Prepared by: Dr. Saeed Ismaeel Sini

Application of Islamic Law And Extremism

     A wise person recognizes that the word “extreme” has relative meanings. What could be extreme to one person might be lenient to another. Even in the same country, it changes from time to time. There was a time when some American states considered capital punishment as an extreme punishment, which should be abolished from the law. But now it seems like some of these states are going back to the capital punishment.

Then how can we define extremism?

     To a Muslim, once he is convinced by sufficient evidence that a particular law is Divine, he has no doubt that this law is better than any man made law. For Allah is the One Who created humans and He knows best what is good for them.

     Therefore, if a nation or the majority of the citizens chooses Islam as a complete package of laws that regulates the relations between the citizens themselves and between them and the others, then there is no room for not applying it in their private or public life. And as we know according to the Charter of the UN, every nation has the right to determine what is good for it.

     True Muslims firmly believe that Islamic law will certainly secure felicity and peace for the accountable beings (Jinn and Humans) in this temporary life as long as the majority acts upon it.

They also believe that it also guarantees happiness in the Hereafter if the individual implements most of it, provided that he does not take partners with Allah, the One God. Allah says: {Verily Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives anything lesser for whomever He wills.}[1]

     It is true that Islam is very firm with some crimes and has assigned severe punishments for them, but it also made it clear that these punishments should not be applied without strong or unchallengeable evidence, according to strict rules. On the other hand, Islam is not the first to implement such laws, because many of these laws are actually part of the Jewish and Christian laws as well.

     Islam in general sets some basic rules and limits, which should not be tampered with. At the same time, it provides, within set boundaries, enough room to implement judgments that are results of interactions between the major sources of Islamic law and the careful diagnosis of reality.

[1] Holy Quraan, 4: 48, 116.