Islamic Ethics of Life: Abortion, War, and Euthanasia

I read the essays on abortion and war from this book recently for my seminar on Islamic law (I didn't get to the section on euthanasia). I found the two on abortion particularly fascinating--there is one that gives the historical status of the fetus in Islamic law, and then another that discusses the contemporary Muslim ethics of abortion. The latter essay includes an overview of abortion practices and policies in Islamic and Muslim countries (there's a difference! Islamic = political structure based on religion; Muslim = secular government with a Muslim majority population). I would highly recommend this book. Also, because of the variety of authors who have written the essays in different styles, you get a nice change of pace every chapter.

Islamic Ethics Of Life: Abortion, War, And Euthanasia is a collection of scholarly essays compiled by Jonathan E. Brockopp (Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Pennsylvania State University) and representing the observations of nine expert authors dealing with the critical interaction between Islamic faith and Islamic thought with reference to three specific ethical issues of life and death -- abortion, war, and euthanasia. The diverse essays are each are devoted to the volatile and controversial subjects while keeping in mind both the Islamic perspective and practical issues in daily life affecting such matters. A diversely interpretive yet thoughtful and highly recommended collection, Islamic Ethics Of Life is a critically important contribution to personal and academic Islamic Studies collections.