Introduction
This brief guide is designed to help researchers, particularly students in the
University of Minnesota's Introduction to Islamic Law class, who are looking for
information on Islamic law. Islamic law is also called sharia (variously,
shari'a, shariah). Most English language materials, however, are indexed
under or use the phrase "Islamic law."
The University of Minnesota Law Library collects few works in Arabic.
Generally, it is difficult to find English translations of laws from countries,
such as Saudi Arabia, with Islamic legal systems. The Library does
have a large collection of legal materials from Pakistan, in English. Many
of the Pakistan works are in the basement; you can find these in MNCAT and then
request them from the Circulation Desk.
Introductory Works on Islamic Law
Note: The Library of Congress classification schedule for Islamic law was just finished in fall 2004, so the relevant books are not yet shelved at one or two call numbers. Titles in Law Library Foreign Language (Texts) on the 4th floor are arranged by the last name of the author.
A. Islamic Law and Jurisprudence (Nicholas Heer ed., 1990) KBP15 .I853 1990 Law Library Reserve.
B. Islamic Law and Legal Theory (Ian Edge ed., 1996). Law Library Foreign Language (Texts).
C. Mohammad Hashim Kamali, Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence (3rd rev. and enl. ed., 2003). Law Library Foreign Language (Texts).
D. Mashood A. Baderin, International Human Rights and Islamic Law (2003). Law Library Foreign Language (Texts).
E. Jamal J. Nasir, The Islamic Law of Personal Status (3rd ed., 2002). Law Library Foreign Language (Texts).
F. An English translation of the Qur'an (Koran) is in the Law Library, 2nd floor, at BP109 .S3.
G. A useful 80-page introduction to Islam and Islamic law appears at http://www.aals.org/am2004/islamiclaw/islamicmaterials.pdf
H. Prof. M. Cherif Bassiouni of DePaul University School of Law has also prepared an introduction to Islam; chapter V describes Islamic Law: http://www.mideasti.org/library/intro-to-islam
I. Ron Shaham, ed, Law, Custom, And Statute In The Muslim World (Boston: Brill, 2007). KBP50 .L39 2007.
Finding Books on Islamic Law
Note: Do not restrict your searches to the Law Library. The
Wilson Library, including the Ames Library of South Asia, has many works that
deal wholly or in part with Islamic law.
A. Subject headings include Islamic Law, Jurisprudence --
Islamic countries, Pillars of Islam, and Islam --
Doctrines. Also, books are sometimes classified under Muslim; e.g.,
Muslim women -- Legal status, laws, etc.
B. In addition to subject searches, use keyword searches; e.g., Muslim OR
islam? with family law.
For example, to search for books that address the status of Muslims or Islam
in India, try the subject search muslims -- india OR islam --
india. Also try the keyword search muslim? india OR islam?
india. [In these examples, the question mark will retrieve Muslim and
Muslims, Islam and Islamic.]
Finding Periodical Articles on Islamic Law
A. Journals on Islamic law include Islamic Law and Society, K9
.S63x; Yearbook of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law, K29 .E15; UCLA
Journal of Islamic and Near Eastern Law, K25 .C635x; Journal of Islamic
Law and Culture, Per.J7435 and online; and the Journal of Islamic
Studies, Wilson Periodicals and online. To search for other periodicals,
use the subject heading Islamic law -- Periodicals.
B. Many other law journals carry articles on Islamic law. These articles are
often indexed in the following legal periodical indexes:
1. Index
to Legal Periodicals. The main subject index heading is Islamic
law. You can also add a jurisdiction to the subject, e.g., Islamic
law/Nigeria. Some articles are also indexed under Muslims.
2. LegalTrac.
The main subject index heading is Islamic law. Some articles, such as
ones on persecution of Muslims, or the headscarves controversy, are indexed
under Muslims but not necessarily under Islamic law.
3. Index to Foreign Legal
Periodicals. The main subject index heading is Islamic law, but it is often
combined with a narrower topic, such as Reform -- Islamic law, or
Marriage -- Islamic law. Many of the articles indexed in IFLP are in
foreign languages.
4. PAIS International.
This index to social science and public affairs journals includes articles on
Islamic law. The main subject index heading (descriptor) is Islamic
law. You can also add a jurisdiction to the subject, e.g., Islamic law:
Egypt.
For any of these indexes, try keyword searches as an alternative to the
subject headings.
C. Full-text databases of law review articles on Westlaw and Lexis also
include articles on Islamic law. If you need to limit the number of articles
retrieved, use a field (Westlaw) or segment (Lexis) search to ensure that one or
more of your search terms appears in the title of the article. For
example, to find articles on Islam and human rights, try the search
title(Islam? OR muslim) & "human right" /p Islam? OR
muslim.
Locating Islamic Law Materials at Other Libraries
Search holdings of many other libraries via WorldCat.
Law students may request the loan of other libraries' materials via interlibrary loan. It can take several weeks to obtain an item, however, so make your requests as early as possible in your research.
Please note that use of Westlaw and Lexis is restricted to law school students, faculty and staff. Other sources in this guide may be available only to the University of Minnesota community.
Updated 12/07. Links verified 6/18/08
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