Lena Salaymeh | The Beginnings of Islamic Law

Professor Lena Salaymeh, Tel Aviv University and Princeton University, discusses her award-winning book, "The Beginnings of Islamic Law: Late Antique Islamicate Legal Traditions" (Cambridge University Press, 2016). Showing how Muslim jurists crafted their legal opinions by combining ancient norms, scripture, religious and scholarly precedents, local traditions, and social needs in unexpected ways, Prof. Salaymeh challenges modern preconceptions of Islamic law and illustrates the dynamic nature of Islamic jurisprudence in a contemporary setting.

The program is a joint presentation of Duke Law's Center for International and Comparative Law, Duke University's Islamic Studies Center, and Duke University's Department of Religious Studies.

Recorded on October 30, 2018