ABSTRACT
S.D.Goitein Islamicreligionischaracterizedbytheprominenceoflegalconcep-
tionsinitssystem:TheShari'ah,orholylaw,isitsveryessence,and Fiqh,orreligiousjurisprudence,isitsscience(cilm)parexcellence. Theminuteobservationofmanycommandmentsisitsmostconspicuous practicalaspect;thefreefellowshipofreligiousscholars,whodonot needauthorizationbyanygovernmenttointerpret,develop,andapply itslaw,isitsmostrepresentativebody,andeventhepurelylegalsectionsoftheFiqharestudiedreverentlyasanactofworship.
