What is sharia law?The literal translation of the Arabic word sharia is "way or path to the water", but Muslims understand it to mean a way of life that is divinely ordained.
A legal and moral code, sharia covers all aspects of life including dietary rules, laws on marriage, divorce, inheritance and the proper way to conduct business. There are five categories in sharia focusing on acts which are obligatory, recommended, permissible, disapproved of and forbidden.
Where does it come from?
Sharia is derived from several sources including Koranic exegesis, the Hadith (the sayings and conduct of Mohammed) and Islamic jurisprudence refined over centuries by scholars.
Is there a single sharia law?
No. There are five different schools - known as madhhab - based on differing interpretations of Islam's religious texts. Four belong to the Sunni tradition, and one to the Shia. Countries that belonged to the former Ottoman empire tend to follow the Hanafi school; while Muslims in north Africa favour the Maliki doctrine; Malaysia and Indonesia adhere to the Shafi'i school; Saudi Arabia the Hanbali doctrine; and Iran follows the Shia Jaafari school. The five schools differ in how literally they interpret the texts.
How is sharia applied in Muslim countries?
Saudi Arabia and Iran implement sharia as the sole law of the land. Many other Muslim states have incorporated elements of sharia law into their legal systems, particularly in areas to do with inheritance, banking, marriage and contract law. The way it is applied varies widely from country to country and is subject to much debate.
What about penal codes in sharia?
For non-Muslims, sharia is often synonymous with the punishments - such as stoning, flogging and amputation - recommended for a specific set of crimes known as hadd. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, where the legal system is completely sharia-based, enforce these penalties for hadd offences such as adultery, alcohol consumption and theft. Some modern Muslim scholars believe the most severe punishments should be suspended.
How does sharia impact on women?
Sharia law is subject to wide interpretation, but women generally fare far worse in divorce, child custody and inheritance matters under its rulings. For example, a woman can only inherit half as much as a man. If a divorced woman remarries, custody of the children from her previous marriage may revert to the children's father. In Pakistan, women have campaigned against the country's sharia-based rape laws which say a claim of rape can be made only if the act is witnessed by four Muslim men.