Myth 31: “Sharia Means Justice for All”

Claim: 

Sharia law is a just and divine legal system that ensures fairness for all members of society—Muslim or non-Muslim, man or woman.

Reality: 

Sharia is a religious legal system rooted in 7th-century Arabian norms, not in universal principles of justice. It enforces gender inequality, religious supremacy, and inhumane punishments. Justice in Sharia is hierarchical—Muslims are privileged over non-Muslims, men over women, and believers over dissenters. It does not meet modern standards of impartial justice.

📜 I. Hierarchical Legal Structure

🔹 Qur’an 4:11

“To the male, a portion equal to that of two females…”

Inheritance is unequal by design.

🔹 Qur’an 2:282

“And call to witness two men… or one man and two women…”

Legal testimony is biased by gender.

🔹 Reliance of the Traveller (Umdat al-Salik)

A canonical Shafi’i manual of Islamic law explicitly states:

  • Non-Muslims cannot inherit from Muslims

  • Muslim testimony trumps that of non-Muslims

  • Apostates must be executed

🧠 Justice is not blind in Sharia—it is calibrated by identity.

⚖️ II. Inconsistent Punishments

CrimeMuslim PerpetratorNon-Muslim Perpetrator
ApostasyExecution for MuslimsNot applicable
TheftAmputation (under hudud)Same, but discretionary for rulers
MurderBlood money varies by religion and gender
RapeRequires 4 male witnesses to convict

  • Punishments are severe and often irreversible, yet standards of proof are unrealistic or biased.

  • Hudud punishments: Stoning, amputation, flogging—all sanctioned in Sharia.

👤 III. Bias Against Non-Muslims and Dissenters

  • Dhimmis: Must pay jizya, can’t testify against Muslims, have limited legal rights.

  • Apostates: Killed for leaving Islam, per Bukhari 6922.

  • Blasphemers: Executed or punished—no distinction between critique and hate.

🧠 The system protects belief, not people—especially not people who question or reject belief.

👩🏽 IV. Gendered Injustice

  • Marriage: Muslim men can marry non-Muslim women; Muslim women cannot marry outside Islam.

  • Divorce: Men can divorce unilaterally (talaq); women face legal obstacles.

  • Guardianship: Women require male guardians (wali) for marriage and sometimes travel.

  • Child Custody: Often favors fathers after a certain age.

Sharia formalizes gender-based legal inferiority.

🌍 V. Real-World Implementation: Justice Denied

CountryExample
Saudi ArabiaNo independent judiciary; judges apply Hanbali fiqh arbitrarily.
IranExecutions for apostasy, blasphemy, and adultery.
PakistanBlasphemy laws used to imprison or lynch minorities.
Somalia / Northern NigeriaPublic stoning and amputations under Sharia enforcement.

🧠 Sharia’s claimed justice fails in practice and principle. It's built on identity, not equality.

🔥 VI. Common Defenses and Rebuttals

DefenseRebuttal
“Sharia means ‘path to justice.’”A label does not make a system just.
“Hudud laws are rarely enforced.”The threat alone is unjust; and in some places, they are enforced.
“Sharia is about ethics and family law.”In many countries, it governs criminal law, politics, and economics—with dire effects.
“Western law is flawed too.”Criticizing others doesn’t absolve Sharia’s systemic injustice.

❌ Final Logical Conclusion

If:

  • Sharia law codifies inequality by gender, religion, and belief,

  • Punishments are extreme and often unjustly applied,

  • And non-Muslims and dissenters are legally subordinate,

Then:

❌ Sharia law does not mean justice for all.
It is a religious caste system, not a framework of universal fairness. Its continued enforcement is incompatible with impartial, modern justice.

📢 Final Word

True justice is equal for all under the law—regardless of gender, religion, or belief.
Sharia, by design, privileges believers and punishes dissent. That’s not justice. It’s a theocratic control mechanism.

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