The Origin and Rise of International Law and the Islamic Model

Islamic law, within half a century of its birth, began to operate as international law. The Islamic empire came to be divided into many states extending from the Mediterranean up to the Far East with independent rulers usually called sultans. For the most part, they were all under the authority of a central caliphate or owed allegiance to it. It is this model that appears to have inspired modern international law. Even the concepts of “civilized” and “uncivilized” states show remarkable similarity with the dar al-Islam and dar al-harb. The international role of Islamic law has been dormant for many centuries due to colonization, but the time has come for the revival of this role. The growth of Muslim civilization, which will reach fifty percent of the world population within a hundred years, as well as the non-recognition of its principles by the body of international norms, will compel the reemergence of this law on the international scene