Introduction to Islamic Law

Teacher(s)

Christians Louis-Léon; Dupret Baudouin;

Language

French

Main themes

The first part of the course is aimed at a brief reflection on the history, nature, methods and main categories of Islamic law, including some notions on the history of its sources. The second part introduces the students to the adaptation procedures of Moslem law to the modern world and to the question of the adaptation of Moslem law within Europe, with its special developments in family law and economic law and their organisational rules within the communities. The third part introduces the juridical systems chosen by contemporary Moslem countries, as well as their recent evolution.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	* To understand the place and role of Islamic law in the life and practice of the various Moslem communities and schools. * To help the student acquire a special method in such a way that, when confronted by a question with an Islamic dimension, he has the means to orientate himself and work out the possible solutions to be envisaged within the various different contexts, especially in Europe.

Content

The LDROI1511 Introductory Course on Islamic Law intends to remove the ambiguity of the concept of "Islamic law" along three lines :
A first approach is about a summary reflection on the history, nature,  methods and major categories of the traditional legal schools of Islam, including some notions of history of the sources.
A second approach shows how this history of a scholarly law has been inscribed since decolonization in positive state law systems, through the analysis of a selection of contemporary Muslim countries, as well as their recent evolutions.
A third approach presents the modes of adaptation and the conditions of relevance of "islamic law" in Europe, with more specific developments on five reception mechanisms: the Islamic norm through freedom of religion, through Islam as a recognized religion in public law, through the 'personal status' in private international law of the family, through the common law of contracts (including arbitration and Islamic finance) and finally through political Islam as understood before the European Court human rights.

At the end of this course, students will be able to discuss the role of Islamic law in legal systems of countries with a Muslim population and within the legal systems of European states, and Belgium in particular. They will have acquired a method to orient themselves and to detect the possible solutions in various contexts, in particular European, vis-a-vis a legal question which has an Islamic dimension.

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Classical oral presentation by two teachers, with the intervention of external guests.
COVID: Face-to-face teaching will be encouraged wherever possible.
Hybrid modalities for online teaching are possible.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Assignments: Several short written assignments will be included in the continuous assessment for 30% of the final grade.
For 70% of the final grade: an open-book written exam consisting of two questions drawn at random from a list of questions communicated before the session, as well as a question from the current events of the moment. The evaluation takes into account the student's discipline of origin.

In September, a similar written exam will represent 100% of the final grade. In September, the evaluation is based on a personal written work for 100% of the final grade.

Online resources

See the moodle website of the course.

Bibliography

• B. Dupret (dir.), La Charia aujourd'hui. Usage de la référence au droit islamique, Paris, La Découverte - Recherches, 2012, 301 pp. (avec un chapitre de L.L. Christians)
• B. Dupret, La Charia, Des sources à la pratique. Un concept pluriel, Paris, La Découverte, 2014.
• C. Sagesser, L’organisation et le financement public du culte islamique. Belgique et perspectives européennes, Dans Courrier hebdomadaire du CRISP 2020/14 (n° 2459-2460)
• C. Torrekens, Islams de Belgique, Presses universitaires de l'ULB, Bruxelles, 2020.

Faculty or entity

BUDR