What Does Shari'a (Islamic Law) Mean in Arabic?
شَرِيعَة
shari'a
Root: ش ر ع
Shari'a (Islamic Law) Shari'a is the comprehensive divine law and moral code of Islam, derived from the Quran, Sunnah, scholarly consensus (ijma'), and analogical reasoning (qiyas). The word literally means 'a path leading to water.' Shari'a governs all aspects of life including worship, family law, commerce, criminal matters, and ethics. It aims to realize five essential objectives (maqasid): preserving religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property.
The root of Shari'a (Islamic Law) (shari'a) appears 5 times in the Quran, reflecting its foundational importance in Islamic theology and practice.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shari'a (Islamic Law)
What does Shari'a (Islamic Law) mean in Islam?
Shari'a is the comprehensive divine law and moral code of Islam, derived from the Quran, Sunnah, scholarly consensus (ijma'), and analogical reasoning (qiyas). The word literally means 'a path leading to water.' Shari'a governs all aspects of life including worship, family law, commerce, criminal matters, and ethics. It aims to realize five essential objectives (maqasid): preserving religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property.
How many times is Shari'a (Islamic Law) mentioned in the Quran?
The root of the word Shari'a (Islamic Law) appears 5 times in the Quran, underscoring its central importance in Islamic theology and practice.
What is the Arabic root of Shari'a (Islamic Law)?
The Arabic root letters of Shari'a (Islamic Law) are ش ر ع.
Related Words
حَلَال
Halal (Permissible)
Halal refers to anything permissible or lawful under Islamic law. It applies to food, drink, financial transactions, and behavior. The Quran repeatedly instructs believers to eat from what is halal and good (tayyib). Halal is the opposite of haram (forbidden) and forms one of the five rulings (ahkam) of Islamic jurisprudence.
حَرَام
Haram (Forbidden)
Haram refers to anything strictly forbidden by Islamic law. Committing a haram act is a sin deserving punishment in both this world and the hereafter. Major categories include pork, alcohol, usury (riba), adultery, and murder. Islamic jurisprudence identifies five rulings (ahkam); haram is the most severe prohibition.
فَرْض
Fard (Obligatory)
Fard is an obligatory religious duty in Islam whose performance is rewarded and whose neglect is sinful. The five pillars of Islam — shahada, salah, zakat, sawm, and hajj — are all fard. Fard is divided into fard ayn (individual obligation) and fard kifaya (collective obligation fulfilled when enough people perform it).
وَاجِب
Wajib (Necessary)
Wajib in Hanafi jurisprudence is an obligatory act slightly below fard in rank, established by probable (zanni) rather than definitive (qati) evidence. Neglecting it is sinful but less severe than neglecting fard. Examples include witr prayer, udhiyya (sacrifice), and sadaqat al-fitr. In Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, wajib and fard are synonymous.