Providing a comprehensive & accessible examination of Shari'ah Law this well considered introduction examines the sources characteristic features & schools of thought of a system often stereotyped for its severity in the West In a progressive & graduated fashion Mohammad Hashim Kamali discusses topics ranging from juristic disagreement to independent reasoning Also broaching more advanced topics such as the principle of legality & the role & place of Shari'ah-oriented policy Kamali controversially questions whether Islam is as much of a law-based religion as it has often been made out to be Complete with a bibliography & glossary & both a general index & an index of Arabic"ations this wide-ranging exploration will prove an indispensable resource for Islamic students & scholars & an informative guide to a complex topic for the general reader