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Is It Valid to Describe Allah Most High as “The Lawgiver” (al-Shari`)?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org

Answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan

Question: We sometimes read in various works references to Allah as the Lawgiver (al-shari’). This is neither one of Divine Attributes nor the Divine Names. So is there any basis or validity of describing Allah by this title?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health states.

“The Lawgiver” (al-Shari`) is not one of the revealed names of Allah Most High per se, yet there is basis and validity in describing Him Most High with this title. Scholars use it often in works of law and legal theory, and it is indeed a description of a reality that every Muslim affirms, in that He Most High is the source of law for His creation. This reality is of course stated explicitly in the Qur’an, as Allah Most High states:

“Surely, His alone is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (7:54), as well as

“He has legislated for you that religion which He commanded unto Noah, and that which We inspire in you (Muhammad), and that which We commanded unto Abraham and Moses and Jesus, saying: Establish the religion, and be not divided therein.” (42:13)

In the latter verse, Allah Most High actually uses the verb form [shara`a] in relation to Himself. So He alone is the Lawgiver (Shari`), Glorious and Exalted.

And Allah knows best.
wassalam
Faraz

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani

This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.