The Sharia Law Institution in the United Kingdom

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The last few decades were marked by the growth of economic, political, and, as a consequence, cultural globalization. The constant interaction and exposure to the communication of different meanings and values persist in transforming societies worldwide. Although many hail this transformation as a positive force, others argue that the continuation of the existing cultures, norms, and practices of individual societies is more beneficial. This essay examines the continuation and transformation of cultures and societies in the modern globalization era using the example of the Sharia law institution in the United Kingdom.

Culture is a crucial facet of the life of any society. It is a singular phenomenon that “brings emotion, morality, and the sacred into social life” (Jijon 143). The cultures of different societies may share similar elements due to geographical proximity or frequent communication between two or more communities. Nevertheless, each culture differs from the other and has unique elements that were developed in the course of the existence of distinct societies.

It should be noted that despite its apparent stability and permanence, culture is dynamic. Croucher notes that the continuous component of culture endures throughout its history, whereas the dynamic component invariably shifts in response to global and national changes in politics, economy, and communication (2). Thus, some elements of culture experience continuation, while others unfailingly transform in order to meet the demands of the time.

The continuation of a culture in the era of globalization is a challenging undertaking. Globalization can be described as the movement of people, ideas, and images across national and cultural borders (Jijon 144). In this process, elements of different cultures collide with individual societies and people within them having to decide whether to embrace new elements and transform the culture or to continue with the status quo. In addition, ethnicity plays a crucial role in the continuation or transformation of culture as it is associated with common ancestry and, therefore, shared language, religion, norms, values, and traditions (Segal 140).

Within the political borders of the homeland of one ethnicity, its culture is unlikely to transform significantly and changes gradually over time. However, when a large number of people sharing the same ancestry and beliefs are displaced or willingly relocate to another country, they face another culture and need to adapt to their new circumstances.

The culture of the Muslim population in the United Kingdom can serve as an example of globalization, demanding two strikingly distinct cultures to co-exist. Islam is the second-largest religion in the United Kingdom, with over three million followers as of 2018 (Office for National Statistics). The Muslim community in the country is expected to follow the religious law of Islam, the Sharia law. In the United Kingdom, Sharia law is not incorporated into the legal system of the land and is considered invalid from the legal point of view (Torrance). Nevertheless, members of the Muslim community follow Sharia law voluntarily or, in some cases, due to social pressure (Torrance).

In particular, regulations concerning marriage, divorce, and inheritance are strictly followed (Torrance). Thus, despite the separation of religion and state in the United Kingdom, Shaira law mandates religious adherence for a section of the population.

The presence of Sharia law throughout the United Kingdom is a frequently debated issue in the country. From a continuity perspective, the nation’s culture and civil law are to prevail, and Sharia law councils have no place in British society. However, the same point of view demands the continuation of the culture of the Muslim people who accept the supremacy of the Sharia law. The point of the United Kingdom being home to one culture and not the other is invalid, as a substantial number of people who share the culture that is considered foreign live in the country.

Thus, the continuation of one culture presupposes that the followers of the other should adopt its beliefs, ideas, religion, and norms. Alternatively, an equal and parallel continuation of the two cultures can be proposed. However, for a true continuation of two distinct cultures to transpire in the contemporary globalization era, communication between them has to seize. This would create a fractured society within one country and could potentially lead to altercations among members of those cultures. Therefore, the dichotomous, either-black-or-white way of thinking about cultures is damaging and fruitless.

It can be argued that Sharia law should not be incorporated into the country’s legal system. Nevertheless, the abolishment of Sharia law councils can be damaging to the most vulnerable members of the Muslim community. For example, many marriages in the community are unregistered and cannot be dissolved by the legal courts of the country, with women being allowed to request a divorce from Sharia law councils (Torrance). Furthermore, to dismiss Sharia law in the country is to disrespect the culture and religion of the Muslim people. However, to incorporate Sharia law into the legal system is to leave vulnerable populations without the protection of civil law. In addition, it is unclear how such incorporation may affect people who do not subscribe to Islam or any other religion.

In summary, the continuation and transformation of cultures is a complex topic that cannot be addressed from the point of view of dichotomous thinking. In the era of globalization, different cultures frequently collide, giving rise to conflicts and disagreements. It is crucial for cultures to learn to co-exist and for one to respect the beliefs, norms, and practices of the other. In the case of the Muslim community in the United Kingdom and the legitimacy of Sharia law, the religious law of Islam should not be incorporated into the legal system of the nation, but neither should it be abolished.

Works Cited

Croucher, Stephen M. “The Importance of Culture and Communication.” Frontiers in Communication, vol. 5, 2020, pp. 1-3. Web.

Jijon, Isabel. “Toward a Hermeneutic Model of Cultural Globalization: Four Lessons from Translation Studies.” Sociological Theory, vol. 37, no. 2, 2019, pp. 142-161. Web.

Office for National Statistics. “Muslim Population in the UK.” Office for National Statistics, 2018. Web.

Segal, U. A. “Globalization, migration, and ethnicity.” Public Health, vol. 172, 2019, pp. 135-142. Web.

Torrance, David. Sharia Law Courts in the UK. House of Commons, 2019. Web.

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The Sharia Law Institution in the United Kingdom

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