'The World of Fatwas provides a new prism to non-Muslims for observing Islam and holds up a mirror to Muslims challenging them to necessary introspection for adjusting to a changing world'- J.N. Dixit diplomat and former Indian Foreign Secretary of Outlook Why are women 'the greatest affliction'? Why is slaughtering cows seen as a 'great Islamic act' when the Quran does not even mention it? Why must believers put down non-believers? In this meticulously researched book Arun Shourie looks at the social religious and political contexts of fatwas down the ages. With a mountain of fatwas as his text he shows us the Shariah in action; he unravels the history of fatwas and the implications that a faithful dogmatic adherence to these Islamic decrees holds for the 'believer'. And hence for the non-believers. First published in 1995 this revised up-to-date and expanded edition provides both Muslims and non-Muslims alike an even more clear-eyed look at the controversial world of fatwas.