Clash of Shari’ā with National Law

Abstract

This paper undertakes a praxiological study (practice based approach) of Muslim “religious tribunals”, Shari’ā Councils and Muslim Arbitration Tribunals (MATs) not part of the UK law. Some Western scholars maintain that traditional shari’ā law is discriminatory on issues of gender equality, in particular, with reference to Muslim family law. It is important to examine the shift from the “true narratives” of the Qur’ānic Model (QM) to the “living practice”; co-construction of “true narratives” with the QM.This paper argues that discrimination can be eliminated through the QM by adopting the interpretive/hermeneutical approach. Praxiological/practice based approach (PBA) in this study has identified that discrimination does exist in the “living practice” of traditional shari’ā law.This study treats the Qur’ān-Sunnā as complementary sources to each other because this has important implications with reference to “wife beating” verse in the Qur’ān (Q.4:34). PBA enabled to identify the specifics of discrimination that occur. Thesecular-religious debate has been politically influenced, for example, inequality issue for women seeking advice from RTs. BaronessCox has introduced the Arbitration and Mediation (Equality) Services Bill (HL) 2014-15 that went through its first reading on 11 June 2014. The Bill addresses gender discrimination within Muslim religious tribunals and the parallel legal system.