ISLAMIC LEGAL SYSTEM SHA 1032

DR. ZULFAKAR BIN RAMLEE SMPASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

AHMAD IBRAHIM KULLIYYAH OF LAWSINTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY

MALAYSIA

ZULFAKAR/HHLC-IIUM/2015 1

ISLAMIC LAW IN MALAYSIABefore colonizationDuring colonisationBefore MERDEKAAfter MERDEKACurrent issues.


Historical BackgroundBatu Bersurat Terengganu (1303)Undang-Undang Melaka (1446)(1511 Mallacca under Portuguese)Undang-Undang Pahang (1600)Undang-Undang Kedah (1650)Undang-Undang 99 Perak (1878)

Note: embodied Islamic criminal laws ( Prof. Ahmad, Jurnal Hukum 1997, p.119-137.(AILM p. 7-8 and 102.


18th century: British colonization1786 in Penang.1824 Malacca and Temasik (singapore)1874 Perak , 1895 Selangor and Pahang.1909 all Malay states.

The Introduction of:English Common Law and EquityCourts/judicial system


But, still recognised:Islamic Law as the law of the land

Case of Ramah v Laton [1927] 6 FMSLR 128“The question ...., what here the rights of the

plaintiff according to the law of this land in the estate of her deceased husband. The local law is a matter of which the court must take judicial notice.”

See AILM at p.27-28.ZULFAKAR/HHLC-IIUM/2015 5

“Sebelum triti-triti pertama, penduduk negeri-negeri ini hampir semuanya terdiri

dari orang Melayu (Islam) bersama pelombong dan pengusaha Cina. Satu-satunya undang-undang yang terpakai

kepada orang-orang Melayu ialah Undang-Undang Islam yang disesuaikan dengan Adat

tempatan”

AILM p.29




Post 1952:New Muslim enactments were introduced:Selangor 1952Pahang 1956Negeri sembilan 1957ie. All matters fall under family or

personal affairs except inheritance & succession were put under Syariah Court.


“ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THE DECISIONS OF CIVIL COURT WITH SYARIAH COURT,

THE FORMER WILL PREVAIL”



SUPREMACY OF CONSTITUTIONThis constitution is the Supreme law

of the Federation and any law passed after Merdeka Day which is inconsistent with this Constitution shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.

(Article 4)


The courts referred to in clause (1) shall have no jurisdiction in respect of any matter within the jurisdiction of the Syariah courts.


THE POSITION OF ISLAMReligion of the Federation (Article 3)Conference of Rulers (Article 38)Subject matter of Federal and State laws

(Article 74, 9th Schedule – State List (list II), For FT see List I item 4.


Islam: legal definitionKes Che Omar bin Che Soh v PP [1988] 2 MLJ 55

SCSee AILM at p.35-38

Kes Meor Atiqulrahman & Others v Fatimah & Others. [2005]MLJ 375 see AILM, pp. 38-53

Kes Lina Joy lwn MAIWP [2007] 4 MLJ 585 FCSee AILM at p. 222-225.


FC Held: on the issue of her right to apostate and her current status ie. a

muslim or not, the matter (subject-matter approach) falls under the

jurisdiction of the Syariah Court.


(16) Seperti yang telah dihuraikan di perenggan sebelum ini, kes Soon Singh ketara menunjukkan bahawa hal murtad adalah dalam bidangkuasa Mahkamah Syariah. Di perenggan (10) saya juga telah merujuk kepada item 1, senarai 2, Jadual 9 PP bagi menunjukkan bahawa perkataan penting yang digunakan di situ ialah “matters” dan kerana “Islamic Law” adalah salah satu daripada “matters” yang terdapat dalam item 1 itu dan apabila dibaca pula berlatarbelakangkan kes Dalip Kaur, maka amat ketara sekali bahawa sesungguhnya perkara murtad itu adalah perkara yang berhubungkait dengan undang-undang Islam (Islamic Law) dan nyatalah oleh itu ianya adalah di dalam bidangkuasa Mahkamah Syariah dan kerana Perkara 121 (1A) PP, maka Mahkamah-Mahkamah Sivil tidak boleh campur tangan dalam hal itu.


Islamic Legal Institutions:Conference of Rulers (Majlis Raja-Raja)MuftiCouncil of Islamic ReligionDepartment of Islamic ReligionSyariah Courts (Department of Syariah

judiciary)


1.Conference of Rulers (Majlis Raja-Raja)Art. 38 of FC9 Malay Rulers + 4 YDP NegeriAt Federal level, CR is regarded as the highest

authority in Islamic matters. Each Ruler is the Head of the religion of Islam

for respective statesYDPA for M, P, S and S.See Art. 3(2) FCSee AAB,Islam Dalam Perlembagaan, p. 50-71.


2. MuftiIslamic scholar , as advisor to rulerChief religious adviser for the RulerFrom the era of Malacca Malay SultanateFatwa Committee for every state in MalaysiaRole: to issue fatwaNote: violation of fatwa is an offenceSee section 9 and 12 of the Syariah Criminal

Offences (FT) Act 1997See AILM, at p.581-588.


