Implementing Shariah Law

Implementing Shariah

• Shariah law sets out five categories of human actions:

  • Obligatory actions or duties (following the Five Pillars)

  • Recommended actions (e.g., charity work)

  • Neutral actions (actions not addressed by Shariah)

  • Discouraged actions (e.g., divorce)

  • Forbidden actions (e.g. murder, adultery)

Shariah Law in Canada

• In Canada, Muslims observe shariah in non-legal moral aspects of behaviour.

• Some people wish to apply shariah to resolve certain types of legal disputes, such as family disputes, marriage, and divorce.

• Some Muslim and non-Muslim Canadians fear that the equality rights of women, which are part of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, could be threatened if shariah replaces civil law on these matters.

Fatwas: Interpretations of Scripture for Today

• A fatwa is a religious opinion on Islamic law delivered by a scholar. 

• It can be issued on any matter, from a difficult legal problem to an everyday issue.