My research explores the intricate intersection of religion and law. I focus primarily on two areas: the development of Jewish and Islamic law in modern secular contexts, and the application of Islamic law in private and commercial spheres. Through comparative analyses, I investigate how secular environments influence interpretations of religious law, particularly for minority faiths. This work aims to evaluate interactions between competing legal values and propose balanced solutions.
Current projects examine a range of critical topics. These include oppression in private law, Islamic sexual freedom, women’s legal status, abortion in religious law, and ethical conduct in Muslim leadership. By challenging preconceptions about legal systems, I seek to demonstrate how diverse legal traditions can inform and improve protections for vulnerable parties in society.
In Focus
Agreeing to Disagree: Abortion Jurisprudence in Jewish and Islamic Law, B.Y.U. L. REV. ___(2025)(forthcoming).
SSRN citation: Benhalim, Rabea, Agreeing to Disagree: Abortion Jurisprudence in Jewish and Islamic Law (September 16, 2024). B.Y.U. L. REV.____(2025) (forthcoming).
Publications
View her Social Science Research Network profile here.
Contract Customization, Sex, and Islamic Law, 108 MINN. L. REV. 1861 (2024).
SSRN citation: Benhalim, Rabea, Contract Customization, Sex, and Islamic Law (April 26, 2024). 108 MINN. L. REV. 1861 (2024)
Oppression in American, Islamic, and Jewish Private Law, 94 COLO. L. REV. 1 (2023).
SSRN citation: Benhalim, Rabea, Oppression in American, Islamic, and Jewish Private Law (April 14, 2023). 94 COLO. L. REV. 1 (2023)
The Case for American Muslim Arbitration, 2019 WIS. L. REV. 531, 592 (2019).
SSRN citation: Benhalim, Rabea, The Case for American Muslim Arbitration (January 01, 2019). 2019 WIS. L. REV. 531, 592 (2019)
Religious Courts in Secular Jurisdictions, 84 BROOK. L. REV. 745, 800 (2019).
SSRN citation: Benhalim, Rabea, Religious Courts in Secular Jurisdictions: How Jewish and Islamic Courts Adapt to Societal and Legal Norms (June 26, 2019). 84 BROOK. L. REV. 745, 800 (2019)
Women’s Rights and Religious Law: Domestic and International Perspectives, 33 J. OF L. AND RELIGION (2018) (book review).
SSRN citation: Benhalim, Rabea, Book Review: Women’s Rights and Religious Law: Domestic and International Perspectives (April 05, 2019). Journal of Law and Religion, volume 33, issue 03, 2018[10.1017/jlr.2019.5 ]
Benhalim with Wittes & Bennett, Rationalizing Government Collection Authorities: A Proposal for Radical Simplification, GOVERNANCE STUDIES AT BROOKINGS (Jan. 7, 2011).
SSRN citation: , Rationalizing Government Collection Authorities: A Proposal for Radical Simplification (January 07, 2011). GOVERNANCE STUDIES AT BROOKINGS (Jan. 7, 2011)
Benhalim with Wittes & Chesney, The Emerging Law of Detention: The Guantánamo Habeas Cases as Lawmaking, GOVERNANCE STUDIES AT BROOKINGS (Jan. 22, 2010).
SSRN citation: Wittes, Benjamin and Chesney, Robert and Benhalim, Rabea, The Emerging Law of Detention: The Guantanamo Cases as Lawmaking (January 22, 2010). Governance Studies at Brookings, January 22, 2010, U of Texas Law, Public Law Research Paper No. 165