Sharia is a now a familiar term to Muslims and non-Muslims. It can
often be heard in news stories about politics, crime, feminism,
terrorism and civilisation.
All aspects of a Muslim's life are governed by Sharia. Sharia law
comes from a combination of sources including the Qur'an (the Muslim
holy book), the Hadith (sayings and conduct of the prophet Muhammad)
and fatwas (the rulings of Islamic scholars).
Many people, including Muslims, misunderstand Sharia. It's often
associated with the amputation of limbs, death by stoning, lashes and
other medieval punishments. Because of this, it is sometimes thought
of as draconian. Some people in the West view Sharia as archaic
andunfair social ideas that areimposed upon people who live in
Sharia-controlled countires.
Many Muslims, however, hold a different view. In the Islamic tradition
Sharia is seen as something that nurtures humanity. They see the
Sharia not in the light of something primitive but as something
divinely revealed. In a society where social problems areendemic,
Sharia frees humanity to realise its individual potential.
Sharia in the UK
Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, gave his comments on
implementing Sharia in the UK in a Radio 4 interview.
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A discussion of Sharia
Dr Usama Hasan is the imam of the Tawhid Mosque and an advisor to the
London Sharia Council.Faisal Aqtab is a barrister and head of the
Hijaz College Islamic University. Dr Haleh Afshar is Professor in
Politics at York University.
They discuss the Muslim vision of Islamic law, the source and
interpretation of Sharia, punishments and the status of women.
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The philosophy of Sharia
The philosophy of Sharia - the Clear Path
In this section, Faraz Rabbani explains that there is a comprehensive
Islamic philosophy underpining Sharia.
For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced-out way. HadGod
willed, He could have made you one community. But that He may try you
by that which He has given you. So vie one with another ingood works.
Unto God you will all return, and He will then inform you of that
wherein you differ.
Qur'an, 5:48
For Muslims, life did not begin at birth, but a long time before that.
Before even the creation of the first man. It began when God created
the souls of everyone who would everexist and asked them,"Am I not
your Lord?" They all replied, "Yea."
God decreed for each soul a time on earth so that Hemight try them.
Then, after the completion of their appointed terms, He would judge
them and send them to their eternaldestinations: either one ofendless
bliss, or one of everlasting grief.
This life, then, is a journeythat presents to its wayfarers many
paths. Only one of these paths is clear and straight. This path is the
Sharia.
Divine guidance
The Great Mosque in Damascus, Syria ©
In Arabic, Sharia means"the clear, well-trodden path to water".
Islamically, it is used to refer to the matters of religion that God
has legislated for His servants.The linguistic meaning of Sharia
reverberates in its technical usage: just as water is vital to human
life, so the clarity and uprightness of Sharia is the means of life
for souls and minds.
Throughout history, God has sent messengers to people all over the
world, to guide them to the straight path that would lead them to
happiness inthis world and the one to follow. All messengers taught
the same message about belief (the Qur'an teaches that all messengers
called people to the worship of the One God), but the specific
prescriptions of the divinelaws regulating people's lives varied
according to the needs of his people and time.
The Prophet Muhammad (God bless him and give him peace) was the final
messenger and his Sharia represents the ultimate manifestation of the
divine mercy.
"Today I have perfected your way of life (din) for you, and completed
My favour upon you, and have chosen Islam as yourway of life." (
Qur'an , 5:3) The Prophet himself was told that, "We have only sent
you are a mercy for all creation." (Qur'an, 21:179)
Legal rulings
The Sharia regulates all human actions and puts them into five
categories: obligatory, recommended,permitted, disliked or forbidden.
Obligatory actions must be performed and when performed with good
intentions are rewarded. The opposite is forbidden action. Recommended
action is that which should be done and the opposite is disliked
action.Permitted action is that which is neither encouraged nor
discouraged. Most human actions fall in this last category.
