Fatwa and the Making and Renewal of Islamic Law:

From the Classical Period to the Present

Omer Awass

Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2023, xv + 273 pp.

ISBN: 978-1-009-26092-3

Mohd Arsh Shery

 

INTRODUCTION

Omer Awass's Fatwa and the Making and Renewal of Islamic Law: From the Classical Era to the Present is a rich study of Islamic legal discourse in the light of fatwas (legal opinions), which Awass views as the "atomic units" of Islamic law (p. 1). Published by Cambridge University Press in 2023, the book examines the historical and geographical movement of Islamic law from the 7th (1st Hijri) to the 21st (15th Hijri) centuries across lands stretching from Andalusia to India. The book is divided into six chapters, each representing a different moment in the history of fatwas, spanning from the Prophetic period to modernity after decolonisation. Awass, currently an Associate Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the American Islamic College, claims that fatwas have played a significant role in establishing traditions, institutions, and values within Islamic law. This review briefly outlines the book, examines its strengths and weaknesses, and assesses its contributions to those who study, teach and practise Islamic law, particularly regarding transnational legal practices.