Islamic Law: a Review Essay

Book reviewed in this article: Crime and Punishment in Islamic Law: Theory and Practice from the Sixteenth to the Twenty-first Century: Rudolph Peters     

Hearths,ovens and fishery: Kharaib al‐Dasht as a case of Late Islamic fishing village (Jazirat Faylaka)

Investigations conducted in 2013–2018 by the Kuwaiti‐Polish Archaeological Mission on the northern coast of Jazirat Faylaka revealed remains of a Late Islamic settlement with an extensive fishing infrastructure located both on land and in nearby waters. The present research focused on one element of this infrastructure, namely the concentration of hearths and ovens, unique to this part of the island. In order to identify their function and understand their role, the installations were analysed in terms of their structural features and distribution across the site. It was revealed that the concentration of installations on a limited area resulted largely from the need for efficient fish processing. Furthermore, the abundance of ovens and hearths coupled with the presence of nearby fish traps and the diversity of osteological material found in the context of installations indicates that fish processing capacity at this settlement greatly exceeded the needs of the local population.     

The garden in Umayyad society in al‐Andalus

The majority of Arab sources concerning gardens and spaces dedicated to the cultivation of any kind of plant species in al‐Andalus date mainly from the eleventh century onwards and offer very little specific information about the Umayyad period (mid‐eighth to the beginning of the eleventh centuries). However, we do know the importance that gardens, understood broadly, had both in the material and daily life, as well as in the emblematic and symbolic life, of al‐Andalus during the Umayyad period. The present article reconsiders the early history of the Andalus garden in the context of the cultural history of the Umayyad period in order to understand better the foundations of the specific nature of Andalusī gardens and to show that, despite the influence of the reigning dynasty, the history of the garden in al‐Andalus has a notably collective dimension.     

Inside Hezbollah: The al‐Mahdi Scouts,Education, and Resistance

This article analyzes the al‐Mahdi Scouts, a Lebanese scout group affiliated with Hezbollah. After introducing Hezbollah's social services in Lebanon, the al‐Mahdi Scouts' multifaceted identity and main activities are illustrated. The role in Lebanese society is investigated, along with its cooperation with other scout groups in Lebanon, which takes place mostly within the framework of the Lebanese Scout Federation. I also highlight two controversial issues that emerged in the research. First, it is shown how blurred the distinction is between education and indoctrination. Second, the accusations of terrorism are considered, with two possible approaches identified. The first one looks at Hezbollah as a homogeneous organization, while the second one distinguishes between its military, political, and social wings. While the first approach can legitimately accuse the al‐Mahdi Scouts of terrorism, I argue that the second one is more appropriate because it judges them for their own actions. We cannot just look at this group as Hezbollah's recruitment tool, because its role is more complex and significant. This group provides a portion of Lebanese youth with skills to improve their future and succeed in life, even if it does so by propagating Hezbollah's ideals and beliefs.     

CRM Publication: a Review Essay

Abstract

This review article is concerned specifically with the Archaeological Survey Reports of the Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio. It also takes up the general problems involved with the publication of results of cultural resource management or contract-archaeology projects.