Definition of Sharī‘ah in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith
Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il fī Ḍaw’ al-Qur’ān wa al-Ḥadīth, Vol. 01, p. 562
Question
What is meant by Sharī‘ah?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa as-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
Allah ﷻ says:
{ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاکَ عَلٰی شَرِیْعَۃٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْہَا وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَہْوَآئَ الَّذِیْنَ لاَ یَعْلَمُوْنَ}
“Then We put you upon a Sharī‘ah of the matter, so follow it, and do not follow the desires of those who do not know.”
— [Al-Jāthiyah 18, P25]
{وَاتَّبِعْ مَا یُوْحٰٓی إِلَیْکَ}
“And follow that which has been revealed to you.”
— [Yūnus 109, P11]
{اِتَّبِعُوْا مَآ أُنْزِلَ إِلَیْکُمْ مِّنْ رَّبِّکُمْ}
“Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord.”
— [Al-A‘rāf 3, P8]
{وَأَنْزَلَ اﷲُ عَلَیْکَ الْکِتَابَ وَالْحِکْمَۃَ}
“And Allah has sent down upon you the Book and the Wisdom.”
— [Al-Nisā’ 113, P5]
Explanation
From all these noble verses, it becomes clear that whatever was revealed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the form of the Book and Wisdom, that is Sharī‘ah. The command to follow this Sharī‘ah was given not only to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself but also to all those who are accountable.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
