shariah

Shariah, also spelled Shari’ah or Sharia, is the system of Islamic law believed by Muslims to reflect divine guidance for humans. It encompasses broad principles for worship, ethics, and daily life, and is derived from both primary and secondary sources used by scholars to interpret religious obligations.

The core sources of Shariah are the Qur’an and the Sunnah (the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad). Complementary sources include ijma (consensus of scholars) and qiyas (analogical reasoning). In some traditions, further consideration is given to urf (custom) within a legitimate framework. Ijtihad refers to independent reasoning used by jurists to apply Shariah to new circumstances.

Shariah is not a single, uniform code. It is interpreted by legal schools (madhahib) such as Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali, which have developed distinct methodologies for deducing laws. The practical implementation of Shariah varies widely across countries and communities, ranging from personal status and family law to, in some places, criminal or financial regulations. In modern contexts, many states administer Shariah primarily in matters of family and inheritance, while civil law governs other aspects of public life. Some jurisdictions emphasize maqasid al-shariah, the objectives of Shariah, such as the protection of faith, life, intellect, lineage, and property.

Common misunderstandings include treating Shariah as a monolithic system or equating it inherently with punitive measures. In reality, Shariah comprises a complex, evolving framework of principles and interpretations that aims to guide moral conduct, worship, and social interaction within Muslim communities.