An Introduction to Islamic Law presents a broad account of our present knowledge of the history and outlines of the system of Islamic law. It is not intended in the first place for specialists, although it is hoped that it will attract study to this particularly rewarding branch of Islamic studies, but for students and interested general readers. Islamic law is the key to understanding the essence of one of the great world religions, it still casts its spell over the laws of contemporary Islamic states, and it is in itself a remarkable manifestation of legal thought.