Because Islamic Law (Sharia) governs the lives of 900 million people worldwide, this legal system is cornerstone of the national law of several nations, and Sharia is playing an increasingly important role in international business transactions, banking/finance, and various aspects of personal law in many nations. This research guide presents historical and doctrinal perspectives required to understand the development of Islamic jurisprudence and its application. In addition to its historical treatment, this work also covers selected current issues of significance importance. The first part provides background information on Sharia (including its origins and history, what it consists of, and its methodology) and an introduction to many of the issues that Sharia addresses. The second part contains a concise yet comprehensive annotated bibliography of academic legal literature to assist those researching Sharia. Individual sections cover primary sources (including statutes and case law), while subsequent chapters deal with secondary materials such as journals, treatises, and reference works on substantive areas of law. The goal of this work is to enhance the understanding of Islamic law; in so doing, it explains the complexity of reconciling law with custom, and religious with secular laws.--Publisher.