Islamic Jurisprudence: How Sharia Law Guides Muslim Life
Islamic law, or Sharia law, plays an important role in guiding the lives of Muslims around the world. The word “sharia”means “path” or “way”- it refers to the moral and religious path set forth through Islamic jurisprudence. Sharia law provides guidance for virtually all aspects of Muslim life, from prayers and burial practices to economic interactions and charity.
At the heart of Sharia is the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran contains general guidance related to religious duties, social interactions, and ethics, but it does not go into specific detail regarding all aspects of life. The Prophet Muhammad’s sayings and actions, known as hadiths, provide additional clarification and detail. Together, the Quran and hadiths form the foundational sources of Islamic law.
Over the centuries, Islamic scholars formulated principles to interpret and apply the sources of Sharia law to specific legal cases. Four major schools of thought, or madhhabs, developed within Sunni Islam: Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali. Each school has its own methodology for deriving rulings, though they generally agree on most fundamental tenets.
Applying Sharia Law
Sharia covers both religious practices and secular life. On the religious side, it dictates how Muslims should perform daily prayers, fast during Ramadan, pay mandatory charitable offerings known as zakat, and make pilgrimage to Mecca.
Beyond religious observance, Sharia covers virtually all aspects of public and private life. It outlines rules for maintaining healthy social interactions, doing business fairly, protecting private property, preserving honor, maintaining honesty and integrity, and taking care of the poor and vulnerable. Sharia also provides guidelines for family life and interactions, including marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance.
Sharia in the Modern World
Applying Sharia law in the modern world remains a complex and sensitive issue. In some Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran, Sharia serves as the basis for civil and criminal law. However, most Muslim nations only incorporate certain aspects of Sharia within their legal systems.
Islamic jurisprudence seeks to outline a just and righteous path for believers, one that fosters moral uprightness, social harmony, and spiritual closeness to God.
