A. Debs analyzes the classical Islamic law of property based on the Shari'ah, traces its historic development in Egypt, and describes its integration as a source of law within the modern format of a civil code. He focuses specifically on Egypt, a country in the Islamic world that drew upon its society's own vigorous legal system as it formed its modern laws. He also touches on issues that are common to all such societies that have adopted, either by choice or by necessity, Western legal systems. Egypt's unique synthesis of Western and traditional elements is the outcome of an effort to respond to national goals and requirements. Its traditional law, the Shari'ah, is the fundamental law of all Islamic societies, and Debs's analysis of Egypt's experience demonstrates how Islamic jurisprudence can be sophisticated, coherent, rational, and effective, developed over centuries to serve the needs of societies that flourished under the rule of law.

'This book presents an invaluable contribution to the debate on the compatibility of Islam and modernity. It is full of arguments and examples showing how Islam can be understood in line with modern life, human rights, democracy, the rule of law, civil society and pluralism. The three authors come from different countries, represent different gender perspectives and have a Shia, a Sunni and a non-Muslim background respectively which makes the book a unique source of information and inspiration.' Irmgard Marboe, University of Vienna, Austria This well-informed book explains, reflects on and analyses Islamic law, not only in the classical legal tradition of Sharia, but also its modern, contemporary context. The book explores the role of Islamic law in secular Western nations and reflects on the legal system of Islam in its classical context as applied in its traditional homeland of the Middle East and also in South East Asia. Written by three leading scholars from three different backgrounds: a Muslim in the Sunni tradition, a Muslim in the Shia tradition, and a non-Muslim woman the book is not only unique, but also enriched by differing insights into Islamic law. Sir William Blair provides the foreword to a book which acknowledges that Islam continues to play a vital role not just in the Middle East but across the wider world, the discussion on which the authors embark is a crucial one. The book starts with an analysis of the nature of Islamic law, its concepts, meaning and sources, as well as its development in different stages of Islamic history. This is followed by accounts of how Islamic law is being practised today. Key modern institutions are discussed, such as the parliament, judiciary, dar al-ifta, political parties, and other important organizations. It continues by analysing some key concepts in our modern times: nation-state, citizenship, ummah, dhimmah (recognition of the status of certain non-Muslims in Islamic states), and the rule of law. The book investigates how in recent times, more and more fatwas are issued collectively rather than emanating from an individual scholar. The authors then evaluate how Islamic law deals with family matters, economics, crime, property and alternative dispute resolution. Lastly, the book revisits certain contemporary issues of debate in Islamic law such as the burqa, halal food, riba (interest) and apostasy. Modern Perspectives on Islamic Law will become a standard scholarly text on Islamic law. Its wide-ranging coverage will appeal to researchers and students of Islamic law, or Islamic studies in general. Legal practitioners will also be interested in the comparative aspects of Islamic law presented in this book.

Dedication - Foreword - Preface- Abbreviations; Chapter 1: Concept of ownership [ Classification of ownership; The mode of acquiring ownership of property; The lawful ways of acquiring private ownership; Property and its classifications]; Chapter 2: Work [The best and dignified work; The classification of work; The physical and manual work; The office work (salaried employment);The intellectual work; The qualities of a good worker; Rights and protection of worker; Unemployment]; Chapter 3: Sale [ Types of sale; Conditions of valid sale; Conduct of the parties in a sale transaction; The lawful and unlawful sale transactions]; Chapter 4: Gift [Gift distinguished from other related concepts; Gift distinguished from sadaqah (alms, deed); Gift distinguished from ariya; Conditions for a valid gift; Structure of a gift; Donation subject-matter (Al-mawhub); Revocation of a gift]; Chapter 5: Testate succession [Types of will; Void and voidable will; Object of making a will; Form of will; Revocation of a will; The lapse of a will]; Chapter 6: Intestate succession [ Definition; Pre-Islamic law relating to succession; Constituents of succession (Arkanul - Mirath); Grounds of inheritance; Liabilities of the deceased; Legal heirs; The fractions in succession]; Chapter 7: Legal impediments to acquisition of property; Introduction; Fraud (Gish/Ghabn); Hoarding (Ihtikar); Bribery (Rashwah); Death-sickness gift (Ahwal Mard-ul-Mawt); Theft (Sariqah); Impediments to inheritance (Mawani'al-Irth); Bibliography; Index Dr Yahaya Y. Bambale, former Head, Department of Islamic Law, and Assistant Dean for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, is a Reader. His currently on sabbatical leave at the IBB University, Lapai, Niger State of Nigeria where he is the Dean of Students. He is the author of Crimes and Punishment Under Islamic Law.

International Law and Islam: Historical Explorations offers a unique opportunity to examine the Islamic contribution to the development of International Law in a historical perspective.