Islamic Law in Action Authority, Discretion, and Everyday Experiences in Mamluk Egypt

Author: Kristen Stilt
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780199602438
Published In: January 2012
Format: Hardback , 256 pages
Jurisdiction: International ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

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Uses the methodology of legal realism to examine how the classical Islamic legal system worked in the real world
Provides a close historical study of the impact of law and the legal system on the commercial and religious life inthe period
The use of contemporary narratives in context provides real-life examples of the muhtasib at work

A dynamic account of the practice of Islamic law, this book focuses on the actions of a particular legal official, themuhtasib, whose vast jurisdiction included all public behavior.

In the cities of Cairo and neighboring Fustat during the Mamluk period (1250-1517), the men who held the position of muhtasib acted as regulators of markets and public spaces generally. They traversed their jurisdictions carrying out the duty to command right and forbid wrong, and were as much a part of the legal landscape as the better-known figures of judge and mufti. Taking directions from the rulers, the sultan foremost among them, they were also guided by legal doctrine as formulated by the jurists, combining these two sources of law in one face of authority.

The daily workings of the law are illuminated by the reports of the muhtasib in the vivid Mamluk-era chronicles, which often also captured the responses of the individuals who encountered the official.

The book is organized around actions taken by the muhtasib in the areas of Muslim devotional and pious practices; crimes and offenses; the management of Christians and Jews; market regulation and consumer protection; the specific markets for essential bread; currency and taxes; and public order. The case studies presented show that while legal doctrine was clearly relevant to the muhtasib's actions, the policy demands of the sultan were also quite significant, and rules from both sources of authority intersected with social, political, economic, and personal factors to create full and vibrant scenarios that reveal the practice of Islamic law.

Readership: Scholars and advanced students of Islamic law, legal philosophy, legal history, religion, and Islamic and Middle Eastern studies.

Introduction
1: Islamic Legal History
2: Introducing the Muhtasib
3: Commanding the Faithful
4: Serious Crimes or Minor Offences?
5: Managing Christians and Jews
6: Market Regulation and Consumer Protection
7: The Markets for Essential Bread
8: Currency and Taxes
9: Keeping the Peace

Kristen Stilt is Associate Professor in the departments of Law and History at Northwestern University. She holds a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law and a PhD. in History and Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University. She has been named a Carnegie Scholar for her work on constitutional authority and Islamic law in the Muslim world.