Understanding Islam — Page 189
187 belonging to various faiths living under the same government, it would not be possible to make different laws for different groups. Instead, what the example of Prophet Muhammad sa shows is that a secular form of government, i. e. based on principles of absolute justice, and non-discriminatory on the basis of creed, color, race, etc. should be established with laws applicable to all citizens through a democratic process. Therefore, Shariah law is not a law that can be “imposed” on others by force; nor is it something that can be enacted arbitrarily, without the creation of a suitable and salutatory environment in the society for its implementation. D OES S HARIAH L AW IMPOSE H ARSH P UNISHMENTS ? Having understood what Shariah is, it now becomes easier for the reader to understand some of the prescribed punishments in Shariah. Critics of Islam speak about death by stoning, beheading, flogging, amputation of limbs, and other punishments, for crimes that are otherwise very