Should Sharia Be Capitalized? A Complete Guide to Capitalizing Sharia
When writing about Islam, Islamic law, religion, or Muslim culture, questions about capitalization often come up. One common question is: should Sharia be capitalized?
The short answer is yes, “Sharia” is generally capitalized when referring to Islamic law or the religious concept of divine guidance in Islam. However, capitalization can sometimes depend on the style guide, context, and the way the word is being used.
Understanding when to capitalize “Sharia” can help writers produce accurate, respectful, and professional content. This is especially important for students, journalists, bloggers, researchers, and anyone writing about religion or Islamic studies.
In this article, we will explain whether Sharia should be capitalized, why it is capitalized, when lowercase may appear, and how to use the word correctly in sentences.
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What Is Sharia?
Before discussing capitalization, it is helpful to understand what the word Sharia means.
Sharia, also written as Shariah or Shari’a, refers broadly to the Islamic concept of religious and moral guidance. The term comes from Arabic and is commonly associated with principles derived from sources such as the Quran and the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad.
Sharia covers much more than laws in the narrow legal sense. Depending on the context, it can relate to religious practices, personal behavior, ethics, family matters, financial conduct, social responsibilities, and other aspects of life.
It is also important to understand that interpretations and applications of Sharia can differ among Muslim scholars, communities, legal traditions, and countries.
Because Sharia refers to a specific religious concept, many English-language writers treat it as a proper or specially designated term and capitalize it.
Should Sharia Be Capitalized?
Yes. “Sharia” should generally be capitalized when it refers to Islamic law or the Islamic concept of divine guidance.
For example:
- Muslims may follow principles of Sharia in different ways.
- The discussion focused on Sharia and Islamic jurisprudence.
- Scholars have different interpretations of Sharia.
- The country has debated the role of Sharia in its legal system.
In these examples, “Sharia” refers to a specific religious concept, so capitalization is appropriate.
The same principle often applies to other religious terms that are treated as proper names or established names of religious systems.
Why Is Sharia Capitalized?
There are several reasons why writers capitalize Sharia.
1. It Refers to a Specific Religious Concept
One of the main reasons is that Sharia is not simply a generic type of law. It refers specifically to a concept within Islam.
Compare:
- Islamic law
- Sharia
“Islamic law” is a descriptive phrase, while “Sharia” is the established name commonly used for the Islamic concept of religious guidance and law.
Capitalizing the word makes it clear that the writer is referring to this specific concept.
2. It Is Connected to Islam
Religious names and important religious concepts are frequently capitalized in English writing.
For example:
- Islam
- Christianity
- Judaism
- Muslim
- Christian
- Jewish
Similarly, Sharia is commonly capitalized because of its specific connection to Islamic religious thought.
3. It Improves Clarity
Capitalization can help readers quickly understand what a writer means.
For example:
The article examines Sharia and its historical development.
The capitalized word immediately signals that the writer is discussing the specific Islamic concept.
Using consistent capitalization also makes academic and professional writing look more polished.
Is “Sharia Law” Capitalized?
This is another common question.
The phrase “Sharia law” is often written with “Sharia” capitalized and “law” lowercase.
For example:
The book discusses the development of Sharia law.
Here, “Sharia” is the specific term, while “law” is a common noun.
However, some writers prefer simply “Sharia” because the phrase “Sharia law” can be considered repetitive. This is because “Sharia” itself is commonly translated or explained as Islamic law or divine guidance.
Therefore, depending on the context, you might write:
The country has discussed the role of Sharia.
or:
The country has discussed the role of Sharia law.
Both forms can appear in English writing, although “Sharia” by itself is often sufficient.
Should Shariah Be Capitalized?
Yes. “Shariah” is another common English spelling of the same Arabic term, and it is generally capitalized when referring to the Islamic religious concept.
For example:
Islamic scholars have different views regarding Shariah.
The spelling can vary depending on the publication, region, or preferred transliteration system.
Common forms include:
- Sharia
- Shariah
- Shari’a
- Sharīʿa
The most important thing is to choose one form and use it consistently throughout your article.
For general English content, Sharia and Shariah are both widely recognizable.
When Should “Islamic Law” Be Capitalized?
The phrase “Islamic law” is generally written with “Islamic” capitalized and “law” lowercase.
For example:
The researcher studied Islamic law.
Why?
“Islamic” is derived from the proper noun Islam, so it is capitalized. “Law,” however, is a common noun.
Therefore:
Correct: Islamic law
Usually unnecessary: Islamic Law
You would normally capitalize “Law” only if it forms part of a specific title or heading where title capitalization is being used.
Although Sharia and Islamic law are sometimes used as synonyms, they are not always exactly the same in every academic context.
Sharia can refer to a broader religious and moral framework, while fiqh generally refers to human understanding and interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence.
This distinction is important because Sharia is often understood as divine guidance, while fiqh represents scholarly interpretations of that guidance.
For this reason, writers should avoid assuming that every legal rule described as “Islamic law” represents one universal interpretation of Sharia.
Different schools and scholars may interpret religious sources differently.
Examples of Correct Capitalization
Here are some examples showing how “Sharia” can be used correctly:
Example 1
The course introduces students to the basic principles of Sharia.
Example 2
Sharia has influenced legal and social traditions in different Muslim societies.
Example 3
The researcher examined different interpretations of Sharia.
Example 4
Islamic scholars have debated various questions related to Sharia.
