Indonesian Islam: Social Change Through Contemporary Fatāwā This
study is based on approximately 2000 fatwa (plural fatawa) - an
opinion on a point of law or dogma given by a person with
recognised authority (ijaza) - demonstrating that classical
Islamic reasoning is an alternative to state defined Islam and
is capable of dealing with contemporary challenges in ethics and
morality in a consistent and rational way. The book provides a
comprehensive survey of how modern Indonesian Islamic thinking
has responded to changes in social practices since the 1920s and
how authorities have ruled on diverse subjects ranging from
football pools to land sales and milk banks. The author examines
in detail the development and nuances of Islamic thinking, both
by reference to local tradition and comparatively, by reference
to the classical Arabian texts, therefore providing an important
contribution to deepening popular understanding of Islam in
Indonesia. Chapter 3 specifically addressing the situation and
conception of wom