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Rating: 
Summary: Encyclopedia of Islamic Law
Review: As a large and growing body of Muslims speak English as a first language, reference works for believers are increasingly available in what was once the language of the orientalists. Massive source books, such as the compilations of the hadith (accounts of the Prophet Muhammad's sayings or doings) now provide a fair representation of what previously had only been accessible in the traditional languages of Islam. Bakhtiar takes credit for "adapting" the Encyclopedia of Islamic Law, which means that she has mostly translated one book from Arabic, then reshaped it for an English-speaking readership. For the informed Muslim, the Encyclopedia serves as a handy reference guide to the four Sunni schools (madhhabs) and the one Shi`i (the Ja`fari). To other readers, it provides a fascinating immersion into the world of Islamic jurisprudence in all its complexities, common-sensical variation, and stunning dissimilarity from modern Western life. The titles of sections give their flavor: "a disobedient wife," "taking an oath to refrain from sex with one's wife," and "the inheritance of a fetus, disowned and illegitimate children." The five schools usually agree on essentials and disagree on details. All schools concur on forbidding silk to men during prayer, Ja`faris alone permit it during illness or war. All concur that a traveler need not fast during Ramadan, but Shafi`is limit this exception to the occasional traveler, and not to someone who travels continuously for a living. Middle East Quarterly, December 1996
Rating:
Summary: Encyclopedia of Islamic Law
Review: As a large and growing body of Muslims speak English as a first language, reference works for believers are increasingly available in what was once the language of the orientalists. Massive source books, such as the compilations of the hadith (accounts of the Prophet Muhammad's sayings or doings) now provide a fair representation of what previously had only been accessible in the traditional languages of Islam. Bakhtiar takes credit for "adapting" the Encyclopedia of Islamic Law, which means that she has mostly translated one book from Arabic, then reshaped it for an English-speaking readership. For the informed Muslim, the Encyclopedia serves as a handy reference guide to the four Sunni schools (madhhabs) and the one Shi'i (the Ja'fari). To other readers, it provides a fascinating immersion into the world of Islamic jurisprudence in all its complexities, common-sensical variation, and stunning dissimilarity from modern Western life. The titles of sections give their flavor: "a disobedient wife," "taking an oath to refrain from sex with one's wife," and "the inheritance of a fetus, disowned and illegitimate children." The five schools usually agree on essentials and disagree on details. All schools concur on forbidding silk to men during prayer, Ja'faris alone permit it during illness or war. All concur that a traveler need not fast during Ramadan, but Shafi'is limit this exception to the occasional traveler, and not to someone who travels continuously for a living. Middle East Quarterly, December 1996
Rating: 
Summary: A most needed reference book
Review: Author fills a big gap in this field of comperative study of Islamic sects and suprizingly it even includes the shia't belief. As the name suggests it is all about how each school of thought consideres the Islamic law, what is their opinion on certain issues. Of course issues that are not disputed is not covered but only those that are different is covered. Author also provides some explanations behind the opinions. It is very good book for person doing comperative study and for more details you can go back to sources, Shafii's book, Muwatta or others.It is a good book for Imam's in this country where they have to answer to questions coming from variety of muslim groups contrary to in the home country it is more uniform, people are generally in same sect.
Rating: 
Summary: Informative... But intellectually useless.
Review: This book is actually a direct translation of a major comparative study by the late shi`i scholar Muhammad Jowwad Maghniyyah. The original work as well as the translation simply list religious rules regarding certain cases and highlights the differences between the Sunni and shi`i scholars. The work rarely mention the reasoning behind any legal rule and the information is very brief. For practicing Muslims, the book can be a great source of information; for non-practicing Muslims, it is useless. The translation is not the best I have seen either, I have read better translations of the same work and this one is the worst. For the kind of information that is contained in the book, any online resource of Islamic law (of the same calible) will be more useful and save more time.
Rating:
Summary: Informative... But intellectually useless.
Review: This book is actually a direct translation of a major comparative study by the late shi`i scholar Muhammad Jowwad Maghniyyah. The original work as well as the translation simply list religious rules regarding certain cases and highlights the differences between the Sunni and shi`i scholars. The work rarely mention the reasoning behind any legal rule and the information is very brief. For practicing Muslims, the book can be a great source of information; for non-practicing Muslims, it is useless. The translation is not the best I have seen either, I have read better translations of the same work and this one is the worst. For the kind of information that is contained in the book, any online resource of Islamic law (of the same calible) will be more useful and save more time.
Rating:
Summary: Makes Complex Jurisprudence Accessible to Laypeople
Review: This is an excellent work for reviewing and familiarizing oneself with multi-faceted traditions of shari'a. Well-organized and concise, this work presents lucidly the unity and differences between the dominant Shi'a tradition (i.e., Jafari) and the four Sunni schools (i.e., Hanbali, Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Maliki). This works focuses merely on the presentation of opinions and civil matters and religious ritual (e.g., marriage, inheritance, salaat, zakat, etc.), so anyone seeking to gain any knowledge about usul al-fiqh (legal theory/methodology) and the continuing relevance of Islamic law to modern ecomnies and states should look elsewhere. Muslims will find it practical in their daily acts of faith. Non-muslims will find it fascinating and a good reference for answering question regarding religious duties of Muslims (e.g., who is qualified to recieve the alms-tax?).
Rating:
Summary: Makes Complex Jurisprudence Accessible to Laypeople
Review: This is an excellent work for reviewing and familiarizing oneself with multi-faceted traditions of shari'a. Well-organized and concise, this work presents lucidly the unity and differences between the dominant Shi'a tradition (i.e., Jafari) and the four Sunni schools (i.e., Hanbali, Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Maliki). This works focuses merely on the presentation of opinions and civil matters and religious ritual (e.g., marriage, inheritance, salaat, zakat, etc.), so anyone seeking to gain any knowledge about usul al-fiqh (legal theory/methodology) and the continuing relevance of Islamic law to modern ecomnies and states should look elsewhere. Muslims will find it practical in their daily acts of faith. Non-muslims will find it fascinating and a good reference for answering question regarding religious duties of Muslims (e.g., who is qualified to recieve the alms-tax?).
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