IN THE COURTS OF THE NATIONS - DataSpace - Princeton ...

associates to the sharī‘a courts most often, looking in particular at the notarial functions of the
courts. I also demonstrate that Jews like the Assarrafs were quite familiar with Islamic law and
legal procedure, so much so that Muslims sometimes appointed Jews to represent them in sharī‘a
court. Chapter Three turns to the ways in which Jews used sharī‘a courts and batei din without
regard for the jurisdictional boundaries established by Islamic law. In particular, I show that at
times Jews went to sharī‘a courts for intra-Jewish matters (which they had the right to adjudicate
in batei din). They also went to batei din for matters involving Muslims (which strictly speaking
should only have been adjudicated in sharī‘a courts). This chapter explores how the coexistence
of Jewish and Muslim legal orders enabled Jews (and to a lesser extent Muslims) to engage in
forum shopping, while also fostering a certain amount of cooperation among the different legal
institutions.
Part Two moves from the local level to that of the state, examining how Jews engaged the
central government to meet their legal needs. Chapter Four again sets the stage, discussing the
role of the Makhzan in the administration of justice in Morocco and the unique relationship
between Jews and the central government. It also introduces the sources used in the rest of this
section, in particular the registers of the Ministry of Complaints. Since historians have yet to
discuss the origins and functioning of this ministry in any detail, I provide a brief history and an
introduction to its functioning. Chapter Five turns to the ways in which Jews appealed to the
Ministry of Complaints, arguing that this was an important forum to which Jews could appeal
when they felt local courts had failed them. I argue that the Ministry of Complaints responded to
Jews’ petitions in largely the same way as they did to those of Muslims, that is, as complaints
submitted by subjects of the sultan without much regard for their religious affiliation. Chapter
Six examines collective petitions submitted by Jews to the Makhzan, particularly regarding
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