The linguistic meaning of the word Shari‟ah is a non-exhaustive source of water with which people satisfy their thirst. Thus, the linguistic significance of Shari‟ah is that the Islamic laws are effectively a source of guidance. As water is the fundamental basis of life, the Islamic laws are an essential source for guiding human life.

Shari‟ah is composed of all the laws derived from the legislative sources of Islam. These laws are not just limited to areas covering marriage or divorce; rather, the Islamic laws cover every action performed by an individual or a society. The term Shari‟ah is also a synonym for Fiqh.