Postgraduate Module Descriptor


LAW3132: Islamic Law and Society

This module descriptor refers to the 2024/5 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • Introduction to Islamic law: What is Islamic law? Sources of Islamic Law 
  • Philosophy of Islamic law and Islamic Legal Thought -Classic Islamic Law 
  • Pre-Modern Reform, Colonialism and Modernity - Islamic Law and State Legislation 
  • Islamic Legal Thought: Past and Present
  • Legal Institutions: Courts and Procedure 
  • Contracts and Torts 
  • Islamic Criminal Law 
  • Islamic Marriage and Divorce Law
  • Islamic Inheritance Law
  • Islamic law and Muslim Communities in the West
  • Islamic legal revivalism and its consequences

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
281220

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activity 24Lectures and small group discussion/seminars, with use of ELE support materials. Interactive lectures, 2 hours per week, will provide students with guidance through key theories and foster critical commentary, alone or in group.
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activity 3Workshops: 1 hour three times a term. For each seminar, students are required to work independently and/or as a group on oral presentations based on specific issues regarding Islamic Law. Issues for consideration, discussion and debate are provided in the module hand out. Students are required to engage in independent research
Guided independent study122Independent study: workshop preparation (15 hours); reading (40 hours); research for essay, and class (68 hours)

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).