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• Sharia
  Sharia

  noun

  law, seen as deriving from the Quran, hadith, ijmaʿ, and qiyas.
• sharia
  sharia

  noun

  the body of canonical law based on the Koran that lays down certain duties and penalties for Muslims

Sharia

American  

[shuh-ree-uh, shah-ree-ah] / ʃəˈri ə, ʃɑˈri ɑ /

Or Shariah,

noun

Islam.

1. law, seen as deriving from the Quran, hadith, ijmaʿ, and qiyas.

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sharia British  

/ ʃəˈriːə /

noun

1. the body of canonical law based on the Koran that lays down certain duties and penalties for Muslims

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Etymology

Origin of Sharia

First recorded in 1855–60; from Arabic sharīʿah “law,” from sharaʿa “to prescribe”

Explanation

In Islam, sharia is religious law that's based on the Quran. Observant Muslims turn to sharia to help them live morally good lives. The Arabic root of sharia is shari'ah, "revealed law," or more poetically, "the clear, well-trodden path to water." These rules are understood to be revelations from God, and observant Muslims use them as instructions for things like prayer and fasting, but also in areas such as business and legal decisions. In majority-Muslim countries, there are entire sharia legal systems, complete with Islamic jurists who interpret texts and issue guidance and punishment.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Sharia sharia

“Singling out Sharia law feels like it’s just an attempt to kind of fearmonger against Muslims and Islamic religious practices,” Sinnar said.

From Salon ● Apr. 17, 2026

Two-thirds referenced themes such as radical Islam, Sharia law, extremism or terrorism.

From Barron's ● Mar. 14, 2026

A resident of Nukuru spoke about the hard-line, strict Muslim ideology the militants have imposed - including banning things they deem to be against Islamic Sharia law.

From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2025

Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed numerous restrictions in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2025

I had to go before the Mahgama Sharia, he explained.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

"JNIM pursues a political-religious agenda, centred on the establishment of sharia law and the rejection of foreign forces, whilst the FLA champions a territorial and autonomist agenda, centred on Azawad," he said.

From Barron's ● Apr. 27, 2026

A client he had been travelling with to a sharia court hearing was among the 18 dead, Sajili said.

From Barron's ● Jan. 26, 2026

After Ansar Dine took over Timbuktu it tried to impose sharia Islamic law.

From Reuters ● May 24, 2023

Amid signs of dissent within Taliban leadership, officials said classes would resume once a new plan had been readied to ensure education was conducted “according to sharia and Afghan culture.”

From Washington Post ● Dec. 20, 2022

After the imposition of sharia, the Taliban became even bolder.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai