Book excerpt: This book is an analysis of the contract of marriage according to the Islamic Shari'ah and of two modern Islamic states. It examines the prerequisites for marriage, the elements which go to form the contract, the processes involved in making the contract, and the institution of marriage itself. The author expresses the essential Islamic concepts of marriage faithfully whilst making the work as accessible as possible te readers of various backgrounds. It will be of interest to legal professionals, to academics and students of Islamic law, and to those interested in Islam, the Middle East and North Africa. Useful Tables of Laws ans Cases are included.