A living religious system is a religion that is interwoven with the everyday lives of its Followers. Islam is constructed as a living religious system, through Shari"a Law, birth, marriage, Funerary Rites, the Five Pillars, women's duties and food codes. Through these aspects, it is depicted that For Muslims religion is not something set apart from daily life, but religion shapes every part of their lives.
The Law of Islam, "Shari"a" is legislation that has been developed by a set of regulations, principals and values, and is one example of how Islam is constructed as a living religious system. It is a code of behaviour that contains laws of worship, hygiene and family, which are all imposed and judged. This law is derived mainly from the teachings of the Qur"an, The Sunna, Muslim Doctors and analogical reasoning. Shari"a covers all aspects of life and it develops a country of presumed equality, under the guidance of Allah's teachings. As Islamic countries are governed by laws that are based on the Qur"an's teachings, and as punishments, such as flogging and stoning prevail if the law is not obeyed, it is obvious to realize the significance of the Qur"an and its great impact on Muslims in their everyday lives. The Shari"a shapes the daily actions of Islam followers, where even if a woman does not wear a chaddor, veil, she will be imprisoned. It keeps Muslims faithful to the Qur"an by obeying the law.
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The duties of a woman and their dress codes are also examples of how Islam is constructed as a living religious system. Muslim women are limited and are deemed inferior to men, as creation beliefs see them as only evolving from Adam's rib. Muslim women are also expected to dress in an unpretentious and sanitary manner, in accordance to Islamic principals, only revealing their hands, face and hair. Wearing a chaddor is a cultural development. The reality that women are treated unequal to men because of Islamic beliefs of creation, and the fact that they cover their bodies to satisfy Qur"an teachings, evidently shows that Islam is a constructed living religious system, where Muslim lives are underpinned by their beliefs that shape every part of their lives.
