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The Shari'a, however, is not merly a collection of "do's and
don'ts," nor just a set of criminal laws prescribing punishments
for certain crimes.    Because the basic source of the Shari'a is
considered the word of God revealed to the prophet Mohammed, the
Shari'a encompasses the total relationship between the Moslem and
his God.   This relationship is expressed by the very word `1lslam"
(submission).   The Moslem submits to Allah by following God's
will and the guidance brought by the prophets as compiled in the
Koran.   The Shari'a is therefore considered to be the divinely
ordained code of behavior and the prescribed way of life for man.
To live in Islam is to live by the Shari'a.   The second source of
the Shari'a is the `,Sunna" (the way or tradition), the life
example set by the prophet Mohammed, consisting of what he did,
or said, or approved during his prophethood while guiding and
directing his followers.   The other two sources are the Ijma, the
historically continuous consensus of the Moslem community, and
the Ijtihad, the human endeavor to understand and solve human
problems in the light of the Koran and the Sunna.   The Shari a
consists of things which are:

           1.  Expressly prohibited (Haram).

           2.  Expressly enjoined (Wajib).

           3.  Disliked but not prohibited (Mukruh).

           4.  Recommended but not enjoined (Mundub).

           5.  Simply permitted through silence (Mubah).

      Many do not realize that whatever is not prohibited is
permitted and major part of human life lies under the Mubah.   the
Shari'a prohibits only a few things and stresses moderation and
balance in all acitvities.

      Although  Islamic law may sound puzzling to the Westerner,
its basic concept of divine manifestation cannot be amended to
conform to changing human values or standards.   It is an absolute
norm to which all Moslem values and conduct must conform.   The
Shari'a is not equivalent only to laws enforceable through
political authority, though they are an important and integral
part of it.   It overwhelmingly consists of morals, manners and
regulations, ranging from worship to statecraft, which depend for
compliance entirely upon a Moslem's conscience.   Even in the
absence of civil enforcement, the true Moslem is obligated to
follow the prescribed code of behavior set forth in the Shari'a;
the Moslem knows that to do otherwise would imperil his spiritual
salvation.

      The complexity of the Shari'a requires extensive personal
study to appreciate fully its precepts.   To condemn Islamic law
without understanding its roots and how it encompasses the


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