Law and Custom in the Popular Legal Culture of North Africa

Abstract Focusing on a series of instances from the Islamic courts of North Africa, the present article argues that custom does not stand apart from the sacred law but is seen by its adherents as itself Islamic and hence indissolubly linked to Islamic law. Local practice and universalizing principle...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rosen, Lawrence (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 1995
In: Islamic law and society
Year: 1995, Volume: 2, Issue: 2, Pages: 194-208
Online Access: Volltext (JSTOR)
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Summary:Abstract Focusing on a series of instances from the Islamic courts of North Africa, the present article argues that custom does not stand apart from the sacred law but is seen by its adherents as itself Islamic and hence indissolubly linked to Islamic law. Local practice and universalizing principles of the sharīʿa thus merge in popular conceptualizations. Legal officials also share in the recognition of custom as part of the shariʾa, thus contributing to the overall legitimacy of the sharīʿa and to its capacity to respond to changing circumstances.
ISSN:1568-5195
Contains:Enthalten in: Islamic law and society
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/1568519952599330