Between God and the Sultan: A History of Islamic Law

Today's discussion on Islam and the place religion should have in society often lead to questions about the Shari'a- Islamic law. Those who work for a political role for Islam demand that the Sharia must be applied in their country, while those critical of Islam use the law as proof of its 'medieval' character. Islam is sometimes, not quite justly, called a 'religion of rules' and the rules of Islam are Sharia.