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'''Sharia''' is the body of [[Islamic]] law. The term means "way" or "path"; it is the legal framework within which public and some private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal system based on [[Muslim]] principles of jurisprudence. It is not actually part of the canonical [[Qur'an]]; that is to say, it is not believed to be the direct word of [[Allah]] by Muslims, but rather the interpretation of it.

'''Sharia'''  or '''Shari'a''' is the body of [[Islamic]] law. The term means "way" or "path"; it is the legal framework within which public and some private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal system based on [[Muslim]] principles of jurisprudence. It is not actually part of the canonical [[Qur'an]]; that is to say, it is not believed to be the direct word of [[Allah]] by Muslims, but rather the interpretation of it.

Sharia deals with many aspects of day-to-day life, including politics, economics, banking, business law, contract law, sexuality, and social issues. Some Islamic scholars accept Sharia as the body of precedent and legal theory established before the 19th century, while other scholars view Sharia as a changing body, and include Islamic legal theory from the contemporary period.{{fact}}

Sharia deals with many aspects of day-to-day life, including politics, economics, banking, business law, contract law, sexuality, and social issues. Some Islamic scholars accept Sharia as the body of precedent and legal theory established before the 19th century, while other scholars view Sharia as a changing body, and include Islamic legal theory from the contemporary period.

There is not a strictly codified uniform set of laws pertaining to Sharia. It is more like a system of devising laws, based on the Qur'an, Hadith and centuries of debate, interpretation and precedent.

There is not a strictly codified uniform set of laws pertaining to Sharia. It is more like a system of devising laws, based on the Qur'an, Hadith and centuries of debate, interpretation and precedent.

There is a growing population of polygamist Muslims in the United States.<ref>Pauline Bartolone, ''[http://newsinitiative.org/story/2007/07/27/for_these_muslims_polygamy_is For these Muslims, polygamy is an option]'', San Francisco Chronicle, August 5, 2007.</ref>

There is a growing population of polygamist Muslims in the United States.<ref>Pauline Bartolone, ''[http://newsinitiative.org/story/2007/07/27/for_these_muslims_polygamy_is For these Muslims, polygamy is an option]'', San Francisco Chronicle, August 5, 2007.</ref>

== Sharia in the United Kingdom ==

==United Kingdom ==

In  2008, the [[Department for Work and Pensions]] in the [[United Kingdom]] revised its policies to provide for extra welfare benefits for men who have married more than one wife, as permitted by sharia law.<ref>Jonathan Wynne-Jones, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/1577395/Multiple-wives-will-mean-multiple-benefits.html Multiple wives will mean multiple benefits], ''Telegraph'', April 18, 2008.</ref>

In  2008, the [[Department for Work and Pensions]] in the [[United Kingdom]] revised its policies to provide for extra welfare benefits for men who have married more than one wife, as permitted by sharia law.<ref>Jonathan Wynne-Jones, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/1577395/Multiple-wives-will-mean-multiple-benefits.html Multiple wives will mean multiple benefits], ''Telegraph'', April 18, 2008.</ref>