The contributions of Bernard Weiss to the study of the principles of jurisprudence (usul al-fiqh) are recognized in a series of contributions on Islamic legal theory. These thirteen chapters study a range of Islamic texts and employ contemporary legal, religious, and hermeneutical theory to study the methodology of Islamic law. Contributors include: Peter Sluglett, Ahmed El Shamsy, Eric Chaumont, A. Kevin Reinhart, Mohammad Fadel, Jonathan Brockopp, Christian Lange, Raquel M. Ukeles, Paul Powers, Robert Gleave, Wolfhart Heinrichs, Joseph Lowry, Rudolph Peters, Frank E. Vogel

Introductory Sections Peter Sluglett, University of Utah, Department of History: Memories of Bernard Weiss & Bibliography of the Writings of Bernard Weiss Robert Gleave and A. Kevin Reinhart: The Spirit of Islamic Law. Introduction Law and Reason Chapter 1 Ahmed El Shamsy, University of Chicago, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations: The Wisdom of God's Law: Two Theories Chapter 2 Eric Chaumont, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique: La notion de wajh al-hikmah dans les usul al-fiqh d'Abu Ishaq al-Shirazi (m. 476/1083) Chapter 3 A. Kevin Reinhart, Dartmouth College, Department of Religion: Ritual Action and Practical Action: The Incomprehensibility of Muslim Devotional Action Chapter 4 Mohammad Fadel, University of Toronto, Faculty of Law: Istafti qalbaka wa in aftaka al-nasu wa aftuka: The Ethical Obligations of the Muqallid Between Autonomy and Trust Law and Religion Chapter 5 Jonathan Brockopp, Pennsylvania State University, Department of History: Sahnun's Mudawwanah and the Piety of the "Shari'ah-minded" Chapter 6 Christian Lange, University of Utrecht, Department of Religious Studies and Theology: Sins, Expiation and Non-rationality in Hanafi and Shafi'i fiqh Chapter 7 Raquel M. Ukeles, National Library of Israel, Curator, Islam and Middle East Collection: Jurists' Responses to Popular Devotional Practices in Medieval Islam Law and Language Chapter 8 Paul Powers, Lewis & Clark College, Department of Religion: Finding God and Humanity in Language: Islamic Legal Assessments as the Meeting Point of the Divine and Human Chapter 9 Robert Gleave, University of Exeter, Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies: Literal Meaning and Interpretation in Early Imami Law Chapter 10 Wolfhart Heinrichs, Harvard University, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations: "Genres" in the Kitab al-Luqtah of Ibn Rushd's Bidayat al-mujtahid wa-nihayat al-muqtasid Diversity and Authority Chapter 11 Joseph Lowry, The University of Pennsylvania, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations: Is There Something Postmodern About Usul Al-Fiqh? Ijma', Constraint, and Interpretive Communities Chapter 12 Rudolph Peters, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Department of Arabic & Islamic Studies: Body and Spirit of Islamic Law: Madhhab Diversity in Ottoman Documents from the Dakhla Oasis, Egypt Chapter 13 Frank E. Vogel, Harvard University, Islamic Legal Studies Program: Tracing Nuance in Mawardi's al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah: Implicit Framing of Constitutional Authority Index