220 The American Journal of lslamic Social Sciences 20:3 & 4 

Islamic Banking 

Mervyn K Lewis and Latifa M Algaoud 

Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2001. 274 pages. 

Islamic Banking is an outstanding example of collaboration among 
Muslim and non-Muslim scholars interested in integrating "Western-based 
literature with that developed in the Islamic tradition." Stating that Islamic 
banking, although widespread, remains "poorly understood" in the 
Muslim world and an "enigma" in the West, the authors seek to clarify 

many matters. The book's main themes are Christian and Islamic positions 
on usurylriba' (chapter 8); the foundations (chapters 2 and 3), theories 
(chapter 5), application (chapters 5, 6, 7, and 9), and progress (chapters I 
and 9) of Islamic banking; and an analysis of Islamic banking in light of