Rights of Non-Muslims in Islam

Being a Muslim is more than just believing in Allah. Of course, belief in Allah is the most important aspect of Islam; however, being a Muslim means that you have to live your life according to Islamic Sharia. Islamic Sharia can simply be defined as the legal, religious and moral code that should be govern the way a Muslim leads his life.

HOW IS SHARIA DEFINED

There are many interpretations of Sharia since its inception. Different sects of Islam follow it in their own way.

However, the basics remain the same and the most basic definition of Sharia directly defines it as the unalterable law of Allah. Islamic Sharia has two primary sources: Quran and Sunnah. Verses of the Holy Quran and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) are the foremost and basic source of Islamic Sharia.

Other two sources are Ijma and Qiyas. Ijma is the consensus of learned Islamic Scholars on a particular subject that is not defined in primary sources.

These learned Islamic Scholars are believed to be representing the whole Muslim nation through Ijma on that subject. Qiyas is to give opinion or judgment by making use of analogies mentioned in the primary sources.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SHARIA

The implementation of Islamic Sharia is the responsibility of Islamic leaders. However, Islamic Sharia Law is implemented through Qazis in Sharia courts. At present, there are dozens of Islamic countries in the world; however, Sharia has not been implemented in these countries.

There are only a countries in Asia and Africa that have adopted Sharia in it’s full spirit. Rest of the countries chose to adopt a marginalized version of it. Countries, such as UK, has established special Sharia committies to aid Muslim community in certain legal matters where they wish to exercise Sharia Law.

Hence, many Islamic movements around the world have tried to establish Sharia in countries, especially Muslim countries, by any means.

The main obstacle in implementing Sharia in today’s world is the widespread notion attached to it. Many people believe that Sharia is not compatible in today’s world where most of the countries are democratic states or secular states.

It is a fact that Islamic Sharia does not alter in any case if it is already mentioned in primary sources, Quran and Sunnah. If a punishment is defined in Quran for a certain crime, it has to be handed out in the same way. This has led to making implementation of Islamic Sharia controversial; however, there is no denying that Islamic Sharia Laws have been effective where implemented.