alShariah

Al-Shariah, often transliterated as Sharia or Shari’ah, refers to the body of Islamic divine law believed to govern all aspects of a Muslim’s life. It is not a single codified statute but a comprehensive legal and ethical framework derived from divine revelation and the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad.

Sources and interpretation: The primary sources are the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Secondary sources include ijma (jurists’ consensus), qiyas (analogical reasoning), and, in some schools, maqasid al-shariah (the objectives of Shariah). Fiqh, or jurisprudence, is the human scholarly effort to interpret Shariah and apply it to concrete cases. Shariah is the divine mandate; fiqh is the human understanding and elaboration of it.

Variation in practice: There is no universal Shariah code. Different states and communities implement Shariah differently, ranging from personal and family law to criminal and commercial regulations. Some jurisdictions apply hudud punishments for certain offenses; others rely on civil or religious courts that apply Shariah principles selectively. In many Muslim-majority countries, civil law coexists with Shariah-based personal status rules.

Modern context and debate: Contemporary discussions address reform, human rights, gender equality, and pluralism within Muslim communities. Proponents argue Shariah provides a moral and legal framework for justice and welfare, while critics question its compatibility with international standards on rights and freedoms. Many scholars advocate approaches that emphasize maqasid (the aims) and contextual interpretation to align Shariah with modern legal norms.