Introducing an Intricate Relationship

Abstract

This chapter briefly describes the tensions and conflicts pertaining to the intricate relationship of Islam and international law. The relationship of international law and Islamic law in particular, and Islam and the so-called “Western” world in general, direly suffers from ignorance, oversimplification, and prejudice. Attitudes of self-centrism and self-referentialism abound. There can be no doubt that the diagnosis of widespread self-centrism affects actors on all sides of the discourse. This book seeks to assemble a plurality of perspectives on Islam and international law, with a view of furthering awareness of and a sensitivity for various kinds of self-referentialism and with the hope to be able, on that basis, to challenge and, at times, to overcome self-centrism. Keywords:international law; Islamic law; plurality; self-centrism; self-referentialism