# sharia

/ˈʃɑɹiə/ (US) · /ʃˈeəɹiɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sharia
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. Islamic law

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the system of religious laws that Muslims follow, based on the Quran and other holy writings.

For teachers: the canonical law of Islam based on the Quran and the Sunnah and traditional interpretations of these sources.

- The local community leaders discussed how sharia principles apply to family matters.
- Scholars of Islamic jurisprudence often debate the interpretation of sharia in the context of modern legal systems and human rights.

Usage: Often used with a capital letter (Sharia), though lowercase is also common in general writing.

Teaching tip: In English, this is almost always used to refer to religious law; the sense of 'a street' is extremely rare and usually only found in direct translations of Arabic addresses.

## Examples

- The local community follows sharia for matters of marriage and inheritance.
- Legal scholars often debate the interpretation of sharia in the context of modern civil law systems.
- The application of sharia varies significantly across different nations, ranging from a purely personal moral guide to a comprehensive framework for a country's judicial system.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.