Taking an inter-disciplinary approach which straddles law, anthropology sociology and women's studies, Mir-Hosseini shows how women can turn even the most patriarchal elements of Islamic law to their advantage and achieve their personal marital aims.

Ziba Mir-Hosseini is the co-director of the acclamed documentary film 'Divorce Iranian Style', filmed in Tehran and based on this book.

Part 1 The Shar'ia, law and social practice - strategies of accommodation: the setting - courts, marital disputes and marriage; legal anatomy of divorce - the Iranian case; legal anatomy of divorce - the Moroccan case; social anatomy of divorce - the law and the practice. Part 2 Areas of tension between law and practice - strategies of selection: filiation and custody in law and practice; validating marriage and divorce; conclusion.