Learning Goal 3

Sharia Law

1. 5 Hadd crimes: unlawful sexual intercourse (sex outside of marriage and adultery), false accusation of unlawful sexual intercourse, wine drinking (sometimes extended to include all alcohol drinking), theft, and highway robbery.  Punishment for these crimes: flogging, stoning, amputation, exile, or execution.
2. Criminal laws are the most controversial because the punishment for the offenses often receive attention from the media and often result in a negative view of the religion. 
3. The problem with vigilante justice is that it allows innocent people to be punished (often women and often resulting in death) with no true cause. It mainly happens because there is no justice or there is a dissatisfaction with justice. 
4. This section explains that people strongly supported Islam in politics and for harsh punishment for hadd crimes. At the same time however people also agreed that the best form of government is a democracy. This causes debate because the people who disagree with democracy disagree because they feel it is a western idea that has been forced upon Muslims countries. Those who agree feel that Islam and democracy can coexists and work together and they support their reasoning using the Koran. 
5. Dual Legal System: This type of system allows the government tot be secular but Muslims can choose to bring family issues and financial disputes to sharia courts. This idea is also spreading to some Western countries who allow Muslims to apply Islamic law to family and financial issues.  Government Under God: In Muslims countries where Islam is the official religion and is stated in the constitution, sharia is the source of the laws. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Yemen, and the UAE derive there laws from Islam. Other countries such as Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, etc, forbid any legislation that in antithetical to Islam. Even non-Muslims are expected to obey sharia law and most have jurisdiction of special committees in the government.  Completely Secular: This system is where Islamist parties run for office occasionally and sharia only really influences local customs. Popular Islamist groups are viewed as threats by the existing government.
6. I think that sharia and democracy can exists in the sense that sharia punishments would not necessarily be followed and a democratic state can still be swayed by Islamic views. if the people have more freedom within the government than there is no need to enforce the harsh punishments of sharia law, and at the same time, if certain aspects of sharia law are taken into consideration, than a state does not have to completely follow the Western model for democracy.
7. The section about Modern economics and sharia talks about banking has been modified to fit sharia law. Banks are following rules of Islamic law to be able to provide for more people. Businesses are required to avoid transactions related to forbidden things such as weapons, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, pornography, and pork. Investors are guaranteed that their money will not end up financing any of those industries.