The World from the Perspective of Sharia (Review of Nani Gelovani’s Monograph – Sharia: History

Abstract

The book – “Sharia: History, Dogmatics, Law” was prepared at Ivane Javakhi-shvili Tbilisi State University and published in 2024 with the financial support of the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia. This work provides a complete, vivid panorama of Islamic law—its doctrinal schools, ritual practices, legal norms, and the role of ‘Ulama in the socio-political life of Muslim countries. It presents a thorough discussion and analysis of State Law, Criminal Law, Personal Status Law, and Financial Law. The work relies on the primary sources of Islamic law, historical sources, and normative-legal acts. The researcher has introduced a substantial number of foreign scientific works into the Georgian scientific discourse, along with archival materials. Considering these, it has detailed not only new dimensions and nuances of Sharia but has also presented cardinal and critically important issues for the discerning reader. And not only will you be introduced to the system of Sharia and its peculiarities in Islamic law, but it is also highly significant from the perspectives of general law, general politics, and general culture. It is obvious that such a fundamental monograph could not have been created solely from a legal perspective without a comprehensive exploration of the various aspects of Sharia; for this, it was essential to employ historical-typological, comparative-legal, axiological, dogmatic, descriptive, formal-legal, and logical-systemic methods, which are clearly evident when familiarizing oneself with this work. This monograph is full of specific issues, but it is composed in such a skillful and refined manner that the religious-legal background is so impressive, and the arguments are so dynamic that ""Sharia: History, Dogmatics, Law"" can be found among the lively readings, and it will be easily understandable and recognizable for all layers of readers. And not only will you be introduced to the system of Sharia and its peculiarities in Islamic law, but it is also highly significant from the perspectives of general law, general politics, and general culture. The high rank that Georgian Oriental Studies has achieved on the international stage, the tradition that is continuous and inherently still charged and multifaceted, is exemplified by this monograph: Nani Gelovani's ""Sharia: History, Dogmatics, Law"" – like one’s own flesh and blood, it embodies a venerable scientific tradition.