In contemporary society there has seen a gradual shift in the politics of the Muslim world toward more democratic constitutions. This shift can be seen in the aftermath of successful uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt during the Arab Spring as well as isolated cases in other countries. The change echoes those that resulted from the Protestant Reformation’s challenge of the Catholic Church’s authority in 16th century European politics. By looking at the ideas of early constitutionalism in Europe that supported liberalism, it is possible to compare those with the goals of constitutions of new Muslim democracies. Though in many cases the shift towards a liberal constitution involves secular reform, the case of Nigeria shows that Sharia can also be used within the constitution to guarantee personal freedoms.