2. Literal Meaning: Path used to lead camels to water (the right path)
Goal of Shari’a: A just and orderly society that is faithful to Allah
Usually understood as Islamic Law
Covers every aspect of human life
“Religious culture made explicit”
Which hand should I use to shake hands?
How often and when should I wash? Brush my teeth?
How should I greet people?
How should I welcome people into my home?
How should I do business?
3. Rules and Process
Clear and specific rules are relatively rare
(more areas of gray than black & white)
Qur’ān is composed of ~ 10% legal material
Hadith – Collection of stories of what Muhammad said or did
Authenticity can be disputed
Process is very human
Fiqh –Science of Islamic Law
Interpretation, Tradition, Reasoning, Analogy
Ulama (community of scholars) and Qadi (judges)
4. Family Life
Marriage & divorce
Inheritance
Raising Children
Burial
Economic Life
Weights & Measures
Quality
Loans & borrowing
Religious Life
Hygiene
Food
Hospitality
Crime & punishment
5. • Jafaari
• Shi’i Islam
• Hanafi
• Central Asia, Turkey and Egypt
• Maliki
• North and West Africa
• Shafi’
• East Africa, Indonesia
• Hanbali
• Saudi Arabia and Qatar
• Wahhabi
6. Wajib Required
prayer, fasting, alms
Mustahab Recommended with merit
charity, greetings
Mubah Open to choice
cigarettes, modern technology
Makruh Disapproved of, but permitted
gossip, divorce, cigarettes
Haram Forbidden/Prohibited
eating pork, alcohol, stealing, etc.
7. Qur’an 5:90-91
O you who believe! Alcohol, gambling, idolatry, and
divination are abominations of Satan's doing. Avoid
them, so that you may prosper. Satan wants to provoke
strife and hatred among you through alcohol and
gambling, and to prevent you from the remembrance of
God, and from prayer. Will you not desist?
10. Dark Green: Members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation where sharia plays no role in the judicial system. Muslims are a minority in some OIC nations.
Yellow: Countries where Sharia applies in personal status issues (such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and child custody), and in some nations parts of criminal
and civil laws.
Blue: Countries where Sharia applies in full, covering personal status issues as well as criminal proceedings.
Orange: Regional variations in the application of sharia
12. Qur’ān 5: 38-39
• As for the thief, whether male or female, cut off their
hands as a penalty for what they have done – a
deterrent from God. God is Mighty and Wise.
• But whoever repents after his crime, and makes
amends, God will accept his repentance. God is
Forgiving and Merciful.
13. • Shari’a is usually understood as Islamic Law, though it
may helpful to see it as “religious culture made explicit”
• The goal of Shari’a is to assure an orderly and just
society that is faithful to Allah
• Shari’a consists of both rules and process
• There are a diversity of views concerning Shari’a
• Shari’a can be flexible
• Shari’a covers all aspects of life
