There are certain terminologies of Al Qur'an which are mostly misinterpreted and used negatively for point scoring and downplaying Islam as a draconian religion. This happens so when the verses are read in plain translation without understanding the reference to the context. One such misunderstood and misinterpreted word is Sharī‘ah (Arabic شَرِيعَة). Interestingly, the word is used only once in Al Qur'an and can only be understood if the verse if read with reference to the context.
The Verse
The verse is placed at the 18th place in Surah 45. Al-Jāthiyah (meaning The Kneeling) given herein under:
ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَٰكَ عَلَىٰ شَرِيعَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ فَٱتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know.
The plain meaning of word Sharī‘ah (Arabic شَرِيعَة)
- Literal Meaning: It literally means "the path" or "the way to a watering places. Since in rather dry weather of Arabia, find scarce water was ab uphill task, the word literally means finding places for water.
- Technical Definition: However when it comes to usage of this word in the Islamic terminology, it refers to the divine law, commandments, and principles ordained by Allah (SWT) for humanity, covering belief, worship, ethics, and daily life.
The reference to the Context
Before we explain the above quoted verse, let us look back at the 17th verse to understand why this verse was revealed. In fact, the connection between Surah Al-Jāthiyah 45:17 and 45:18 is very important in Tafsīr because verse 18 is presented as a response and contrast to what happened in verse 17.
The verse 17
وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُم بَيِّنَٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوٓا۟ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْعِلْمُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِى بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
And We gave them clear proofs of the matter [of religion]. And they did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
In the 17th verse, Allah says He gave the Children of Israel:
- Clear teachings,
- Revelation,
- Knowledge,
- and guidance,
Yet, they fell into division after knowledge came to them, out of rivalry, jealousy, and selfish conflict. This completely in tangent to the Divine teachings of unity, mutual respect and honour and bondage.
Verse 18 That is why Allah says to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: “Then We placed you upon a clear Sharī‘ah/path in religion, so follow it and do not follow the desires of those who do not know.”
How scholars correlate them The classical commentators generally see verse 18 as:
- A lesson drawn from verse 17, and
- A warning to the Muslim ummah not to repeat the same error.
Thematic flow between the two verses
- Verse 17:
- Knowledge alone did not save previous communities
- The Children of Israel were not condemned because they lacked revelation.
- Rather: They had knowledge, Scripture (Torah) and guidance - yet they split and corrupted religion because of: Ego, rivalry, worldly interests, sectarianism, and desires (ahwā’).
- This is crucial - The problem was not ignorance alone — it was desire overriding truth.
- Verse 18: Therefore, this verse was revealed with a caution to follow revelations — not desires
- Implication “Then” (ثُمَّ) links the verses directly. The implication is:
- Since earlier communities deviated after receiving knowledge, you, O Muhammad ﷺ, must remain firmly upon the revealed path.
- So verse 18 becomes both: An instruction and a preventive warning.
- Ibn Kathir’s linkage Ibn Kathir is of the opinion that the sequence is intentional, thus explicitly connects these two verses this way:
- Allah mentions how previous nations differed after receiving knowledge. (verse 17)
- Then (verse 18) Allah tells the Prophet ﷺ:
- "You have now been given a clear Sharī‘ah." - that is the path well defined and ordained from Allah.
- Therefore - Stay committed to it and do not follow the desires that caused earlier people to deviate.
- Al-Razi notes something subtle:
- Verse 17 says: They differed after knowledge came.
- Verse 18 says: Do not follow desires.
- Why this order? Because Razi argues:
- Deviation is not always caused by lack of evidence,
- Often people already know the truth,
- But desires distort judgment.
- So the Qur’an is diagnosing a moral-spiritual problem, not merely an intellectual one.
- The contrast between “knowledge” and “desire”
- Concise summary
- Verse 45:17 explains how earlier religious communities received divine knowledge but became divided because of selfish desires and rivalry.
- Verse 45:18 follows directly by instructing the Prophet ﷺ to remain firmly upon the revealed Sharī‘ah and not follow those same destructive desires.
- Together, the verses teach that: The greatest threat to religious truth is not lack of knowledge alone, but allowing ego and desire to override revelation.
- Therefore Muslims must avoid repeating earlier divisions.
Explanation of Verse 18 - Al-Jāthiyah
With the above correlation and context in with verse 18 was revealed, now let us unpack this verse for its Tafsir. This verse is considered very important because it contains one of the clearest Qur’anic uses of the word “Sharī‘ah” — meaning a divinely ordained path or way of life.
We have already shared interpretation of the verse and its correlation by Ibn Kathir and Razi. Herein under is how major Muslim scholars have interpreted it:
- Abul A'la Maududi emphasizes the civilizational meaning of the verse. He argues:
- Islam is not merely a private spirituality - rather it is a complete way of life ordained by God
- Muslims are warned not to replace divine principles with:
- Social trends
- Nationalism
- Cultural pressures
- and Purely secular ideologies
- He interprets “do not follow desires” broadly as abandoning divine ethics for human-made systems.
- Al-Tabari says: “Sharī‘ah” here means a clear method and path in religion. The Prophet ﷺ was given a complete and evident system from Allah
- Tabari emphasizes that “Those who do not know” refers to people lacking true knowledge of God’s guidance.
- Therefore, believers should not:
- Follow opinions unsupported by revelation
- Compromise truth for popular trends or pressures
Common Themes Across Scholars Nearly all major tafsir scholars agree on these central meanings:
- Islam is a clear divinely guided path - that is “Sharī‘ah” means a revealed way of life from Allah.
- Revelation should guide human life And NOT:
- Social fashion,
- Political pressure,
- Ego
- or uninformed opinion.
- “Desires” (ahwā’) are spiritually dangerous: In Qur’anic language, “desire” often means:
- impulses,
- biases,
- arrogance,
- selfish inclinations, when they override truth.
- Knowledge is tied to revelation The verse contrasts: Those who truly know, with those driven mainly by desire.
Linguistic Note
The word “Sharī‘ah” originally meant: a clear path leading to water. Therefore, the classical scholars say this symbolizes: "The path that gives spiritual life and sustenance."
Summary
Most eminent Muslim scholars interpret Qur’an 45:18 as Allah telling the Prophet ﷺ: You have been given a clear divine path and law - so Follow revelation faithfully and Do not let social pressure, ignorance, or personal desires replace divine guidance.
The verse is understood as both: A command to the Prophet ﷺ, and a warning and lesson for the Muslim community as a whole.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages:
- Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
- Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
- Selected Verses from the Qur'an.
You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
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