Modernizing Mohammed's Law

At the same time that Roman Catholic canon lawyers were putting together their reform proposals, another group of ecclesiastical legal experts--the ulema (scholars) of Islam--was meeting in Cairo to update the Sharia, or code of spiritual rules, which governs their own ancient faith. Since the Sharia is based exclusively upon Mohammed's words in the Koran and the equally authoritative oral tradition of his deeds and sayings, the ulema had a tougher task adapting its provisions to fit the changes in modern life.

Although Moslem women in such countries as Tunisia and Lebanon are clamoring for equality, Scholar-Sheik Abu Zahara defended the double-standard system of polygamy on the ground that "it has put a limit to the chaotic side of social life." He also upheld the essential humanity of such traditional Arab punishments as cutting off the hands of thieves and flogging adulterers. The pain is acute and the experience humiliating, the Sheik admitted, but it does not last as long as the Western way of punishment, imprisonment.

When it came to economic matters, the ulema found themselves bedeviled by subtle problems of distinction that would have tried the ingenuity of the prophet himself, who lived in a less complex fiscal age. In general, Islamic scholars have agreed that government-sponsored pension systems, social-welfare payments, and the use of bank checks and letters of credit are compatible with tradition. But even though loans at interest are made by all Arab-nation banks, most Islamic scholars still stoutly maintain that this is nothing less than the sin of usury. Others feel that even fire, death and accident insurance are precautions that should not be taken by the good Moslem with faith in the all-merciful Allah.

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