Sharia law is the code that Muslims believe God gave them in order to guide their behavior and draw closer to Him. It encompasses almost every aspect of Muslim life, from prayer and social interactions, and it can be a complex system but one which has been practiced for centuries by clerics and jurists alike.
The Quran and Sunna (the sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad) are the primary sources for Islamic law, though many regional and local customs can also be accepted as authoritative sources if deemed generally wholesome or consistent with what’s right for mankind. Islamic scholars interpret sharia according to fiqh (Muslim law), creating what we now refer to as fiqh law.
How governments apply sharia is often unclear and has often been controversial. Critics contend some sharia laws are harsh and discriminatory, placing undue restrictions on women and minorities. Some countries have passed anti-sharia legislation in response to claims it infringes upon the First Amendment right of freedom of religion.
Though governments implement sharia differently, a majority of Muslims still view it as the revealed word of God and insist on only one interpretation. Unfortunately, this view is far from universal among the nearly fifty nations with significant Muslim populations around the world.
Most Muslim-majority countries have a legal framework that refers to sharia. Some governments use this authority to punish people for crimes such as blasphemy, while others impede the rights of women and non-Muslims alike.
Some critics of sharia law contend that it often serves to punish individuals for religious rather than criminal reasons. This is particularly evident in Muslim-led states which take a harsh stance against non-Muslims and those who violate its stringent regulations.
In the United States, some jurisdictions have considered passing legislation that would ban courts from using sharia as part of their legal decisions. This type of measure often stems from concerns about government integrity and an urge for religious tolerance.
Sharia is less popular in Southern and Eastern Europe, where fewer than half of Muslims believe it should apply to all citizens in their country. Only in Russia (56%), Bosnia–Herzegovina (52%), and other surveyed countries do more than two thirds of Muslims agree that it should be the official law of the land.
Around the Middle East-North Africa region, support for religious judges adjudicating domestic and property disputes is strong. Nearly nine in ten Egyptians and Jordanians, as well as nearly as many in Malaysia and Pakistan, strongly favor this option.
Sharia is a complex system requiring the expertise of Islamic jurists, clerics and politicians. It rests upon an interpretation of scripture such as the Quran, Hadith, consensus among religious scholars and analogy from other traditions. Sharia remains an evolving interpretation of these teachings of Prophet Muhammad that may change over time.
