1. The Place of Shari‘a in Islam
The word “shari‘a” literally means “a way.” In Islamic terminology, it
meansthelegalsystemofIslam.Itisnormallytranslatedasthelawsof
Islam or the Islamic laws.
Islamisadin—religion.Theworddinbearsaconceptwiderandmore
comprehensivethantheword`religion'.Itmeansbelievinginthefunda-
mentalsaswellaslivingaccordingtothe Islamiclaws.Thisconceptof
religionisbeautifullyconveyedinthetermsusedbyIslamicscholarsto
describe the fundamental beliefs and the practical laws of Islam. The
“beliefs” are described as “usūlu ’d-dīn— the roots of religion”. The
“sharī‘alaws”aredescribedas“furū‘u’d-dīn—thebranchesofreligion”.
BeliefswithoutpracticeisincompleteIslam;andpracticewithoutbelief
may be useful in this world but not of much use in the hereafter.
Thesharī‘aisacompletewayoflife;noaspectofhumanlifeisoutside
itsdomain.IslamexpectsaMuslimtofollowitslawsineveryaspectof
life:personalandfamilial,religiousandsocial,moralandpolitical,eco-
nomicandbusiness,etc.Afterall,“Muslim”meansonewhosubmitsto
God. The Qur’ān says,
“WhenAllahand HisMessengerhavedecreedamatter, itisnot for
anybelievingmanorbelievingwomantohaveachoiceintheiraffairs.
AndwhosoeverdisobeysAllāhandHisMessengerhasgoneastrayinto
clear error.” (33:36)