Sharia (translated as ‘the correct path’) is the divine law that a Muslim must follow to lead a moral life. It is derived from the Quran and hadith—thousands of sayings attributed to Prophet Mohammad. It is applied to both the public and private spheres. It was interpreted by jurists in the classical period of Islam, wherein four major schools were established. To this day, many Muslim societies still abide, at least in part, by its rule.
