Governance
Shari'a
Islamic canon law, a principal source of legislation in Bahrain.
Definition
As referenced in Article 5(b) of the Bahrain Constitution, Islamic Shari'a is a principal source for legislation in the Kingdom. It represents the body of Islamic religious law derived from the Quran and the Sunnah (teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad). The Constitution states that the State guarantees women's equality with men in political, social, cultural, and economic spheres 'without breaching the provisions of Islamic canon law (Shari'a),' indicating that constitutional principles are applied within this religious legal framework.