What does “sharia” actually mean — and who gets to define it? As Texas Republicans intensify efforts to crack down on what they call sharia law, Muslim Texans and Islamic scholars say the political rhetoric bears little resemblance to how sharia is understood and practiced by Muslims. When Shaimaa Zayan considers what “sharia” means to her, the Austin resident doesn’t see a hot-button political issue or a legal code that undermines the U.S. Constitution. She sees a set of daily practices that gradually lead Muslims like her closer to paradise. Linguistically, she told Texas-based RNS Reporter Ellie Ashby, sharia means “a path to water.” Religiously, she added, the Arabic term describes “the path to success” or “how we should practice our faith.” Our latest report examines the growing clash in Texas, the history and diversity of Islamic legal traditions, and why Muslims say the debate is fueling fear and misunderstanding. Top Stories | (RNS) — Islamic scholars and Muslim Texans say fear and political opportunism distort the meaning of sharia. |
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