“It is now firmly established in the minds of many Muslims all around the globe that, in the 21st century, the principal colonial ambition of the United States is the invasion of Islamic holy lands, an occupation of Muslin nations, and undermining of their values and traditions.” (p. 9) With such bold assertions in the introduction, the author most certainly grabs the reader's interest and attention. There is a need for a book to discuss, consider, and review Islamic law and terrorism, particularly by the West. Much of the alleged “clash of civilizations” can certainly be traced to distrust born of misunderstanding. Both East and West must stop pushing back and consider why there appears to be a clash of some kind. In my mind, understanding by the West is a strong cornerstone necessary to build a new relationship with the Islamic world and also to combat terror. This new paradigm of terror will be won, not on a battlefield, but by winning the battle of ideas through understanding and knowledge. One cannot simply say “can't we just all get along?”

Islamic States Practices, International Law and the Threat from Terrorism is a beginning, but not the definitive work on this topic. Much is needed to continue the academic debate on this important topic. The book by Javaid Rehman considers this debate as well as how the rule of law confronts the new paradigm of the war on terror. Dispassionate and neutral scholarship will bridge a perceived gap in the “clash.” This is not the book. This is a lightly brushed work with little scholarly insights. It is unfortunate, as an open-minded reader would relish the debate that the title and general thesis of this book invites, yet one comes away with a sense that this is not a book to read first to gain an understanding of these critical issues. One finds it a hard go in places with awkward phrasing and incomplete editing.

However, it is a beginning and one has to applaud the author for this effort. More needs to be done to consider the linkage of state practice, the law, and the new war on terror, particularly when considering the term “clash of civilizations” in light of this new paradigm that has matched East versus West. Despite the misplaced editorial commentary, with little citation, the author's general approach is a correct one.

I generally liked his organization as it organized my thinking and established a possible analytical method for further study. Of particular note were the first three chapters, which attempt to give the reader a perspective from an Islamic point of view. Regarding chapter 1, the author's insights on Islamic interpretation of international law were helpful to this Western-thinking scholar; and I found helpful the discussion on the impact that imperialistic Europe had on how the Muslims today view their world. In addition, in chapter 2, the author explores fairly well the concept of the jihad in relation to violence, use of force, and the overall challenge of international terrorism. In my mind, this is one of the keys to the book's future contribution to the scholarship in this field. The authors made some very important points in his concluding chapter, as well, that show that throughout history, up to 11 September 2001 and beyond, that Islamic law promotes the rule of law and in particular international law, a point that is sadly lost on the West caught up in the emotion of the times.

The few insights that I did come away with after reading this book, for example, that it is the economic and political imbalances of the new world order fostered by a perceived marginalization of what was once a great civilization that has created a possible clash, made me want to explore this area further. Yet, this book did not help me to understand how centuries-old custom, tradition, and law have influenced the approach of Islamic states in working with the West and the war on terror today. Thus, one has to look to the excellent bibliography for other works that could help one to understand these important influences.

This book is appreciated and a step in the right direction. Much more dialogue and study needs to be undertaken before the West can understand the East. Centuries ago Pope Julius III recalled the burdens of office with these words: “Do you know, my son, with what little understanding the world is ruled?”