Page "Sharia" Paragraph 5

The etymology of sharia as a " path " or " way " comes from the Qur ' anic verse: " Then we put thee on the ( right ) Way of religion so follow thou that ( Way ), and follow not the desires of those who know not.

" Abdul Mannan Omar in his Dictionary of the Holy Quran, believes the " Way " in 45: 18 ( quoted above ) derives from shara ' a ( as prf.

3rd.

p. m.

sing.

), meaning " He ordained ".

Other forms also appear: shara ' u as ( prf.

3rd.

p. m.

plu.

), " they decreed ( a law )"; and shir ' atun ( n .) meaning " spiritual law ".