On British Islam

Bowen’s study of religion, law, and everyday practice in shari‘a councils in Britain is a fascinating and pertinent read. At the book’s center is an unprecedented assessment of three of Britain’s main shari‘a councils: the Islamic Shari‘a Council (ISC) in London, which is the oldest; the Birmingham Shari‘a Council, where women play a major role; and the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (MAT) in Nuneaton, which is led by a Sufi sheikh and barrister. Placed within the wider context of Muslim migration and settlement and the emergence and development of British Islam, and based on an impressive amount of research and firsthand observation, Bowen adopts a historical approach, tracing how and when these councils developed, and the processes and practices they follow. Findings are contextualized within broader debates regarding the prevalence of Islamic legal processes and the extent to which they are officially recognized, as well as what shari‘a councils mean for the accommodation, integration, and identity of British Muslims.

Arbitration · Archaeology · Context (archaeology) · Islam · Political science · Settlement (finance) · Sharia · Sociology · Tribunal · African history and culture analysis · Historical and Linguistic Studies · History · Islamic Studies and History · Law