The authors of this volume examine the relations between state law (colonial and post-colonial), Islamic law and common law in the Islamic world. The geographical scope of the twenty papers extends from Muslim Andalusia and North Africa across Osman South-Eastern Europe, the Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan, the Northern Caucasus and Central Europe to Uighuria (China) and Indonesia. Particular emphasis is placed on the Muslim societies of the Russian Empire and the former Soviet Union, the rich regional legal traditions of which have hitherto been largely ignored in the general discussion about legal pluralism. The comparative approach reveals numerous parallel developments in the different regions. Furthermore, the articles give insight into the differing methods and approaches employed by legal anthropologists, Islamists, historians and lawyers in East and West.

Michael Kemperist Assistant Professor for Central Eurasian and Islamic History an der St Lawrence University, Canton NY, USA.

Maurus Reinkowskiist Ordinarius für Islamwissenschaft und Geschichte der islamischen Völker an der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg.