The sharia is the fundamental religious concept of Islam, representing God’s command for Muslims and a system of duties based on religious belief. Known as the sharīʿah, it is considered a divinely ordained path of conduct that guides Muslims toward religious expression in this world, with the goal of divine favor in the afterlife.
While the Qurʾān provides basic standards, it is not a comprehensive legal code. The sharia also encompasses ethical standards, indicating what one ought to do or refrain from doing, thus serving as a comprehensive code of behavior for both private and public activities.
The interpretation of the sharia has produced a wide array of legal positions, with social pressures and communal interests playing an important role in its practice.