Christian Approach to Law vs. Islamic Approach to Law

Although Christians and Muslims agree on some topics, there arer many areas in which these two religions disagree. One of these topics in which the two disagree is that of law. I will examine the differences between the Christian approach to law and the Muslim approach to law.

As Christians, we beleive in natural law, or the idea that physical and moral laws are revealed to us through general revelation (i.e. our conscience), and built into the structure of the universe (as opposed to the laws that are developed by human beings). So we believe that God reveals to us both physical and moral laws. In addition to our beleif in natural law, Christians also believe in divine law. Divine law is any law that come directly from the character of God through special revelation (the Bible). Therefore, the Christian law consists of five basic principles. They are: 1. "The source of all divine law is the character and nature of God" (Noebel 287). 2. The moral order reflects the character of God-which include His holiness, justice, truth, love, and mercy. 3. We are created in the image of God and we are significant. "God established human government to protect human life, rights, and dignity" (287). 4. When Jesus took human form, human life assumed even greater significance. God the Creator became God the Redeemer (John 1:14)" (287). 5. God will, through Christ, judge the world (human race) according to "His standard of good and evil (Acts 17:31, Romans 2:16, 2 Corinthians 5:10)" (287). Finally, the last thing about the Christian approach to law, is that the only time one can go agianst a law is if it goes against Scripture.

The Islamic view and approach to law differs from the Christian perspective. Shari'ah law is taken from four different sources. These include the Qur'an, the Sunnah, the Ijima, and Qiyas. In the Islamic worldview, there is no individual freedom. Also, there are five categories of human behavior in the Islamic religion. They are: 1. Acts that are commanded or required. These include things such as the five pillars of Islam. 2. There are acts that are recommended, such as charitable acts above those commanded. 3. There are those that are forbidden, which include thievery, drinking wine, or sexual immorality. 4. There are those that are disapproved, such as divorce, which is permitted but not recommended. Finally 5. There are those acts that are indifferent, with either positive or negative consequences. The word Shari'ah refers to the "body of laws that Muslims believe are applicable, while fiqh is the human endeavor to understand and apply those laws" (291). All in all, Islam lacks indivual freedom, and does not reveal the nature of God, only his will. To conclude, the Islamic law is different than that of the Christian law in that it is Rex Lex, or in other words, the law is not above the king. Christians on the other hand believe in Lex Rex, the idea that the law is above the king and that everyone is subject to the law.