In Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, it is common to see that restaurants have signs declaring that all food is "Halal." It is common that courts handle marriages, divorces, distribution of family assets, and business practices by the "Sharia"

What are these tenets and how do they have an impact on international business?

The legal system in many Middle Eastern and some Far Eastern countries is identified with the laws of Islam. These laws are associated with "the one and only one God, the Almighty." In Islamic law, the sharia refers to a comprehensive code governing Muslim conduct in all areas of life, including business. The code is primarily derived from two sources. The first and foremost source is the Koran or the Holy Book that is a record of the revelations made to the Prophet Mohammed by Allah (God). The second source is the Hadith which is an interpretation of Koran based on the sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad. In particular, the Hadith spells out the products and practices that are Haram (forbidden) compared to Halal (allowed). Any non-Muslim doing business in Islamic countries should be aware of the Islamic laws which have wide implications for commercial activities including advertisement and promotion.