This book presents an invaluable contribution to the debate on the compatibility of Islam and modernity. It is full of arguments and examples showing how Islam can be understood in line with modern life, human rights, democracy, the rule of law, civil society and pluralism. The three authors come from different countries, represent different gender perspectives and have a Shia, a Sunni and a non-Muslim background respectively which makes the book a unique source of information and inspiration.' - Irmgard Marboe, University of Vienna, AustriaThis well-informed book explains, reflects on and analyzes Islamic law, not only in the classical legal tradition of Sharia, but also its modern, contemporary context. The book explores the role of Islamic law in secular Western nations and reflects on the legal system of Islam in its classical context as applied in its traditional homeland of the Middle East and also in South East Asia. Written by three leading scholars from three different backgrounds: a Muslim in the Sunni tradition, a Muslim in the Shia tradition, and a non-Muslim woman - the book is not only unique, but also enriched by differing insights into Islamic law. Sir William Blair provides the foreword to a book which acknowledges that Islam continues to play a vital role not just in the Middle East but across the wider world, the discussion on which the authors embark is a crucial one. The book starts with an analysis of the nature of Islamic law, its concepts, meaning and sources, as well as its development in different stages of Islamic history. This is followed by accounts of how Islamic law is being practised today. Key modern institutions are discussed, such as the parliament, judiciary, dar al-ifta, political parties, and other important organizations. It continues by analysing some key concepts in our modern times: nation-state, citizenship, ummah, dhimmah (recognition of the status of certain non-Muslims in Islamic states), and the rule of law. The book investigates how in recent times, more and more fatwas are issued collectively rather than emanating from an individual scholar. The authors then evaluate how Islamic law deals with family matters, economics, crime, property and alternative dispute resolution. Lastly, the book revisits certain contemporary issues of debate in Islamic law such as the burqa, halal food, riba (interest) and apostasy. Modern Perspectives on Islamic Law will become a standard scholarly text on Islamic law. Its wide-ranging coverage will appeal to researchers and students of Islamic law, or Islamic studies in general. Legal practitioners will also be interested in the comparative aspects of Islamic law presented in this book. Contents: Foreword by The Honorable Sir William Blair Preface Prologue 1. The Nature of Law, and its Relationship with Religion, in Islam 2. Islamic Law and Institutions 3. Seeing a Western Nation through Muslim Eyes: Citizenship and the Sharia in Modern Nation-states 4. Fatwa and Muftis 5. Islamic Family Law 6. Mediation, Arbitration and Islamic Alternative Dispute Resolution 7. Islamic Law and Economics 8. Property Rights, Inheritance Law and Trusts (waqf) 9. Islamic Criminal Law 10. Contemporary Debates On and Within Islam Epilogue Index

This book presents an invaluable contribution to the debate on the compatibility of Islam and modernity. It is full of arguments and examples showing how Islam can be understood in line with modern life, human rights, democracy, the rule of law, civil society and pluralism. The three authors come from different countries, represent different gender perspectives and have a Shia, a Sunni and a non-Muslim background respectively which makes the book a unique source of information and inspiration.' - Irmgard Marboe, University of Vienna, AustriaThis well-informed book explains, reflects on and analyzes Islamic law, not only in the classical legal tradition of Sharia, but also its modern, contemporary context. The book explores the role of Islamic law in secular Western nations and reflects on the legal system of Islam in its classical context as applied in its traditional homeland of the Middle East and also in South East Asia. Written by three leading scholars from three different backgrounds: a Muslim in the Sunni tradition, a Muslim in the Shia tradition, and a non-Muslim woman - the book is not only unique, but also enriched by differing insights into Islamic law. Sir William Blair provides the foreword to a book which acknowledges that Islam continues to play a vital role not just in the Middle East but across the wider world, the discussion on which the authors embark is a crucial one. The book starts with an analysis of the nature of Islamic law, its concepts, meaning and sources, as well as its development in different stages of Islamic history. This is followed by accounts of how Islamic law is being practised today. Key modern institutions are discussed, such as the parliament, judiciary, dar al-ifta, political parties, and other important organizations. It continues by analysing some key concepts in our modern times: nation-state, citizenship, ummah, dhimmah (recognition of the status of certain non-Muslims in Islamic states), and the rule of law. The book investigates how in recent times, more and more fatwas are issued collectively rather than emanating from an individual scholar. The authors then evaluate how Islamic law deals with family matters, economics, crime, property and alternative dispute resolution. Lastly, the book revisits certain contemporary issues of debate in Islamic law such as the burqa, halal food, riba (interest) and apostasy. Modern Perspectives on Islamic Law will become a standard scholarly text on Islamic law. Its wide-ranging coverage will appeal to researchers and students of Islamic law, or Islamic studies in general. Legal practitioners will also be interested in the comparative aspects of Islamic law presented in this book. Contents: Foreword by The Honorable Sir William Blair Preface Prologue 1. The Nature of Law, and its Relationship with Religion, in Islam 2. Islamic Law and Institutions 3. Seeing a Western Nation through Muslim Eyes: Citizenship and the Sharia in Modern Nation-states 4. Fatwa and Muftis 5. Islamic Family Law 6. Mediation, Arbitration and Islamic Alternative Dispute Resolution 7. Islamic Law and Economics 8. Property Rights, Inheritance Law and Trusts (waqf) 9. Islamic Criminal Law 10. Contemporary Debates On and Within Islam Epilogue Index

The study of Asia and its plural legal systems is of increasing significance, both within and outside Asia. Lawyers, whether in Australia, America or Europe, or working within an Asian jurisdiction, require a sound knowledge of how the law operates across this fast-growing and diverse region. Law and Legal Institutions of Asia is the first book to offer a comprehensive assessment of eleven key jurisdictions in Asia - China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore and the Philippines. Written by academics and practitioners with particular expertise in their state or territory, each chapter uses a breakthrough approach, facilitating cross-jurisdictional comparisons and giving essential insights into how law functions in different ways across the region and in each of the individual jurisdictions.

The Art of Healing Childhood Grief is a ground breaking, timely tool grieving child. facilitator, school counselor or mental health professional needs to successfully design a safe, child friendly program to fit any loss situation so children can grieve...and heal. Drawing on a rich heritage of psychological, educational, primary prevention and creative traditions, Black and Simpson have designed and implemented an innovative, school-based support program to usher in a new approach to childhood grief. Now in its fourth edition, this labor of love is filled with hundreds of expressive arts activities and a sequential curriculum organized in an easy to access format for professionals and lay facilitators to reference when working with an individual child, a small group of children or an entire school. Included in this manual is a chapter on responding to the needs of children children in the aftermath of death crises such as suicide, homicide, terrorist attacks and war.

The Bitch-Proof Suit is a fresh and exciting story with plenty of humor and romance - with all the charm of Dublin and glamor of New York.When Blue (Bluebell) Byrne is up against the odds in the world of New York fashion marketing, she needs the ultimate in accessories - a bitch-proof suit. Her marketing experience has helped her create the perfect suit. She had it made by bespoke tailors, cut with twice the precision at half the price. No labels, no trends, just sheer cutting edge class.The story starts in Manhattan. Blue is about to put her suit to the ultimate test when she vies against a boardroom full of conniving business rivals to win the top job assignment - to work in the company's office in Dublin, Ireland, and settle a few scores at the same time.The suit, her negotiating skills and gutsy determination helps Blue win the job. Within hours she sets off for Dublin. It's the one place she swore she'd never go back to. Six years ago she'd left that city behind, along with Morgan Daire, the man who broke her heart, sure she'd never return. It had almost destroyed her once, but hell...she loves a challenge She'll be working with the unspeakably glamorous and influential Verde Valmont, and Verde's Irish assistant Emer. Blue will also be facing up to the formidable Dubliner, Morgan Daire, the man whose past is inexorably linked with hers. Then there's her friend, Dublin designer, Murphy, an incorrigible rogue whose flirting causes jealousy and all sorts of trouble. She also encounters the sexy and handsome Sears Pearson, a New York coolhunter, who takes an interest in her. With Morgan and Sears vying for her attention, and Murphy causing misunderstandings, her love life is anything but smooth.This is a sparkling new novel, brimming with romance, humor, friendship, rivalry, Irish cocktails and scandalous behavior.Note: The Bitch-Proof Suit did actually exist. The author, De-ann Black, designed and wore it several years ago when living and working in Dublin, and it served its purpose brilliantly.

The Cure For Love is a romantic comedy set in Cornwall and London.The story starts in London. Daisy is broken-hearted when her boyfriend, Sebastian, announces his engagement to Celeste. Sebastian works for a publishing company in London. Celeste's father, Franklin, owns the company. Daisy is a freelance botanical illustrator who often works for Franklin, illustrating books.Angry and betrayed, Daisy leaves London and heads for a break in Cornwall. Franklin has given her the keys to his holiday cottage in a small Cornish town. The seclusion she seeks is soon disturbed when she meets Jake Wolfe. Jake is a successful businessman who owns and runs a health food shop in the town. He is also the author of herbal books. His latest book is his finest project, to find a cure for lovesickness. He believes he has found the cure for love. All he requires is someone broken-hearted to test out the latest version of his remedy.Daisy and Jake are immediately at odds. Daisy doesn't want to be anyone's guinea pig. Finally, Daisy agrees to test Jake's cure for love. Will it cure her of being in love with Sebastian? Or has she fallen for Jake? Perhaps castle owner Roman Penhaligan has stolen her heart? Will she take it? Or will everyone stop her drinking the remedy before it's too late?Crazy and comical, this book is filled with entertaining characters like the local gossip, Mrs Lemon, whimsical uncle Woolley, incorrigible Sharky the baker, and others.The Cure for Love is a light-hearted romance.

