The Good Muslim Reflections on Classical Islamic Law and Theology

In this thought-provoking book, Mona Siddiqui reflects upon key themes in Islamic law and theology. These themes, which range through discussions about friendship, divorce, drunkenness, love, slavery and ritual slaughter, offer fascinating insights into Islamic ethics and the way in which arguments developed in medieval juristic discourse. Pre-modern religious works contained a richness of thought, hesitation and speculation on a wide range of topics, which were socially relevant but also presented intellectual challenges to the scholars for whom God's revelation could be understood in diverse ways. These subjects remain relevant today, for practising Muslims and scholars of Islamic law and religious studies. Mona Siddiqui is an astute and articulate interpreter who relays complex ideas about the Islamic tradition with great clarity. Her book charts her own journey through the classical texts and reflects upon how the principles expounded there have guided her own thinking, teaching and research.

1. Spoken, intended and problematic divorce in Hanafi Fiqh; 2. Between person and property – slavery in Quduri's Mukhtasar; 3. Pig, purity and permission in Maliki slaughter; 4. Islamic and other perspectives on evil; 5. The language of love in the Qur'an; 6. Virtue and limits in the ethics of friendship; 7. Drinking and drunkenness in Ibn Rushd.

In this thought-provoking book, Mona Siddiqui reflects upon key themes in Islamic law and theology. These themes, which range through discussions about friendship, divorce, drunkenness, love, slavery and ritual slaughter, offer fascinating insights into Islamic ethics and the way in which arguments developed in medieval juristic discourse.

Mona Siddiqui is Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies in the School of Divinity at The University of Edinburgh. She is a well known commentator in the media and in 2011 was awarded an OBE for services to interfaith relations. She is the author of How to Read the Qur'an (2007) and editor of Islam, Volumes 1–4 (2010).