Sacred bodies: Considering resistance to oncofertility in muslim communities

Abstract

It has been correctly stated that the religion of Islam is defined by orthopraxy rather than by orthodoxy. That is, it is more a religion of practice and law than a religion of doctrine. In the absence of a central church, Muslims rely on legal scholars to define the acceptable parameters of Islamic practice. These scholars may come to disparate conclusions and define different modes of practice for discrete communities and still be considered genuinely "Islamic." Thus, the practice of Islam in various locales often differs based on the leanings and predilections of the legal scholars in that area. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Muslims are not bound to follow any particular scholar or groups of scholars, but rather may choose to follow, or not follow, whomsoever they wish. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.