Islam and Social Policy

This collection of five essays, presented by Heyneman (international education policy, Vanderbilt U.), represents an attempt to explain to Westerners how Islam sees itself in terms of social policy, i.e. the treatment of women, institutions of education, educational practices, and the promotion of social welfare. The essays point to similarities and cultural differences between the West and Islam in their discussions of the historical development of waqf (Islamic charity), five schools of Islamic family law, Islamic law and family planning, compulsory zakat (a tax intended to benefit the needy) in modern Pakistan, and health policy in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR