Aslan Media Book Salon discussion

In 'Heaven on Earth' by Sadakat Kadri he explains how he finds rationality and flexibility in Sharia law - his argument is with those who recently “have turned Islamic penal history on its head.” Do you agree that Sharia law is rational and flexible? How would you describe it?

I think Sharia law is just there to divert us from engaging in "bad" practices. Meaning I don't see how GOD/ALLAH would enjoy my being punished. I don't and can't think of GOD/ALLAH behaving the way we humans do. We humans tend to have a beer and enjoy -- as if catching an orgasm -- watching a boxing game or gladiator bleeding to save his live. Yes, the Sharia law is flexible or so I see it. For instance, the "ulama" agree that no thief can undergo the punishment of having one's arm cut if the person committed such a crime out of need (especially if the leader of the country, tribe, etc is not establishing justice and is not providing for the people). Another extreme case where a person who committed adultery can escape the lashing if nobody knew about it and if there were less than four witnesses on the act (providing the witnesses doesn't mean allowing prying on people). I heard in a lecture that during the time of the prophet Muhamed, peace and blessing be upon him, that al-hadd was established on only six people who committed adultery and that's because they chose to admit their act and receive redemption through al-hadd. I have to say that I am not sure of this last number; I am thinking it's either six or four and the reference is Dr. Tareq Al-Suwaidan.

TY sisters, I m enjoying the discussion and your thoughtful contributions

:-) I hope more people join in.

I agree with you, Kholoud.

A rigid set of Sharia, with no flexibility is basically calling for people to be punished & I think is based upon this idea of fearing God and his wrath.

I see God as someone to love, and I feel he loves me.'In the Name of Allah (swt), the compassionate, the Merciful' is the first line that comes to mind when I think of this debate. How can a God who has that line at the begining of prayer, and throughout the Quran not want us to yes, strive to follow his ways, but to love us and understand us.

Theres always a situation and a context to Sharia - I especially liked the theft example, this isn't supposed to be a civil law where an act can be illegal simply because the law says it is in all circumstances, but rather its supposed to help us sift through moral quandries on a case by case basis.

Sharia Law has not much to do with Islam. Historically, you have a few powerful religious scholars who imposed their power on the masses, and claimed that it's part of Islam. One can't relate Sharia to the beautiful words of Muhammad (pbuh), at least I refuse to. It's a shame, too, because the heart of Islam is the most beautiful of religions.

Now we got to talking about Sharia and Power, I guess. In a way, we are saying that power (financial and political) affects who holds/has the power to hold the megaphone and blows out "Fatwas". It's not a linear relationship and in spite of our purist ideologies, religion today is at the play of "politicized muftis" serving political/economic agendas rather than religious ones. I am all about gossip, if you guys would like to state specific names and cases.

For a little but of gossip, this is a fatwa I found online that is entertaining:

The Fatwa: Grand Mufti Sheikh Ibn Baaz: The Sun Revolves Around the Earth

In a 2000 Fatwa titled “The Transmitted and Sensory Proofs of the Rotation of the Sun and Stillness of the Earth”, Saudi Arabian Grand Mufti Sheikh Ibn Baaz asserted that the earth was flat and disk-like and that the sun revolved around it. He had insisted that satellite images to the contrary were nothing but a Western conspiracy against the Islamic world.

Source: Al-Ahram Weekly Issue 477, 13-19 April, 2000.

The study & knowledge of Islam is vital for any Muslim, and scholars are vital to personal studies - but it saddens me that statement such as this exist, which lowers this act of studying.