Sharia Law

Sharia Law

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Sharia Law

Sharia Law is the legal system of Islam. In other words, Sharia is Islam’s legal system that is adopted by the entire human community in all other world. This is derived from both Islamic and Koran central fatwas and text that are the rulings of the scholars of Islam or Islamic scholars.

The literal meaning of Sharia is “the clear, well-trodden path to water”. The law of Sharia acts as an entire life code or code of living that every Muslim should adhere to, which includes prayers, fasting, and donation to the poor. The Sharia law is aimed to help every Muslim understand how they have to and should lead each and every aspect of their lives as per the wishes of Almighty ALLAH.

By the living and system of life of Muslims, Sharia law can be found informing every aspect of their daily lives. For instance, a Muslim male or female wonders about what should be done in a case he or she has been invited him or her to the pub after work might turn to a scholars of Sharia to an advice to make sure that they act within the legal framework set for them by his and her religion (Johnson, & Vriens, 2014). Furthermore, there are a number of other areas as well for which Muslims usually turn to Sharia law and scholars. These matters mainly include family law and matters, Islamic business law and other financial matters or concerns.

In terms of historical development, Sharia law established under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) at Medina in 622 where the basic standards of the conduct have been laid down in/by the Quranic revelations. After a long time, the later developments in the Sharia law include the thesis formed by Al-Shafi that works as the basis of the classical theory of the roots of jurisprudence. These developments in the shape of Al-Shafi’s thesis crystalized in the early days of the 10th century. For the purpose to get an answer for a legal matter, the jurist must proceed to get the consultation from the Quran and Hadith and then proceed to figure out and state the solution to the concern or matter at hand (Johnson, & Vriens, 2014).

Leaving faith or apostasy is one of the critical issues in the Islamic world. In the current time, the apostasy or leaving the faith is one of the most controversial and critical issues in the Muslim world and the experts state that the majority of scholars believe and say that this is punishable and the punishment is death. But on the other side, a large number of Muslim thinkers, mainly those who are associated with the societies of Western regions and areas, argue that the punishment of such actors of such acts or deeds should be left to God (Nmehielle, 2004). But this concept is a part of thinkers’ views and concepts. Like a proper legal system, Sharia is a complete and complex system for the entire Muslim community around the world and the practices of it are completely reliant on the training and quality of the experts of the Islamic faith. In the Sharia law, the guidance and principles that are used as directions for life and considered as a formal legal ruling is known as Fatwa. By schools, there are five schools of Sharia law where the four schools are Sunni doctrines that are Hanbali, Shafi, Maliki, and Hanafi while the other is Shia doctrine which is Shia Jaapari (BillionBibles, 2019). In short, the mentioned five doctrines vary in how literally they interpret the texts from which the law of Sharia or Sharia law is derived.

References

BillionBibles. (2019). Sharia Law - List of Key Rules - What Is Sharia Law? Retrieved 29 January 2020, from https://www.billionbibles.org/sharia/sharia-law.html

Johnson, T., & Vriens, L. (2014). Islam: Governing under Sharia. Council on Foreign Relations, 25.

Nmehielle, V. O. (2004). Sharia Law in the Northern States of Nigeria: To implement or not to implement, the constitutionality is the question. Human Rights Quarterly, 730-759.