438 SHOET NOTICES

of approximately 2,000 words. There is no Almost inevitably there are certain weak-
very remarkable feature of this presentation of nesses. The author occasionally questions the
Arabic grammar, but its soundness will authenticity of some of the alleged historical
doubtless make it most useful. incidents as recorded in bis sources ; but more
B. B. SEBJBANT
often he seems to fall between the two stools of
summarizing the legal theory (as founded on,
or supported by, traditional material) and pro-
NICOLA A. ZIADEH : Whither North viding a genuinely historical study. The
English is sometimes confused and incorrect;
Africa ? [vii], 79 pp., map. Aligarh. : and the proof-reading leaves much to be
Institute of Islamic Studies, Muslim desired. But the format is attractive, and the
University, 1957. printing excellent. We are greatly in Professor
This book is described by the author as Khadduri's debt.
' another attempt towards an understanding J. N. D. A.
of the issues in North Africa '. It is a state-
ment of the Arab case against France, written Bulletin of the Institute of Islamic
before Morocco and Tunisia obtained inde- Studies, No. 1. [iii], 70 pp. Aligarh:
pendence. The historical accounts of resistance Institute of Islamic Studies, Muslim
movements in Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco
present some contrasts with similar develop- University,. 1957. Es. 3.50, 5s.
ments further east, in the central regions of the The first issue of this new journal from the
Arab world, e.g. the importance in Algeria Institute of Islamic Studies, Aligarh, contains
and Tunisia of the Ottoman sultanate as a five articles, all dealing with matters of con-
rallying-point, and the strength of pan-Islamic temporary interest. Dr. Maqbul Ahmad,
feeling. known for his work on Idrisi, launches the new
p. M. HOLT journal with a stimulating essay on ' India's
relations with West Asian countries and the
importance of Persian and Arabic studies'.
MA JID KHADDURI : War and peace in the The distinguished Persian scholar, Sa'id Nafisi,
law of Islam, x, 321 pp. Baltimore : contributes a ' General survey of the existing
Johns Hopkins Press, [1955]. (Dis- pungent situation in Persian literature ', including some
comments on books and writers.
tributed in G.B. by Geoffrey Cumber- Dr. Munibur Rahman writes on the ' Move-
lege. 45s.) ment for the emancipation of women in
In his Preface, the author observes that Persia' in both its literary and its political
' The entry often Muslim states into the United and social manifestations. Dr. Abdul Aleem
Nations and its agencies is a significant reprints the first instalment of his inaugural
phenomenon in view of the radical differences address to the Indian School of International
between the traditional Muslim law of nations Studies, on the ' Historical background of
and the principles embodied in the United present tensions in the Arab world, 1798-
Nations Charter'. Whereas, therefore, the 1914', in which he tries to provide some
first edition of this work, which was published historical perspective for the present dis-
in England in 1941, was confined to a study of contents of the Arab peoples. Dr. Mohammed
the principles and practices of early Islam, Shafi Agwani concludes the issue with an
the present edition includes a consideration essay on ' Britain and the West Asian crisis ',
of the efforts which have been made in the which from its tone appears to have been
Muslim world of recent years to adapt these written during the Suez crisis.
principles and practices (chiefly, it may be It was as the paramount power in India that
said, the latter) to those of the modern Britain first became actively involved in the
community of nations. Middle East, and it is not surprising that an
This work by the Professor of Middle East independent India finds herself more and more
Studies at the School of Advanced Inter- closely concerned with the problems of that
national Studies of Johns Hopkins University area. It is therefore fitting that the Muslim
and Director of Research and Education at the University of Aligarh should take the initiative
Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C., in producing a learned journal devoted to the
will receive a warm welcome, for it provides a study of the contemporary Middle East. It
most convenient summary of a topic which is is not easy to deal with such a subject in a
not only of great academic interest but also of spirit of complete academic detachment, and
urgent importance in the modern world. It is most of the existing journals in the field
well arranged and well documented ; detailed reflect, however faintly, the interests and
yet comprehensive ; and it never loses sight of outlook of their sponsors. To this new journal
the wood for the trees. the authors bring a blend of Indian patriotism