What is the sharia law? 4 simple differences between Sharia and Fiqh.

What is the Sharia Law? Sharia law is a set of religious laws and principles that regulate various aspects of Muslims’ daily lives, from worship to financial and social transactions. These laws aim to achieve a balance between the individual’s rights and his duties towards society, which contributes to building a cohesive and stable society. Thanks to what is Sharia law, Muslims can follow the foundations of life derived from the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet, which promotes justice and moral values ​​in various areas of life.

What is the Sharia Law? The definition

The term “Sharia” encompasses a collection of Islamic religious laws regulating daily life for Muslims, extending beyond religious practices. Sharia law offers adherents a framework of principles and guidelines to assist them in making significant life decisions, including those related to finances and investments. Today, Ulum Al-Azhar will answer the most common question “What is the Sharia Law”. 

The importance of Sharia law in each Muslim’s life

• Sharia aims to achieve a balance between the rights of the individual and his duties towards society
• Its provisions cover all areas of life to form a distinctive model for ethical living. 
• Thanks to Sharia, Muslims seek to live according to Islamic values ​​that call for mercy and justice, making adherence to Sharia essential to achieving a just and balanced society. 

Understanding the Role of Sharia in a Muslim’s Life

 

After answering the question “What is the Sharia Law”, Sharia Law plays a pivotal role in every Muslim’s life, covering spiritual, social, moral, and financial aspects. And as the question “What is the Sharia law” appears a lot on google, we have to explain the answer.

• Through Sharia, Muslims learn how to perform the basic acts of worship such as prayer, fasting, zakat, and Hajj, the five pillars of Islam that form the main pillars of every Muslim’s life and help build a strong relationship between a Muslim and his Creator. 
• Sharia law is not limited to worship only, but extends to daily transactions between individuals, such as buying and selling, renting, marriage, divorce, wills, and inheritance. 
• Sharia law also helps Muslims understand values ​​such as honesty and integrity, respecting the rights of others, and maintaining justice in dealings. It lays the foundations for a society of integrity and mutual respect. 
• Sharia law encourages Muslims to strive to improve their morals and behaviour in all areas of life. 

The difference between Sharia and Fiqh in Islam

Here is the difference between Sharia and Fiqh in Islam in detail:

1. Definition of Islamic Sharia

• Sharia is the general basic rules and provisions that Muslims derive from the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
• Sharia represents a set of principles that aim to organise the lives of Muslims and provide justice and psychological comfort.
• Sharia includes fixed rights and duties that include beliefs, worship, and transactions, and it expresses the will of Allah as revealed in revelation.

2. Stability and flexibility of Sharia

• Islamic Sharia is fixed and absolute because it is based on definitive religious texts, such as the verses of the Quran and the hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
• Despite its stability, Sharia contains general principles that leave room for jurisprudential interpretation so that it is applied in line with time and place.
• This stability ensures the unity of Muslims in the basic issues of religion and reflects the divine will in organising human life.

3. Definition of Islamic Jurisprudence

•  Jurisprudence is the science of ijtihad that includes the interpretation of Sharia and its application in practical situations.
• Jurists study Sharia to extract detailed rulings from the basic texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah, especially in matters for which there are no explicit texts.
•  Jurisprudence is considered the human effort to understand and apply Sharia, and relies on additional sources such as consensus and analogy to achieve rulings that are compatible with changing life.

4. The difference between Sharia and jurisprudence

• Sharia is considered fixed and unchanging, as it relates to the divine rulings revealed in the sacred texts.
• Jurisprudence, on the contrary, may differ among scholars according to their ijtihad and the circumstances of different societies.
• Jurisprudential opinions may differ from one school of thought to another or from one jurist to another, which shows the flexibility of Islam and its ability to adapt to changes.
• Jurisprudence reflects the practical aspect of Sharia, and relies on scholars’ understanding and interpretation of rulings in line with developments

5. The importance of distinguishing between Sharia and jurisprudence

• This distinction demonstrates the flexibility of Islam and highlights its ability to adapt to changes without compromising the essence of the religion.
• Sharia ensures the stability of the basic reference for Muslims, while jurisprudence allows room for adaptation and meeting the needs of different societies.

In this way, you can understand that Sharia is the fixed foundation, while jurisprudence is the flexible applied interpretive effort that helps adapt Sharia rulings to contemporary life.

How does Sharia Law affect society?

After knowing “What is the Sharia law”, absoloutly you guessed how does it affect society. Sharia sets laws that aim to protect the rights of individuals and ensure social peace, by promoting morals and human values ​​such as honesty, integrity and justice. 

Sharia provisions also include laws on marriage, inheritance and trade, which contribute to achieving social harmony and family stability, and prevent financial and family disputes. 

Sharia obliges Muslims to respect each other and to cooperate, and urges them to avoid injustice and aggression, which contributes to building a strong society. 

The application of Sharia in the economic field is also a pillar to avoid financial exploitation by prohibiting usury and encouraging fair trade, which supports the Islamic economy in a sustainable manner. 

How does Sharia support justice and morality in Islam?

Sharia seeks to achieve justice and morality in society, focusing on establishing human values ​​that ensure justice and fairness. One of the most important roles of Sharia is to guide Muslims to adhere to justice in their dealings, whether commercial or personal. 

It includes provisions that impose respect for the rights of others, and urges helping the needy through zakat and charity. It also sets laws that regulate people’s relationships and ensure the protection of the weak, such as orphans and widows, and urges Muslims to be kind and compassionate. 

How and Where can you learn Sharia? 

With Ulum Al-Azhar Academy, you can Join our Islamic Capsules Course (Learning Shariah (Islamic Jurisprudence) for beginners | Ar-Riwaq Al-Azhari) to learn everything about “What is theSharia law” in detail with the best Teachers from Al-Azhar. 

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Conclusion to What Is Sharia 

In conclusion, “What is the Sharia law” Sharia is a comprehensive system that aims to achieve justice and promote moral values ​​in the lives of Muslims. Sharia covers all aspects of life, from worship to financial and social transactions, and guarantees the rights of the individual and society. The implementation of Sharia contributes to the achievement of a just and balanced society, in which mutual respect and social peace prevail. 

FAQs On what is the sharia law

What is the Sharia Law?

The term “Sharia” encompasses a collection of Islamic religious laws that regulate various aspects of daily life for Muslims, extending beyond just religious practices. Sharia law offers adherents a framework of principles and guidelines to assist them in making significant life decisions, including those related to finances and investments.

 

Does Sharia include economic laws?

Yes, Islamic Sharia includes detailed provisions related to financial transactions and economic laws. One of the most important economic principles in Sharia is the prohibition of usury (interest), and the encouragement of fair trade that is free from fraud and monopoly. Sharia also imposes zakat as a right for the poor, and encourages the distribution of wealth in a way that ensures social justice. 

 

What Is Prohibited Under Sharia Law?
Under Sharia law, certain actions are explicitly prohibited, reflecting ethical and moral guidelines for Muslims. These prohibitions include the consumption of alcohol and intoxicants, gambling, and engaging in dishonest practices like theft and fraud. Additionally, activities that lead to exploitation, injustice, or harm to others, such as bribery and usury, are also forbidden.

 

What Is Riba?
The second common question after “What is the Sharia law” is “What is Riba”, Riba, often translated as usury or interest, is the practice of charging excessive or unjust interest on loans. In Islamic finance, riba is strictly prohibited because it is viewed as exploitative, taking advantage of those in need. The prohibition against riba stems from the belief that money should not generate more money without corresponding effort or risk, and it emphasises fairness and ethical treatment in financial transactions.