Example 5
The article explores the historical development of Sharia.
Example 6
The country’s legal system includes certain provisions influenced by Sharia.
In all these examples, “Sharia” is capitalized because it refers to the specific Islamic concept.
Should Sharia Be Capitalized in a Title?
Yes. If Sharia appears in an article title, it should normally remain capitalized.
For example:
Should Sharia Be Capitalized?
This is a correctly capitalized title.
Another example is:
Understanding Sharia in Islamic History
Here, “Sharia” is capitalized because it is the name of the specific religious concept.
Title capitalization rules can vary. Some style guides use title case, while others use sentence case.
For example:
Title case: Understanding Sharia in Islamic History
Sentence case: Understanding Sharia in Islamic history
In both versions, Sharia remains capitalized.
What About “Sharia” in Academic Writing?
Academic writing requires consistency and accuracy.
If you are writing a research paper, essay, dissertation, or academic article, check the style guide required by your institution or publisher.
Different style guides can have different preferences for religious terminology, transliteration, and capitalization.
If your professor, university, journal, or publisher provides specific instructions, those instructions should take priority.
For general academic English, however, capitalizing Sharia is a clear and widely accepted choice.
Should “Sharia” Be Lowercase?
In some writing systems or publications, you may encounter “sharia” in lowercase.
This does not necessarily mean that the writer is incorrect. Capitalization conventions can vary between publications and style guides.
Some editors may treat certain religious concepts as common nouns rather than proper nouns. Others capitalize them because they are specific religious concepts.
Therefore, if you see both Sharia and sharia, context and the publication’s style guide matter.
For general-purpose writing, however, capitalizing Sharia is usually the safest and clearest choice when referring to Islamic law or the Islamic religious concept.
Common Capitalization Mistakes
Writers sometimes make mistakes when using Sharia.
Mistake 1: Inconsistent capitalization
A writer may use:
Sharia is discussed in the first chapter.
and later:
The author explains sharia in detail.
If both uses refer to the same concept, consistency would usually be better.
Choose one capitalization style and maintain it throughout the article.
Some writers may write:
Islamic Law and Sharia Principles
when the words are not part of a formal title.
A more natural sentence would be:
Islamic law and Sharia principles are discussed in the article.
Mistake 3: Assuming Sharia means exactly the same thing everywhere
Sharia has a broad meaning and has been interpreted in different ways throughout history and across communities.
Good writing should recognize these differences rather than presenting one interpretation as universally accepted.
When writing about Islamic law, it can be useful to distinguish between Sharia and fiqh.
Sharia is commonly described as the divine path or guidance in Islam. Fiqh refers to human efforts to understand and interpret Islamic legal principles.
This distinction explains why different scholars and schools can reach different conclusions while referring to the same foundational religious sources.
For example, different schools of Islamic jurisprudence may have different opinions about certain legal or religious questions.
Understanding this difference can make your writing more accurate and avoid oversimplification.
How to Use Sharia in a Sentence
If you are unsure how to use the word, follow a simple rule:
Capitalize “Sharia” when you are referring to the specific Islamic religious concept.
For example:
Sharia plays an important role in Islamic jurisprudence.
The history of Sharia is complex and diverse.
Scholars have studied different interpretations of Sharia.
The relationship between Sharia and modern law is widely discussed.
These sentences use “Sharia” naturally and consistently.
Quick Guide to Sharia Capitalization
Here is a simple reference:
| Usage | Recommended Form |
|---|---|
| Islamic religious concept | Sharia |
| Alternative spelling | Shariah |
| Islamic law | Sharia |
| General phrase | Islamic law |
| Islamic adjective | Islamic |
| Scholarly interpretation | fiqh |
| Article title | Sharia |
| Beginning of sentence | Sharia |
Remember that a specific style guide may establish a different convention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should Sharia be capitalized?
Yes. In general English writing, Sharia should be capitalized when referring to the Islamic concept of religious guidance or Islamic law.
Is Sharia a proper noun?
It is commonly treated as a proper or specially designated religious term in English, which is why capitalization is widely used. However, exact treatment can vary by style guide.
Should Sharia law be capitalized?
Usually, write Sharia law, with “Sharia” capitalized and “law” lowercase.
Is Shariah also correct?
Yes. Shariah is a common alternative English spelling. The choice between Sharia and Shariah can depend on the publication or transliteration preference.
Should Islamic law be capitalized?
Usually, write Islamic law, with “Islamic” capitalized and “law” lowercase.
Can Sharia be written in lowercase?
Some publications may use lowercase “sharia” according to their style conventions. If you are not following a specific style guide, capitalization is generally the clearer choice.
Final Thoughts
So, should Sharia be capitalized?
In most English-language writing, the answer is yes. When “Sharia” refers to the Islamic concept of divine guidance, religious principles, or Islamic law, it is generally written with a capital S.
The most common forms are Sharia and Shariah, and both can be appropriate depending on the preferred spelling. Writers should focus on consistency and follow any specific style guide required by their school, publisher, website, or organization.
It is also important to understand that Sharia is a broad concept with diverse interpretations. Treating it simply as one fixed set of laws can oversimplify a complex religious and legal tradition.
For everyday articles, blogs, educational content, and general academic writing, using “Sharia” with a capital S is a clear and widely accepted approach.
In short: When referring to the specific Islamic religious concept, write “Sharia,” not “sharia,” unless your chosen style guide specifically recommends lowercase usage.
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