Islamic lawIslamic law Sharia means "the way“ in Sharia means "the way“ in

Arabic. Arabic. Islam classically draws no Islam classically draws no

distinction between distinction between religious & secular life. religious & secular life.

Sharia is the legal Sharia is the legal framework that guides all framework that guides all aspects of Muslim life. aspects of Muslim life.

Like all legal systems, Like all legal systems, Sharia is interpreted Sharia is interpreted differently by different differently by different people in different times & people in different times & places.places.

Interpretation of ShariaInterpretation of Sharia Offences & Punishment- Offences & Punishment-

there is debate over what there is debate over what the Quran approves & the Quran approves & what practices were what practices were pulled from local customs pulled from local customs that predate Islam.that predate Islam. Some punishments are Some punishments are

rarely used, but receive rarely used, but receive a large amount of media a large amount of media coverage (amputation, coverage (amputation, stoning, etc.)stoning, etc.)

Apostasy– conversion to Apostasy– conversion to other religions is other religions is forbidden.forbidden.

Women Under ShariaWomen Under Sharia Women are generally Women are generally

not allowed to be clerics not allowed to be clerics or religious scholars.or religious scholars.

Permission for a Permission for a husband to beat husband to beat disobedient wives is disobedient wives is given in the given in the Qur'an, Qur'an, but but there is much dispute there is much dispute over meanings.over meanings. Daraba Daraba = beat, = beat,

chastise, abandon, chastise, abandon, make an example of, make an example of, seduce.seduce.

Some view Islamic Some view Islamic women as oppressed women as oppressed because of dress codes.because of dress codes. Qur’an states that Qur’an states that

people should dress people should dress modestly out of modestly out of reverence for God.reverence for God.

JihadJihad Jihad means “struggle” & is an Jihad means “struggle” & is an

effort to practice religion in effort to practice religion in the face of oppression & the face of oppression & persecution. persecution.

The effort may come in The effort may come in fighting the evil in your own fighting the evil in your own heart, or in standing up to a heart, or in standing up to a tyrant. tyrant.

Military effort is included as Military effort is included as an option, but only as a last an option, but only as a last resort & not "to spread Islam resort & not "to spread Islam by the sword". by the sword".

It It is notis not the initiation of the initiation of violence in the name of Islam violence in the name of Islam as the stereotype suggests. as the stereotype suggests.

WahabismWahabism An extremely strict An extremely strict

interpretation of Islam interpretation of Islam founded in the 18th founded in the 18th century, practiced in century, practiced in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

It is often discounted by It is often discounted by Islamic scholars as radical Islamic scholars as radical or fundamentalist Islam.or fundamentalist Islam.

It is the form of Islam It is the form of Islam espoused by Osama bin espoused by Osama bin Laden, the Taliban, & Laden, the Taliban, & other extremist groups. other extremist groups.