An Islamic Triangle Changing Relationships between Sharia, State Law, and Local Customs

Abstract

The installation of large numbers of Muslim immigrants in Western Europe and the United States has contributed to a renewed interest in Islamic law in these countries. Knowledge of Islamic law is considered necessary in order to understand the behaviour of Muslims, especially in cases in which it conflicts with indigenous norms in Western societies. In addition to the emphasis on Islamic law, it is important also to study the diversity of norms governing the behaviour of Muslims. Apart from sharia, norms related to state law and to local customs are also signficant as is the relationship between these different sets of norms considered in a historical perspective.