1. Islamic Traditions:
Orthopraxy and
Sharia Law

2. Orthodoxy vs. Orthopraxy
All religions are concerned with the correct interpretation of myths and beliefs.
This is known as orthodoxy.
Some religions, such as Judaism and Islam, are also concerned with the correct interpretation of rituals and lifestyle.
This is known as orthopraxy.

3. Orthodoxy vs. Orthopraxy
Ever since early in the development of Islam, orthopraxy played an important role.
Because Islam was about total submission to God, every aspect of life should reflect that submission.
The proper lifestyle was the one most similar to way Muhammad lived while in Medina and Mecca.
This lifestyle was known as sunna.

4. The Sunna and the Hadith
Because Muhammad lived in a significantly less literate time, it is difficult to really known what is the nature of the sunna.
In order to learn about the sunna, Muslims turn to the ahadith (plural of hadith).
The ahadith are thousands of stories which recount Muhammad’s words and deeds.

5. The Sunna and the Hadith
In order to sort through the ahadith, scholars looked at the isnad (chain of transmission.
If the isnad was pure, then the hadith could be considered reliable.
Unfortunately, individuals would selectively edit their isnad in order to be considered reliable.
Some say that the sunna is a reflection of ninth century thought than seventh century traditions.

6. Ijma, Fatwa and Ijtihad
Unfortunately, even the sunna and the ahadith could not answer all the questions about lifestyle.
In order to answer these questions, Muslims turned to Islamic legal scholars known as ulama (plural of alim).
The decisions are the ulama included: ijma (consensus decisions), fatwa (individual declaration), and ijtihad (individual decision).

7. The Gates of Ijtihad
Toward the end of the tenth century, the ulama decided that “the gates of ijtihad were closed.”
Apparently all the independent decisions that needed to be made had made by that point.
The Islamic traditions and decisions formed the orthopraxic legal code known as Sharia Law.
There are four major Sunni schools of Sharia Law.

8. Major Sunni Schools of Sharia
The Shafii School-founded by Muhammad ash-Shafi, popular in Southeast Asia
The Maliki School-founded by Malik ibn Anas, popular in West Africa
The Hanafi School-founded by Abu Hanifah, most popular school, popular in Central Asia
The Hanbali School-founded Ahmad ibn Hanbal, most conservative school, popular in the Middle East.

9. Major Areas of Sharia Law
The two major sections of Sharia Law are al-ibadat (acts of worship or the five pillars) and al-muamalat (human interaction).
Al-muamalat include laws on marriage, divorce, war, peace, judicial matters, and punishments.