classical sharia deals with many aspects of public and private life, including religious rituals, family life, business, crimes, and warfare. in former times, sharia was interpreted by independent jurists, who based their legal opinions on qur'an, hadith and centuries of debate, interpretation and precedent. some parts of sharia can be described as "law" in the usual sense of that word, while other parts are better understood as rules for living life in accordance with god's will.