Mention the word ‘Sharia’ and to most it conjures up extreme images of beheadings, amputations or floggings. Such has been the power of the western media’s misrepresentation of Islam’s answer to the abject failure of man-made laws.
Of course, Sharia deals with a lot more than simply the punitive measures regurgitated in every media denunciation of Muslims or Islam; it is an all-encompassing system that practically informs every aspect of a Muslim’s life. Those who seek to minimise the holistic nature of the divine system not only do themselves an injustice, but far worse; they rob society of a truly innovative means of restoring justice, equity and morality.
Before the expansion of colonial empires, Islam dominated vast swathes of land all the way from Asia to Europe, and Sharia was the law of the land. Indeed, as late as the 17th century it was in force in the Indian sub-continent under the Moguls. Such was its pervasiveness that it was counted among the major world legal systems, alongside Roman and English common law.
Had Sharia really been the horror portrayed by ignorant Islamophobes and media ‘pundits’, there is no doubt it would have been relegated to the annals of history. But instead it has remained in its various manifestations, and once again vies on a global scale with other judicial systems.
It is our conviction that once an individual gets past the Islamophobic obfuscations and the sensationalist rhetoric, he or she will immediately become aware of a legislative structure that has no comparison or competition among modern-day jurisprudence, and will understand why Sharia is good for Ireland.
Islam demands moral uprightness, honesty and integrity on the part of those who are given oversight over the people. They work in the interests of the state, not themselves. Can anyone doubt that Ireland today lacks that moral and honourable leadership that Islam commands?
Islam also forbids the taking of an innocent life – “Allah has declared the life of an innocent one as sacred” (5:32) – and enjoins strict punishment to ensure that perpetrators are punished and would-be offenders are deterred (“If one kills a believer with intent, punishment for this unjust killing is death” (4:93)). For those who kill without intent, then the family of the victim have the opportunity to demand the death penalty, blood money or indeed simply forgive.
The western system of imprisoning murderers unnecessarily burdens innocent people with exorbitant taxes to keep villains in comforts that many on the outside do not enjoy. The recent debacle over the killers of Jamie Bulger is a clear indication that many do not see prison as a just recompense for murder and other serious crimes.
Economic rules are also an important part of Sharia. The recession has brought to the fore banking practices that have virtually bankrupted Ireland. The root of the problem is usury, or what is known as riba’a in Arabic. Medieval Christendom actually forbade usury transactions, though certain groups were able to capitalise on ‘scriptural’ allowances for such transactions with the gentiles and thus the modern day system was born – a system that has strangled the poor, enslaved the rich and brought the world to its knees.
Islam naturally forbids this exploitation and prohibits usury. The Holy Qur’an says: “Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, ‘Trade is [just] like interest.’ But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allah. But whoever returns to [dealing in interest or usury] – those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein” (2:275).
Imagine an Ireland free of this imaginary but crippling debt! Imagine just, upright and responsible leaders. Imagine a justice system that actually worked in the interests of the innocent.
Some don’t want this to happen, and will expend every effort to distort the true picture of Islam. So we would encourage readers to take an objective look at Sharia in its totality, and in particular when it comes to issues such as women’s rights, children’s rights, property and trade.
Liam Egan is South East branch manager with MPACIE (Muslim Public Affairs Council Ireland)
