Draws on a distinguished career's worth of experience trying to understand the region to address the fundamental question in Middle East studies: what is the Middle East This work offers us an alternative view of the region, its historic cosmpolitanism, its religious and cultural diversity, and its rapid adoption of various media cultures.

(, 3rd edition)

Islamic law (the Shari'a) and its application is a central issue in contemporary Islamic politics and culture. Starting from modern concerns, this book examines the origins and evolution of the Shari'a and the corpus of texts, concepts and practices in which it has been enshrined.