What does sharia mean?
Sharia is the English term for Islamic religious law, understood by Muslims as divine law grounded in the Qur’an and the example of the Prophet Muhammad. The word may refer to the ideal and comprehensive religious order itself, including principles concerning worship, conduct, family life, commerce, and public affairs, or more narrowly to the legal rules applied by Muslim authorities. Sharia is not simply equivalent to the statutes of a particular country: its interpretation and enforcement have varied among Islamic schools, states, historical periods, and communities. In contemporary discussion, the term can carry political and legal significance, especially when a government or institution is said to apply it in areas such as family law, criminal justice, finance, or public conduct. Understanding sharia therefore requires distinguishing between its religious foundation and the diverse human systems that claim to represent it.
nounSharia is the body of religious law derived from the Qur’an and the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad. Its application and interpretation vary among Islamic schools, legal systems, and communities.
- The divine and religious law of Islam, considered by Muslims to derive ultimately from God and encompassing religious, ethical, and legal principles.
- The legal and social rules applied in a community according to Islamic law, especially when discussing a state or society's legal framework.
"The country’s legal system was debated because several of its provisions appeared inconsistent with sharia."
"Scholars debated how sharia should be interpreted in relation to modern constitutional law."
"The report examined the role of sharia in family disputes and property ownership."
The plural is possible but uncommon; writers usually discuss sharia as a body of law or use the plural in phrases such as “different interpretations of sharia.”
"Competing sharias have developed in different parts of the Muslim world."
Sharia is often described as law, but in its traditional usage it means divine law, whose interpretation by human legal scholars has changed across societies and centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sharia come from?
The English word comes from Arabic sharīʿa, meaning “the path” or “way,” and by extension a legally prescribed way of life. Arabic sharīʿa is related to the root sharīʿ, associated with entering or commencing a path, and entered English through Arabic and related languages during the medieval period and later. English has historically used variants including “shariah” and “Sheria,” while the modern spelling “sharia” became widely established in scholarly and public usage.
How sharia is actually used
The term is common in academic, legal, religious, and political contexts. Its meaning can refer either to the ideal divine law itself or to the human legal systems and practices said to implement it, so context matters. English also uses the variant spellings “shariah” and “Sheria.”
Easily confused with sharia
Shariah is an alternative English spelling of sharia; both refer to Islamic religious law.