3. Council of Islamic ReligionUnder Sultan (Ruler)S. 4- 31 of the AIL (FT) Act 1993.The function of this Majlis:S. 7(1) It shall be the duty of the Majlis to

promote, stimulate, facilitate and undertake the economic and social development and well-being of the Muslim community in the Federal Territories consistent with Islamic Law.


(2) The Majlis shall have power, for the purpose of the discharge of its duty under subsection (1) -

(a) to carry on all activities, which will not involve any element which is not approved by the religion of Islam, particularly the development of commercial and industrial enterprises, the carrying on whereof appears to it to be requisite, advantageous or convenient for or in connection with the discharge of its said duty, including the manufacturing, assembling, processing, packing, grading and marketing of products;

(b) to promote the carrying on of any such activities by other bodies or persons, and for that purpose to establish or expand, or promote the establishment or expansion of, other bodies to carry on any such activities either under the control or partial control of the Majlis or independently, and to give assistance to such bodies or to other bodies or persons appearing to the Majlis to have the facilities for the carrying on of any such activities, including the giving of financial assistance by way of loan or otherwise;



4. Department of Islamic ReligionEstablished under state govermentAs an executor or enforcer to policies made

by Majlis


5.Department of Syariah JudiciaryJKSM was established by Federal

government in 1998The main purpose is to co-ordinate the

Syariah courts from all states.To standardize qualification of judges, salary

and procedures to be used.Provide training to judges and court officersAlmost all states join the JKSM


The constitutionality of Syariah CourtIn all States:By virtue of:Article 74Ninth Schedule;Item 1 of the State List.(List

II)In Federal Territories:Ninth Schedule; Item 6(e) of the Federal List.

(List I)


Section 40 AIL 1993(1) Syariah Subordinate Court,

(2) Syariah High Court,

(3) Syariah Appeal Court.


Jurisdiction of Shariah Court Sec.46 & 47 AILA 1993.Two categories: Civil jurisdiction:10 matters from (a) – (x)


(b) in its civil jurisdiction, hear and determine all actions and proceedings in which all the parties are Muslims and which relate to -

(i) betrothal, marriage, ruju', divorce, nullity of marriage (fasakh) , nusyuz, or judicial separation (faraq) or other matters relating to the relationship between husband and wife;

(ii) any disposition of, or claim to, property arising out of any of the matters set out in subparagraph (i);

(iii) the maintenance of dependants, legitimacy, or guardianship or custody (hadhanah) of infants;

(iv) the division of, or claims to, harta sepencarian;



Tan Sri Abdul Khalid bin Ibrahim v Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd[2012] 7 MLJ 597

To recap, I had already concluded that: (a) the High Courts will only have jurisdiction and power as long as it is

conferred by Parliament under the federal law; (b) s 56 and s 57 of the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 2009 (Act 701 ) are

valid federal laws enacted by Parliament pursuant to Item 4(k) of the Federal List (List I) in the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution;

(c) should there any question concerning a Shariah matter, this court has to invoke s 56 of the Act 701;

(d) SAC is not a position to issue a new hukum syara', but only to find out which one of the available hukum is best applicable in Malaysia for the purpose of ascertaining the relevant Islamic law concerning the question posed to them; and

(e) SAC cannot be said to perform a judicial or quasi-judicial function. The function of SAC is confined to the ascertainment of the Islamic law on financial matter. The court still has to decide the ultimate issues which have been pleaded.


http://www.lexisnexis.com/my/legal/search/runRemoteLink.do?langcountry=MY&linkInfo=F%23MY%23USM_PA%23act%25701%25&risb=21_T17529492721&bct=A&service=citation&A=0.7055252383330296

[2013] 3 MLJ 269Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim v Bank Islam (M) BhdCOURT OF APPEAL (PUTRAJAYA)

Held, dismissing the appeal with costs: (1) Sections 56 and 57 were valid and constitutional. They

were within Parliament's power to enact. Article 74(1) of the Constitution empowered Parliament to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Federal List (List 1) or the Concurrent List (List 3) of the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. Item 4(k) of List 1 empowered Parliament to make laws in respect of civil and criminal law and

procedure and the administration of justice including the ascertainment of Islamic law and other personal laws for purposes of federal law. Banking was a matter within the Federal List and the Islamic Banking Act 1983 and the Act were clearly federal laws (see paras 20 & 21).


Jurisdiction of Shariah CourtCriminal jurisdiction:Any offences committed by a Muslim under:- Islamic family law Act/Enactment-Syariah offences Act/enactmentAny other written law


Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Amendment) 1984

Less than 3 years imprisonmentLess than RM 5,000.00 fineLess than 6 strokesZero death penalty.

3560


Shariah CourtVs

Civil Court


Documents

ISLAMIC LEGAL SYSTEM SHA 1032