Shari’ah

From the Arabic شَرِيعَة (šarīʿa, literally “path, way”) and usually mistranslated as “Islamic law”, Shari’ah refers to the system of law, ethics, and guidelines in Islam that govern a Muslim’s practical life, and represents a moral universe of diverse ideals, values and hopes. The word Shari’ah in Arabic literally means “path” or rather “a path to water in the desert”, with the deeper meaning that there is a path of just and good conduct that exists and pleases God. Shari’ah is an all-encompassing term which includes not only law in the western sense of the word but religious observances such as fasting and prayer, ritual practices such as halal slaughter, and worship in general. Shari’ah is written jurisprudence and law developed based on a diversity of opinions among jurists in the classical period of Islam. While many aspects of Shari’ah have been modified or modernized in most Muslim countries, in what refers to personal law, especially marriage and divorce, many Muslim societies still observe rulings of classical jurisprudence. The word Shari’ah is used in diverse ways by Muslims, and this leads to varying degrees of understanding and application.