Shari’ah is an ideal - a changing, moving understanding of what a perfect interpretation of law would be.
- NO DRUGS, abstinence only
fiqh is how humans interpret said Law, with all the flaws and limitations that come with being human.
- people get sick and need drugs, we protect people and keep them safe. In Iran, you can get permission from someone called a “Marja” to use drugs for medical purposes.
- “all my mistakes are mine, all my good deeds are from Allah”
Together, these are a system that reflects how Muslims make sense of a whole host of ideals, ideas, and practices.
- Why are drugs punshible by death in Iran? It is because it distracts your focus from Allah
Levels of Importance
Because there is no “Book of Shari’ah”, it has to be interpreted from a variety of sources in descending order.
Most Important
- Qur’an
- Sunna ( including Hadith )
- Qiyās ( analogical reasoning )
- Ijmā’ ( consensus )
- Ijtihad ( interpretation, and its process )
- Taqlid ( precedent )
Less Important
- Istihsān ( personal judgement )
- Istislāh ( overruling based on public good )
- Zarūra ( suspension of rule in dire situations )
Sharia: Classifications
- Obligatory: must be done; God rewards for doing, punishes for not.
An example of this is the five daily prayers (salat).
- Recommended: highly desirable, but not required.
An example of this is giving extra charity (sadaqah) beyond the obligatory almsgiving (zakat).
- Permissable: actions to which god assigns neutral value
An example of this is eating certain foods that are not specifically prohibited, such as fish without scales.
- Reprehensible: undesirable but not forbidden.
An example of this is engaging in excessive luxury or extravagance, which is discouraged but not strictly prohibited.
- Forbidden(haram): punished for doing, rewarded for avoiding.
An example of this is consuming alcohol or engaging in theft.