In this action-packed, modern thriller, based in Scotland, Riley is tasked by the Glasgow police force to investigate the killing of a man whose computer insists never existed. Unfortunately, Riley discovers his own name is on the killer's hit list, once again providing him with his usual measure of strife. As a historian and cyber sleuth he's also asked to help investigate the strange murder of a high ranking British politician. When the cases seem to be linked, this results in his past coming back to haunt him. Riley has a double-edged existence and a dark, adventure filled past. He's a former member of the SBS - the Special Boat Service, one of the most secretive units of the British Special Forces. Comparable to the SAS, the predominantly Royal Navy unit are experts on both land and sea. Through his special investigations, Riley is drawn into dramatic and dangerous situations that go beyond the confines of his cyber sleuth expertise. Riley's world is inhabited by criminals, politicians, the police and British military - and those with a mind for mystery and deceit.

The faeries of Whispering Wood plan to modernise themselves so that people will start believing in them again.They ask a sprite to teach them about new technology, and inadvertently enlist the help of Finlay, an elficologist, along with Mrs Bell who owns the ice cream shop, and her shifty cat.They also try to hire a newspaper journalist to help with their publicity campaign, and unwittingly become the target of an unscrupulous reporter known as the Horrible Hack. Thankfully, they have the back up of the Wandflower faeries, led by Scabious Violetshifter, editor of the Faerie News, Winter Wolf-Bane his sub-editor, and faerie photo-journalist, Flaxy Blewit, together with Nettle-Wick the troll.Apart from convincing humans that they exist to prevent themselves from fading, dealing with the Horrible Hack, and thwarting the press, the faeries have to fight the black heart, a faerie who is lurking in Whispering Wood with the darkest of intentions.Written with a liberal dash of humor, the story is really about the interaction of the characters, showing the worst of faerie and human nature at its magical best.

This is a script book. It is laid out in script format.Storyline: Somewhere in the heart of rural Scotland is a well-kept secret - a hidden location for a self-assembly business that manufactures traditional English, Scottish and Irish pubs ready-made and flat-packed to be sold on the international market. Business is starting to thrive for the owner, Fergus, and the two lads who work for him - Alvie and Teapot. Orders are coming in from buyers in Europe and America. This is spectacular news for Fergus who has found a special way to create these pubs. It's astonishing what you can do with a hammer, nails, varnished newspapers, old photographs of someone's grandfather and sticky backed plastic. But with success comes competition. How long will it be before someone else jumps on the bandwagon and manufactures Fergus' pubs for sale abroad? For this reason, Fergus protects his location and methods fiercely from prying eyes. He moves from London up to a derelict croft in the wilds of Scotland that was left to him by his late grandmother. Within the basic workshop of Area 52, Fergus and his team go to great lengths to protect their production methods. Unfortunately, the area that Fergus unwittingly names Area 52 (sums are not his strong point), is part of a secret rocket science base where three rocket scientists (Professor Prith, Nora Blonde and Jack) work on space related projects. One lot doesn't know about the other - at least not at first. When Fergus finds out his secret stronghold is compromised by the rocket scientists, he's determined to fight for his territory, especially when he's about to expand his pub production. The new thistle logos are already at the printers. The sign outside his secret business reads: UFO and has an entirely different meaning than sighting flying saucers.

'I used to be afraid of the dark. I imagined there were all sorts of ghosts and ghouls lurking in the shadows at night. If only I'd known then, what I know now...' Murphy. Twelve-year-old Murphy Moss has a fascination for ghosts, mysteries and anything creepy. He ends up working a few hours a week at the Secondhand Spook shop. The shop's owner supplies ghosts, phantoms and other unworldly creatures to those who want to buy or hire them for special occasions. The trouble starts when one of the Secondhand Spooks, Lucky Eddie, goes missing. Lucky Eddie has been darkled (captured by three evil ghouls known as the Darkles). The Darkles have a plan to cause chaos at the Creepy Castle when ghosts from all over the world gather to celebrate the night of December 32nd. Murphy and his friend, Evie Snow, become involved in the trouble, along with a lively and fascinating selection of weird characters including: the Freaky Phantom, Raggety Wraith, Rattlebones the skeleton, Mr Macabre the Horrible Highlander, the Spectre Inspector, Sebastian Knight and his ancient ghostly butler, Fossil, and Un-Dead Fred the cat. Secondhand Spooks - December 32nd is a children's book with an exciting plot and a great variety of wonderful characters. Set in a fascinating world of ghosts, ghouls and phantoms, the book is ideal for those looking for a spooky and humorous read. Includes some illustrations.

