An Introduction to Islamic Law

by Wael B. Hallaq

First, the civilian population was subject to the law of the Sharia, an unwavering standard of justice. The people thus enjoyed immunity from the sovereign’s crude power whether with regard to life or property. The government’s servants, by contrast, were subject to a less merciful code, which may aptly be called sultanic. We have here a unique feature of justice in the lands of Islam, for while no man or woman, Muslim, Christian or Jew, in the civilian population could be punished without a Sharia court trial – largely independent of the sovereign’s will – the sultanic code was absolute with regard to the sovereign himself and his men.