Shariah law is one of the most controversial and politicized concepts in the Islamic world. Typically regarded with suspicion if not outright disdain in the West, it is a complex subject poorly understood by many. In this volume, Mohammad Hashim Kamali, a world-renowned expert on the topic, adopts a question-and-answer format to provide a clear introduction to the most salient aspects of Shariah. Extending from the sources of Shariah in the Qur'an, hadith and the legal maxims of Islamic law to the discussion of issues such as freedom of religion, gender equality and human rights, Shariah Law: Questions and Answers connects the theoretical aspects of the law with how it is applied in the world today. At once scholarly and accessible, it is sure to be a vital resource for students, teachers and general readers, addressing as it does a range of contemporary concerns, including jihad, democracy, the environment, genetic engineering, human cloning, euthanasia and abortion.