Understanding Islamic Law: A JUSTRAC Special Rule of Law Topics Course

Islamic law is one of the longest enduring and most widely practiced systems of law in the world. At the same time, however, it is one of the most maligned and misunderstood. This course offered practitioners a firm grounding in the principles, concepts, and terminology of Islamic law, as well as its role in the contemporary era. Through discussions of both practice and theory, as well as interactive exercises, participants gained practical insights into the sources and constructs of this religious-based legal system, including the substantive difference between Shari’ah and jurisprudence, analysis of the Qur’an, the Tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, the schools of law, differences between Shi’i and Sunni Islamic law, the historical demise and the modern resurgence of Islamic law, and Islamic political movements, i.e., Islamism. Participants also gained an in-depth understanding of selected aspects of Islamic constitutionalism, Islamic criminal law, and not only how classical and contemporary Islamic law comports with international human rights law, but also how Islamic law can be misapplied and misunderstood. This course used real-world examples and interactive exercises throughout, in order to give participants a practical understanding of these concepts as they apply today.