Shariah

Shari’ah, Sharia law or Islamic law is a set of laws that guide all aspects of life.

Classical sharia deals with many different things, including religious rituals, family life, business, crimes, and warfare. It is seen as a code for behaviour for all of life.

Some parts of Sharia look a lot like other laws. For example, some parts of Sharia shape a person’s relationship with their neighbours and government. Other parts of Sharia guide a person’s relationship with Allah and their own conscience.

Sharia is about ethical living as much as it is about legal issues. It tells people what they must or must not do. But it also tells people what they should, in good conscience, do or not do. This means that Sharia says that some actions deserve praise and God’s favour and some deserve blame. But this does not always mean that people or the government should give those actions rewards or punishments.