views of the writers and made no significant change in the contribu-
tions of each writer, especially those originally written in the Eng-
lish language, save that of unifying the spelling and transliteration
to conform to the American style.

A particular difficulty in presenting discussions of Islamic law
to the English and American reader lies in the rendering of Arabic
legal terms into English. Not infrequently the Islamic institution
does not have an exact equivalent in English or American law, and
to render an Arabic term by an English technical term not entirely
fitting the institution described would increase confusion rather
than understanding. The Editors have therefore felt that it was
wiser to use more general English terms or, at times, even utilize
French or Latin terms which described the Islamic institution
more fully.

We have been greatly helped in the process of preparing this
volume by several friends and assistants, whether by advice or by
lending a hand in the editorial work; to them we are indeed very
grateful. Mention must be made in particular of Mr. C. Thomas
Thorne and of several colleagues in the Middle East Institute, as
well as others, whose constant counsel and assistance rendered our
task less difficult.

Washington, D. C. MAJID KHADDURI

January, 1955 HERBERT J. LIEBESNY

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