Islamic law is derived from Sharia, but it is not just about Islamic law, it covers more than that. For instance, it encourages people to be nice to their neighbors, help the ones in need, do charity, and preserve the environment. Additionally, it covers personal acts of worship like praying, fasting, and charity.

In this article we will help you understand the meaning of Sharia, what is its source, and more, let’s get started.  

What is Sharia?

Sharia in Islam refers to the Islamic law regarding life matters, it is a source of guidance to how to behave and deal with life problems. It also covers the personal acts of worship to show Muslims how to perform prayers and how to be better Muslims. 

The sources of sharia are as follows:

1. The Quran: The Holy Book of Allah, the source of guidance, and Allah’s message to us.
2. The Hadith: the sayings of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and narrations of how he lived his life. 
3. Ijma: when the answer is not found in Quran and Sunnah, the answer can be found in the ijma of the scholars, which refers to the consensus of scholars on a certain topic.
4. Qiyas: it refers to comparing difficult questions with similar cases settled by the Quran and Sunnah.

The Sharia Islam categories the person’s acts into five categories which are:

• Obligatory
• Recommended
• Permitted
• Discouraged
• Forbidden

Sharia is divided into the following elements:

1. Aqidah: Aqidah regards the Muslims’ faith and beliefs. 
2. Fiqh: The Islamic jurisprudence regards Political, economic, and social activities.
3. Akhlaq: it regards how a Muslim should behave.

What are the basic sources of Sharia?

The Sharia is derived from Quran, sunnah, Ijma, and Qiyas.

1. The Quran: The Holy Book of Allah, the source of guidance, and Allah’s message to us.
2. The Hadith: the sayings of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and narrations of how he lived his life. 
3. Ijma: when the answer is not found in Quran and sunnah, the answer can be found in the ijma of the scholars, which refers to the consensus of scholars on a certain topic.
4. Qiyas: it refers to comparing difficult questions with similar cases settled by the Quran and Sunnah.

How do governments apply sharia in the Muslim world?

Islamic countries use a Sharia-based law system governing life matters like marriage, inheritance, divorce, etc. Governments tend to use one of the 4 doctrines of Islam (major schools, or madhhabs). Each school is named after its founder. Now let’s understand the Sharia in Islam based on the four major schools and how they differ from each other.

The four Madhabs of Islam are:

1. Shafi school:

The Shafi doctrine was founded by Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shāfi who was born in 767 AD and died in 802 AD. He was born in Gaza. Al-Shafi’s father died when he was still a little boy, so his mother took him to live with her in Mecca at two years old. He memorized the whole Quran when he was seven and when he was 10, and he memorized Muwatta Malik when he was ten years old.

Al-Shafi said in his book ‘Al-Umm wa Al-Risala’ that his doctrine is based on the closest to Quran and sunnah or what is known among the Companions without disagreement

The approach of Imam Al-Shafi’i in his doctrine:

 Al-Shafi’i explained his method of ijtihad that he relies on to Interpret sharia in Islam as:

• The holy Qur’an, the Sunnah of the Prophet, and consensus. The Holy Qur’an is without disagreement the first reference. As for the rest of the, they are:
• Al-Sunnah: Al-Shafi’i considers that the Noble Qur’an and the Sunnah are in the same rank in terms of inference. He also sees that the Sunnah abrogates the Sunnah, but the Qur’an does not abrogate the Sunnah. And if there is any conflict between the Quran and Sunnah then he takes the answer from the Quran.
• Ijma’: Al-Shafi’i believes that consensus is an argument, and it cannot be mistaken for it. The Companion’s saying: Al-Shafi’i did not consider the statement of the Companion to be an argument.
• Qiyas: Al-Shafi’i is considered an analogy but without any expansion.

Approval and sent interests: Al-Shafi’i did not take approval and sent interests and did not consider them as a basis for legislation.

2. Hanafi school:

This doctrine was founded by Imam Abu Hanifa, his full name is al-Numan bin Thabit bin Zuti al-Kufi, and his origins were Persian. He was in the year 80 AH and died in the year 180 AH. Abu Hanifa was the name that everyone called him by. He was known for his honesty. Imam Abu Hanifa knew about twenty companions and heard hadith from seven of them.

He said that his doctrines are based on ijtihad, he explained that he takes the answer from the Holy Quran and then the sunnah of the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him).

The approach of Imam Hanafi in his doctrine to Interpret sharia in Islam:

• The Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah: he relied his answer mainly on the Holy Quran.
• Consensus.
• The Companion’s Fatwa: he took the answer from the Companion’s opinion if there is no conflict between them. 
• Istihsan: Imam Ahmad used to use it when necessary.

3. The Maliki school.

The founder of the doctrine is Malik bin Anas bin Malik bin Amer, his nickname is Abu Abdullah. His grandfather Malik is one of the senior followers and his grandfather Amer is one of the companions of the Messenger of God (peace and blessing be upon him). Imam Malik was born in the year 93 AH and died in 179 AH. Before he takes the answer from the hadiths, he first ensures that the hadith is a strong hadith, not a weak one.

The approach of Imam Malik in the Doctrine to Interpret sharia in Islam:

• The sources he took his answers from are many including the holy Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him), analogy, and consensus.
• Sunnah: Imam Malik used to argue with the transmitted hadith. The saying of the companion: Imam Malik used to take the saying of the companion and consider it from the Sunnah, as he used to take the saying of the follower.
• The saying of the companion: Imam Malik used to take the saying of the companion and consider it from the Sunnah, as he used to take the saying of the follower.
• The analogy: Imam Malik used it as evidence, like all other imams.

The sent interest: Imam Malik is the only imam who invoked the sent interests if they were reasonable and appropriate to the purposes of the Sharia, as he took the principle of blocking excuses in most chapters of jurisprudence.

4. Hanbali School:

The founder of the sect is Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, born in 164 AH and died in 241 AH. He was raised as an orphan and his mother raised him well. Their social conditions were difficult, and among the precise characteristics of his personality was self-esteem. He was also patient.

Imam Hanbali’s Doctrine approach to Interpret sharia in Islam:

Imam Hanbali was an imam in hadith and jurisprudence, and he had specific methods of ijtihad which include the following:

• Presenting the texts of the Qur’an and the Sunnah: With regard to the Sunnah, he did not present anything on the correct hadith from an opinion or a companion’s statement or analogy, as he also argued with the transmitted hadith.
• Consensus: Imam Ahmad used to say that unanimity abstained, and limited it to the consensus of the Companions.
• The Companion’s Fatwa: He used to take the fatwa of the Companions if he was not in conflict.
• Measurement: Imam Ahmad used it when necessary.
• Istihsan: he used to use it when necessary.

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