<p> This book is methodologically unique in scholarly literature on Muslim society. Its originality lies in the fact that the rich material offered by the <i>shari'a</i> courts is given a thorough analysis with a view to drawing conclusions about the present-day phenomena in Arab society and processes that the society has been undergoing in modern times.</p><p> Aharon Layish examines every aspect of the social status of Muslim women that finds expression in the <i>shari'a</i> courts: the age of marriage, stipulations inserted in the marriage contract, dower, polygamy, maintenance and obedience, divorce, custody of the children, guardianship, and succession. Each chapter opens with a short legal introduction based on all the sources of law applying in <i>shari'a</i> courts, followed by social analyses and a study of the attitudes and approaches of the <i>qadis,</i> or Muslim religious judges. Layish examines the relationship between <i>shari'a</i> and Israeli legislation: Do <i>shari'a</i> courts have regard to the provisions of Israeli law? What is the relationship between <i>shari'a</i> and social custom, and which is decisive in regard to Israeli Muslim women? To what extent does Israeli law actually affect Israeli Muslim women? What is the attitude of the <i>qadis,</i> toward Israeli legislation?</p><p> <i>Women and Islamic Law in a Non-Muslim State</i> is an important and original study that will be of interest to students and scholars of Islamic law, comparative law, sociology, and modernization.</p>