How was Shari'ah unlike other legal codes?

Question

 In what ways was the Shari'ah unline other legal codes?

Answer 1

Hello Bethanie,

This is a great question! The Sharia is unlike any other legal code in many aspects. I will happily cover some of them below:

1) The source of the Sharia

Muslims believe in one God. We believe Allah (God in Arabic) has sent prophets and messengers throughout time, all with the same message: worship Allah alone. Some of these Prophets include Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Belief-wise, all the Prophets were the same. They were all monotheistic and they preached the worship of one God. As for the laws they followed, Allah sent down different laws to different Prophets. For instance, we know that Moses (Peace be upon him) was given a specific law from Allah. Moses and his people followed this law and many of the Prophets after him also followed that law. Jesus (Peace be upon him) also followed the law of Moses, but he was also allowed to make permissible some of that which was forbidden upon the children of Israel. As for when the final messenger, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), was sent he was given a new law, which are the laws of Islam we know of today. And, it should be noted that all the prophets were Muslims, and they all share one religion. A Muslim means one who submits themselves to Allah.

2) The protections given by the Sharia

The sharia is a completely comprehensive law. From personal laws having to do with one's character, to social laws having to do with divorce and family ties, to laws that benefit the society as a whole. Let's take a look at an example:

In Islam, Alcohol is forbidden. Allah tells us in the Quran (the meaning of which is):

{ They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about intoxicants and gambling. Say, “There is great evil in both, as well as some benefit for people—but the evil outweighs the benefit.” } [Quran 2:219]

Now, the dangers and harms of alcohol are no secret. It causes problems to the individual, families, and society in general. To individuals it can lead to many health consequences, such as cancer, to families it can lead to domestic violence and abuse, and to society is leads to widespread corruption and death. Therefore, it's clear that alcohol is harmful. The Sharia not only protects individuals, but also family structures and society at large.

3) The timelessness of the Sharia

The principles and framework laid out by the Sharia makes it such that the Sharia can fit every time and place. It is a legal system that can adapt to every environment, whether that is hundreds of years ago, or hundreds of year into the future.

These are just a few examples, as there are many more, which I would be more than happy to share! Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks!