Price Setting and Hoarding in Mamluk Egypt
THE LAW APPLIED: CONTEXTUALIZING THE ISLAMIC SHARIA, Peri Bearman, Wolfhart Heinrichs, Bernard Weiss, eds., I.B. Taurus, London, 2008
26 Pages Posted: 13 May 2010 Last revised: 26 May 2010
Date Written: May 12, 2010
Abstract
This Article studies the legal position of the muhtasib in medieval Cairo, using the biographical information available about the individuals who held the position to understand the actions they took in office. The muhtasib, who was an inspector of public places and markets in particular, was a key legal actor in terms of applying law immediately to a situation he encountered; he was a common face of the law in society. This Article, influenced in method by legal realism, shows that in addition to the law that a particular muhtasib intended to apply to a particular case, biographical information is crucial in explaining how and why each muhtasib responded to particular events.
Keywords: Islamic law, muhtasib, Mamluk Egypt
JEL Classification: K39, K29
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation