The Pillars of Islam Vol II: Laws Pertaining to Human Intercourse by Ismail K.H. Poonawala – Edition 2007

The Pillars of Islam, was the culmination of Nu’man’s efforts in the field of jurisprudence for more than thirty years. It was commissioned by the Fatimid Caliph al Mu’izz-Din Allah and was officially promulgated as the state code. The judicial and legal system constructed in The Pillars, both for the use of the state as well as the Isma’ili community is, therefore, unique, and Nu’man is rightly considered as its founder. The Pillars is considered by the Musta’li-Tayyibi Bohras as the greatest authority on Isma’ili law and has until today remained as the greatest authority in their legal matters. It is also applied by courts in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent in personal and family matters as the Isma’ili law manual.

The second volume of the pillars of Islam deals more precisely with the law than the first volume. It deals with a wide range of subjects such as food, dress, medicine, oaths, hunting, business transactions, loans, partition and construction, evidence, marriage, divorce, wills, inheritance, criminal punishments, questions of apostasy and etiquette of judges.

Essential for all libraries and institutions that buy books on Islamic law/studies. This is critical reading for scholars and students of law and religion. It will be especially important for lawyers and judges as this is the greatest authority on Isma’ili law up to the present day and it remains the source of supreme authority in their legal matters. It will also be useful to scholars and students of applied jurisprudence and philosophy.