The evolution of Islamic public law during the first four hundred years of Islam profoundly shaped society, politics, literature. However, this field of study has been limited largely to a jurisprudential perspective which does not fully convey its versatility and depth. This seminar will explore and reconstruct the evolution of Islamic law and its application in different spheres of life. 
Students will engage with an eclectic mix of genres in Classical Arabic accompanied by English translations, such as administrative documents, papyri, fiqh (jurisprudential texts), mirrors for princes, and fatāwā (legal pronouncements). The main objective of this class is to facilitate a nuanced understanding of the Islamic criminal justice on both theoretical and practical levels, and acquaint students with the diversity of Islamic society.
 

This is an eight-week course.

Dates: Wednesdays, 29/04/2026; 06/05/2026; 13/05/2025; 20/05/2025; 27/05/2025; 03/06/2025; 10/06/2025; 17/06/2025
Location: Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. This course is in-person only (not online).

Time: 9.30am - 10.45am

Cost: £120.00
Refreshments: teas and coffee to be served prior to start of course.

Speakers: Dr Mohammed Allehbi

Click here to apply for this course

Learning outcomes:
•    Participants will identify parallels and differences in legal theories and practices in the pre-Islamic and Islamic Near East, and the         Mediterranean
•    Participants will understand how the theoretical aspects of the law are at times distinct from its application
•    Participants will be able to engage critically with the primary and secondary sources
•    Participants will learn how to write effective historical arguments on Law.