Sharia and Human Rights: Hemeneutics and the Risks of State-centrism

Written texts, and Islamic scriptures are no exception, can be read in almost infinite ways if, beyond the context, there are no moral and political principles guiding and constraining the interpretation. An-Na'im adds that ‘the proponents of each interpretation will seek to win the support of the community through the use of what they believe to be Islamic concepts and arguments that are most convincing in the community they seek to transform’.