Professor Coulson’s method is to examine the principal currents of Islamic legal thought through a series of conflicting concepts. The six polarizations he has devised are revelation and reason, unity and diversity, authority and liberty, idealism and realism, law and morality, and stability and change. Although clearly relevant to general Islamic studies, this book is intended primarily as a study in comparative law. This follows the trend of recent developments in the Islamic legal system itself. In the past, Muslim law has been regarded essentially as a brand of religious studies. Now, however, it is being separated from religion and becoming a province of legal science rather than a matter of religious expertise.

With the advent of technology, the entertainment industry has flourished and become immensely popular. Combine this with the exponential advances in technology, and the result is an increasing number of ways to amuse ourselves. As a result of such advances, Muslim react in a variety of manners towards entertainment. Some label entertainment as completely forbidden. This sometimes includes parents who say no to almost everything that their young ones deem to be ‘fun’, without providing them with suitable alternatives. Others, who do not want to take this extreme approach, fall into the trap of excessive use of – and even addiction to – various sources of entertainment, without any limits.

In Having Fun the Halal Way, Ismail Kamdar explores the teachings of Islam regarding entertainment. Drawing upon the Quran, the Sunnah and the understanding of the righteous scholars of Islam, he provides a detailed and balanced analysis of the topic. He not only explains the detriments of the current entertainment industry, but also suggests alternative means to have a good time with friends and family members.