Siyāsah Sharʿiyyah and Adaptive Governance: Balancing Divine Authority and Social Change

Abstract

In Islamic law, Sharīʿah-compliant governance is a fundamental concept that combines divine direction with the values of justice, equality, and accountability. The fundamental characteristics of Sharīʿah, a comprehensive legal and ethical framework based on the Qur’ān, Sunnah, and traditional legal theory, are examined in this research. It explains the differences between Fiqh (jurisprudential interpretation), Sharīʿah (divine law), and Uṣūl al-Fiqh (principles of derivation), demonstrating how each adds to the larger framework of Islamic governance. The research emphasizes that Islamic governance is based on Allah sovereignty, that leaders are answerable to both Allah and society, and that leadership is a trust. This article discusses how these aspects guarantee moral behavior, social justice, and legal coherence in public affairs by classifying Sharīʿah into three categories: belief, ethics and practical rulings. The study outlines the fundamental principles of leadership based on Sharīʿah, such as knowledge, piety, fairness, consultation and public welfare. By contrasting Islamic and secular governance models, it draws attention to the variations in their ethical foundations, legal interpretations, and sources of authority. The study concludes that Sharīʿah provides a flexible and ageless framework for governance that respects social and spiritual commitments.