Sharia

(noun)

(Islamic law) deals with many topics addressed by secular law, including crime, politics, and economics, as well as personal matters such as sexual intercourse, hygiene, diet, prayer, everyday etiquette and fasting. Historically, adherence to Islamic law has served as one of the distinguishing characteristics of the Muslim faith.

Related Terms

Examples of Sharia in the following topics:

  • Women in Pre-Islamic Arabia

    • After the rise of Islam, the Quran (the word of God) and the Hadith (the traditions of the prophet Muhammad) developed into Sharia, or Islamic religious law.
    • Sharia dictates that women should cover themselves with a veil.
    • In many modern Islamic countries, Sharia combines politics and religion.

  • Non-Democratic Governments: Monarchy, Oligarchy, Technocracy, and Theocracy

    • An Islamic state is a state that has adopted Islam, specifically Sharia (Islamic Law), as its foundations for political institutions, or laws, exclusively, and has implemented the Islamic ruling system and is therefore a theocracy.
    • Although there is much debate as to which states or groups operate strictly according to Islamic Law, Sharia is the official basis for state laws in the following countries: Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, Oman and Iran.

  • Islamic Art

    • Depictions of the human form in art intended for the purpose of worship is considered idolatry and is forbidden in Islamic law, known as Sharia law.

  • Luxury Arts

    • Human representation for the purpose of worship is considered idolatry and is duly forbidden in Islamic law, known as Sharia law.

  • Bornu Empire

    • Alwma introduced a number of legal and administrative reforms based on his religious beliefs and Islamic law (sharia).

  • Political, Country, and Global Specific Risks

    • For example, all Muslim countries following Sharia Law, except Turkey allow the state and religion to overlap.