Doubt in Islamic Law: A History of Legal Maxims, Interpretation, and Islamic Criminal Law (Cambridge Studies in Islamic Civilization)

Prof. Rabb does what few Islamic legal scholars do: make the detail of the law accessible. This thoroughly engaging and informative treatment of an Islamic legacy long overlooked but critical to legal deliberations and commentary on "terrorist" rhetoric today, it is a must have for those who want to know about a truly rich surrounding one legal concept that contextualizes thought in the legal tradition. I am glad I bought and even more thrilled now that I have read it.

This is an academic work regarding the history of one aspect of Islamic Law and how the Muslim intellectual tradition has addressed it and, indeed, wrestled with it. If one is so full of hate and misinformation that they can't see that, then they're part of problem and not the solution. Thoughtful and articulate scholars, such as Intisar A. Rabb—who are a far cry from being militant Jihadists—produce works of quality research and erudition like this which greatly contribute to societal understanding (at least among honest, well-read, and thinking people) of Islam in all of its varieties. The ideological war against militant Jihadism isn't going to be won by hate-mongering and spewing misinformation, so please leave that to the other side. While I strongly believe in the superiority of Western values and American liberty, I also firmly believe in fairness and intellectual integrity, so I would encourage anyone who is interested in the nuances of Islamic Law (Shari’ah) to read this book.

This is a thoroughly researched and novel exploration of the concept of doubt across various facets of Islamic law. It is accessible not only to Islamic legal scholars, but also to those who are interested in the subject and want to learn more about it. Rabb writes with a lively and engaging style, which guides the reader along through complex ideas, digging into richly complicated territory with expert knowledge and direction. She also tells many stories from Islamic history and literature, which provides a fuller picture of the subject. I would highly recommend to scholars and students in Islamic law, as well as readers who would like to learn about the subject.

Rabb's book is full of Sharia apologetics and propaganda; her interest is death to American liberty, and the destruction of our constitutional freedoms. She preaches this same hatred of American values at Harvard, where she explicitly aims to "build a community of Islamic law scholars in the academy” and dictate “policy and media discourse about Islamic law.”