An Irish ex-boyfriend, aNew York newspaper editor, a movie star, and a Hollywood agent -the men in Phred's life cause her nothing but trouble.So the last thing she needs is to become one of the paparazzi.When Dublin newspaper journalist, Phred, is dumped by her Irish boyfriend, Finbar, she runs off to New York to make a fresh start. She ends up working as a journalist for a newspaper in Manhattan.Set in a snowy November in New York, Phred's world is filled with romance, humour and excitement involving her attractive newspaper editor, Royce, gorgeous movie star, Bradley Goldsilver, and handsome Hollywood agent, Vaughn.Royce sends Phred out one night to a New York movie premier. Phred is a journalist, not a photographer, but Royce wants her to go.Her assignment is to glean a candid shot of movie star, Bradley Goldsilver, at his latest movie premier. No mean feat. Especially as every other big burly paparazzo with their eye on the money is vying for the same.Phred, a reluctant paparazzo, does something outrageously out of character to get the photograph she needs - and ends up in the headlines herself.Phred gives a whole new perspective to the world of the paparazzi.

The Bitch-Proof Suit is a sparkling and exciting novel, brimming with romance, humor, friendship, rivalry, Irish cocktails and scandalous behavior. When Blue (Bluebell) Byrne is up against the odds in the world of New York fashion marketing, she needs the ultimate in accessories - a bitch-proof suit. Her marketing experience has helped her create the perfect suit. She had it made by bespoke tailors, cut with twice the precision at half the price. No labels, no trends, just sheer cutting edge class. The story starts in Manhattan. Blue is about to put her suit to the ultimate test when she vies against a boardroom full of conniving business rivals to win the top job assignment - to work in the company's office in Dublin, Ireland, and settle a few scores at the same time. The suit, her negotiating skills and gutsy determination helps Blue win the job. Within hours she sets off for Dublin. It's the one place she swore she'd never go back to. Six years ago she'd left that city behind, along with Morgan Daire, the man who broke her heart, sure she'd never return. It had almost destroyed her once, but hell...she loves a challenge She'll be working with the unspeakably glamorous and influential Verde Valmont, and Verde's Irish assistant, Emer. Blue will also be facing up to the formidable Dubliner, Morgan Daire, the man whose past is inexorably linked with hers. Then there's her friend, Dublin designer, Murphy, an incorrigible rogue whose flirting causes jealousy and all sorts of trouble. She also encounters the sexy and handsome Sears Pearson, a New York coolhunter. The Bitch-Proof Suit did actually exist. The author, De-ann Black, designed and wore it several years ago when living and working in Dublin, and it served its purpose brilliantly.

Naive but keen, Dave, Anne and five friends volunteer to become first-time sponsors, and are matched with an elderly couple from Kosovo. Little do they know they are about to embark on an adventure unlike anything ever experienced before.
This true story will make you laugh out loud, bring tears to your eyes, and leave you wanting to meet this amazing Kosovar couple.
The instant Nezir Brajshori--the tall, confident, outgoing man better known as "Hajji"--and his wife Nazife--a quiet, retiring, gentle woman--set foot on Canadian soil and meet their sponsors, the fun and challenges begin. Adjusting to each other and to unexpected cultural differences, the sponsors and newcomers share hilarious moments, overcome language barriers and tackle the practical difficulties of daily life in a new country.
The sponsors introduce the Brajshoris to Canada's modern, urban environment, while Hajji entertains with anecdotes of traditional rural life. Together they celebrate the arrival of the Brajshoris' son, Dani, rejoice in the excitement of trips to Germany, Mecca, and Kosovo, and partake in the joy of a visit with the Prime Minister of Canada. The volunteers learn about the Muslim religion and the art of living the moment, while Hajji and Nazife internalize the Canadian way of life.
As years go by, a bond is created. The relationship blossoms, as sponsors pass from role of helper to friend, becoming as close as family itself.
In becoming Canadian citizens, the Brajshoris achieve their dreams of democracy, peace and freedom.

In Muslim Integration: Pluralism and Multiculturalism in New Zealand and Australia, contributors from a range of backgrounds investigate the state of Muslim integration in New Zealand and Australia. The growing presence of a Muslim minority has invited these two Pacific settler states to closely consider the question of Muslim integration into Western society. This collection discusses the future of religio-cultural pluralism, multicultural policies, and the growing demands for greater emphasis on assimilation. Contributors examine issues such as parallel societies, Islamophobia, radicalization, tolerance, adaptation and mutual adjustment, legal pluralism, the role of mosque architecture, and media depictions of Muslims are examined. Recommended for scholars of anthropology, religious studies, sociology, and political science.