Governing Islam: Law, Empire, and Secularism in Modern South Asia

by Julia Stephens

Governing Islam traces the colonial roots of contemporary struggles between Islam and secularism in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The book uncovers the paradoxical workings of colonial laws that promised to separate secular and religious spheres, but instead fostered their vexed entanglement. It shows how religious laws governing families became embroiled with secular laws governing markets, and how calls to protect religious liberties clashed with freedom of the press. By following these interactions, Stephens asks us to reconsider where law is and what it is. Her narrative weaves between state courts, Islamic fatwas on ritual performance, and intimate marital disputes to reveal how deeply law penetrates everyday life. In her hands, law also serves many masters - from British officials to Islamic jurists to aggrieved Muslim wives. The resulting study shows how the neglected field of Muslim law in South Asia is essential to understanding current crises in global secularism.

Genres: Nonfiction

232 pages, Hardcover

Published August 2, 2018

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A revolutionary work. Stephens is the only other scholar I know of in this field, aside from Joan Scott, who has made an intelligent defense of Islam. Her condemnation of the British, particularly in their success at stoking sectarian divisions and diminishing women's rights under Sharia law is shocking, particularly in light of the events since 9/11.

[Michi]

I’m not sure what to think. The legal history itself is surprisingly interesting. Using law and imperial jurisprudence in British India as a case study to show the inherent tensions and contradictions of secularism (private/public distinctions, reframing of religious law and practice, etc.) is a cool approach. I learned a lot about British India, Muslim legal practice, and the unintended effects of imperial politics and law on colonies.
But, ultimately the underlying narrative of the evil (or stupid) British people, the lack of complexity in understanding Christian mission and political theology, and the implicit (and at the end, explicit) activistic thrust are somewhat frustrating. I don’t understand this pretense of “I’m just doing history” if there clearly is an agenda?