A lot of modern history is falsified by the victors to justify their oppression of others. To justify the invasion and colonialism of the Muslim world, many lies were invented about Islam and Shariah. Sadly, many Muslims today believe these lies as they have not been exposed to alternative historical narratives.
One common myth that we are told is that Shariah was a barbaric and violent law system, and the Muslim world needed to be civilized. Muslims are told that their lands were ruled by violence, specifically violence towards non-Muslims and women, and that the colonial powers came to save them. Some of us believed these lies.
History proves otherwise. History bears witness to incredible empires that were built on Shariah. Under the Right Guided Caliphs, and later under the Umayyads, Abbasids, and Ottomans, a thriving civilization rose up that would shape the world in many ways.
The Shariah is built upon justice. Ibn al-Qayyim (RA) said, ““Verily, the Sharia is founded upon wisdom and welfare for the servants in this life and the afterlife. In its entirety it is justice, mercy, benefit, and wisdom. Every matter which abandons justice for tyranny, mercy for cruelty, benefit for corruption, and wisdom for foolishness is not a part of the Sharia even if it was introduced therein by an interpretation.” (I’lām al-Muwaqqi’īn 3/11)
The Shariah produced empires that brought many positive changes to the world. Some of the beautiful accomplishments of Shariah include:
- A justice system that held even the king to account
- A law system that was outside the control of the king, protected from tampering
- A peaceful and safe society due to an affective criminal law system
- A law system that allowed for multiple interpretations, cultural diversity and personalized rulings, keeping it flexible and practical across various periods of time
- Just economics which led to low cost of living and many free services funded by wealthy patrons
- A culture of learning and science which led to many of the most important discoveries in human history
The Shariah was the foundation for empires in which people lived free, safe, and happy lives. Mighty empires and powerful civilizations were built upon this Divine System.
In our newest online course, we explore the history of the application of the Shariah to highlight the benefits and goals of Shariah, as well as clear up misconceptions about the Shariah. This in-depth 30-module course is a unique deep-dive and a rarely utilized approach to the history of the Shariah. Join us for a course that will increase your faith, increase your appreciation for God’s Wisdom, and give you a fresh perspective on one of the most misunderstood systems of law in human history. Learn more here.
