Felicitas Opwis, Ph.D. (2001) in Arabic and Islamic Studies, Yale University, is Assistant Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. Her publications address the development of Islamic legal theory in light of intellectual currents and historical environment.

Analyzing pre-modern writings on Islamic legal theory, this book comprehensively presents the transformation of the concept of maṣlaḥa as a vehicle of legal change from a minor legal principle to being understood as the all-encompassing purpose of God's law.