The Shari'a: The Sacred Law of Islam

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses and examines the evolution of Shari'a and its development from its Qur'anic usage to the time of Ibn Taymia. The paper examines the roots of Islamic law, the prophet Muhammed, political and religious schisms within Islam and important figures in the religion.

Introduction
Pre-Islamic Law
Muhammed the Law Giver
Early Qu'anic Law
Political Schisms and Islamic Law
What is Customary and Right
Taqi al-Din Ahmad Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Islamic law had its roots in pre-Islamic Arab society. This society and its law showed both profane and magical features. The law was magical in so far as the rules of investigation and evidence were dominated by sacral procedures, such as divination, oath, and curse; and it was profane in so far as even penal law was reduced to questions of compensation and payment. There are no indications that a sacred law existed among the pagan Arabs; this was an innovation of Islam. The magical element left only faint traces, but Islamic law preserved the profane character of a considerable portion of penal law. It also preserved the essential features of the law of personal status, family, and inheritance as it existed, no doubt with considerable variations of detail, both in the cities and among the bedouin of Arabia."

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