Sharia - The Islamic Law

Seminar Paper , 2008 , 20 Pages , Grade: 1,7

Orientalism / Sinology - Islamic Studies

Today, we live in a multicultural society. In our nearest environment there are people from different cultures or religions and they are part of our society. Muslims are one group that participates in our daily lives. For example, we are surrounded by many Turkish people, without really knowing which principles they follow. If we open a newspaper, we find plenty of articles dealing with Sharia, the Islamic law. There is for example the Archbishop of Canterbury who wants to integrate Islamic law into British law. And at present, the debate on headscarves in Turkish universities revives. Once in a while, we hear from women who are sentenced to death because they had unlawful sexual intercourse. But what do we really know about Muslims? Which rules do they follow and where do these rules come from? If we cannot answer this question, it is difficult to understand why there are these harsh punishments in some Islamic countries and why Islam is so important for the social development of these countries. There are Islamically inspired schools, clinics, social welfare services, and insurance and finance companies that have proliferated. Governments have to face crises of identity and political legitimacy and they are pressured to reformulate values and legislation within an Islamic framework. Some people call for the implementation of Sharia and others call for the Islamization of existing laws. In my paper, I will give an insight into Sharia and I will show how it is implemented in different Islamic countries. As this is a very complex topic, I will focus on the origin of Sharia, customs, family law, and crime and punishment, so as to explain the main principles of Muslim faith.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
• Definition
• Sources of Sharia
  • Quran
  • Sunnah
  • Ijma
  • Qiyas
• Topics of Islamic law
  • Dietary laws: Halal
  • Customs and behaviour
  • Dress codes
  • Family law
    • Marriage
    • Divorce
    • Inheritance
  • Penalties
    • Theft
    • Adultery and fornication
    • Apostasy
  • Women in Islam
  • Non-Muslims
• Contemporary issues
  • Contemporary practice
  • Sharia in Nigeria
  • Democracy and human rights
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This paper aims to provide an overview of Sharia, the Islamic law, and its implementation in different Islamic countries. It focuses on the origin of Sharia, customs, family law, and crime and punishment, to explain the main principles of Muslim faith.

• The origin and sources of Sharia, including the Quran, Sunnah, Ijma, and Qiyas.
• Key aspects of Islamic law, such as dietary laws, customs and behaviour, dress codes, and family law.
• The role of Sharia in shaping social and legal systems in Islamic countries.
• Contemporary issues related to Sharia, including its application in modern societies and its relationship with democracy and human rights.
• The impact of Sharia on the lives of Muslims and non-Muslims.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The introduction sets the context for the paper by discussing the increasing presence of Muslims in multicultural societies and the growing interest in Sharia. It highlights the need to understand the principles of Islamic law to better comprehend the social and legal systems of Islamic countries.

The chapter on the definition of Sharia explains that it is a body of Islamic religious law based on obedience and submission to the will of God. It outlines the concept of Sharia as a legal framework that regulates both public and private aspects of life for Muslims.

The chapter on the sources of Sharia delves into the four primary sources: the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, Ijma (consensus), and Qiyas (analogical reasoning). It discusses the role of each source in shaping Islamic law and the historical context of their development.

The chapter on topics of Islamic law explores various aspects of Sharia, including dietary laws, customs and behaviour, dress codes, family law, and penalties. It examines the specific rules and regulations related to each topic, providing insights into the practical application of Sharia in daily life.

Schlüsselwörter

The keywords and focus themes of the text include Sharia, Islamic law, Quran, Sunnah, Ijma, Qiyas, Halal, customs, family law, marriage, divorce, inheritance, penalties, women in Islam, non-Muslims, contemporary issues, democracy, human rights, and Islamic societies.

• College: University of Hildesheim (Institut für Angewandte Sprachwissenschaft)
• Course: Ba-Seminar Interkulturelle Kommunikation
• Grade: 1,7
• Author: Corinna Standke (Author)
• Publication Year: 2008
• Pages: 20
• Catalog Number: V113665
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640141326
• ISBN (Book): 9783640149674
• Language: English
• Tags: Sharia, Islamic, Ba-Seminar, Interkulturelle, Kommunikation, Islam, Gesetz, Scharia