@mikeJB To answer that question, Mike, I should have to tell you that there exists a dark side to our religion. It is the moolahs and the false preachers that take advantage of the religion, and destroy it, bit by bit, by using the religion's reputation to fuel hateful deeds. Like 9/11, you know? Osama was himself a preacher, and he led others to misbelief. We don't refer to Osama as being a Muslim, however, because Islam teaches one to care about others. (Love thy neighbour as thyself)
The Sharia are just a set of rules laid out by our Supreme leaders, and we follow them, because they are to be strictly followed. We refer to these rules in Urdu, as being 'waajib' or compulsory..The Sharia is not at all about hate, and it certainly doesn't include rules to beat humans, women and children alike, here and there..It is the Fatwas issued by the false preachers that the kaafirs, or the ones led to misbelief, that cause people to do heinous deeds. One needs to steer clear of these, and we should, as Muslims ourselves, verify the authenticity of these.