SACRED LAW IN A SECULAR LAND To What Extent Should Sharīʻa Law be Followed in Australia?

Muslims are obliged to follow the Sharīʻa law wherever they live. However, in Australia – as in other Western, secular countries – the extent to which Sharīʻa should be followed is debatable. In these countries, some Muslims appeal for partial application of Sharīʻa in personal, financial and family matters; others hope for full Sharīʻa implementation. The sentiment among the wider non-Muslim community is typically pejorative, leading to outright rejection of Sharīʻa law, regardless of any ensuing benefit. However, the practice of Sharīʻa is dependent on a number of factors, not the least of which is the country in which a Muslim lives – the ʻabodeʼ. This article examines classical and contemporary juristic discourse on the extent to which a Muslim is obliged to follow Sharīʻa in non-Muslim countries. It presents a holistic understanding of the meaning and intent of Sharīʻa, and describes the conditions under whic