State and Government in Medieval Islam - An Introduction to the Study of Islamic Political Theory: The Jurists

First published in 2004. For the Muslim the foundation from which all discussion of government starts is the law of God, the shari-a. Theoretically pre-existing and eternal, it represents absolute good. It is prior to the community and the state.- Part of London Oriental Series, this volume-s concern wis with the political ideas of the period extending from the 2nd/8th century to the 11th/17th century and to the central lands of the caliphate, including Persia, and North Africa.