Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition

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S̲h̲arīʿa
(8,684 words)

(a.), derived from the root s̲h̲araʿa , having a primary range of meaning in relation to religion and religious law; also S̲h̲arʿ , frequently synonymous. The word s̲h̲arīʿa is common to the Arabic-speaking peoples of the Middle East and designates a prophetic religion in its totality, generating such phrases as s̲h̲arīʿat Mūsā , s̲h̲arīʿat al-Masīḥ (the law/religion of Moses or the Messiah), s̲h̲arīʿat al-Mad̲j̲ūs (the Zoroastrian religion) or s̲h̲arīʿatu-nā (meaning our religion and referring to any of the monotheist faiths). Within Muslim discourse, s̲h̲arīʿa designates the…

Cite this page
Calder, N. and M.B. Hooker, “S̲h̲arīʿa”, in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1573-3912_islam_COM_1040>
First published online: 2012
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004161214, 1960-2007



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