Kitabiyah in Muslim Marriages in Malaysia: Issues and Challenges

  • Azhani Arshad Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).
  • Rozlinda Abdullah Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).
  • Syuhaeda Aeni Mat Ali Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).

Abstract

Kitabiyah and ahl al-Kitab are terms that are often used interchangeably to describe a woman who believes in revealed religion possessing a Divine Book, namely Judaism or Christianity. The Islamic Family Law Act and Enactments recognize a marriage between a Muslim man and a Kitabiyah. In the case of Johan bin Abdul Walked Shaik v Runa Bangoe Olsen, the Syariah court found that the marriage solemnized in Australia between parties to the marriage, namely between a Muslim man and a Christian woman, was valid according to the Shari’ah. This case highlights the interpretation of the term kitabiyah made by the Malaysian Syariah court in a Muslim marriage registered under the Islamic Family Law Enactment in Malaysia. The issue of kitabiyah also applies to a situation where a husband converted to Islam and the wife professes a scriptural religion. Thus, the main concern of this paper is to examine the issue of kitabiyah in marriage, conversion of non-Muslim men to Islam, and the implications relating to rights under family law or the law of inheritance. This paper also seeks to examine practical approaches and challenges, especially concerning interfaith marriages. The study adopts doctrinal analysis by examining existing primary and secondary materials, including statutory provisions as provided by the family law enactments of various states, the opinions of the jurists, case law and other legal and non-legal literatures relating to kitabiyah in Muslim marriages from the Islamic perspective and in the Malaysian context. It is suggested that an intensive interpretation of kitabiyah is needed in Malaysia to ensure that the concept of interfaith marriage is not too loosely interpreted. At the same time, the door of ijtihad of the presiding judge in deciding matters relating thereto should not be closed.

Author Biography

Azhani Arshad, Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).

Head of Law Programmes, Senior Lecturer

References

Abdul Hani bin Hussim v Samsiah bt Kamak & Ors [ 2017] 2 SHLR 13
Abd Razak v Lisia bte Mandagie alias Maria Menado [1965], Malayan Law Journal, xvi.
Ahmad Ibrahim. (1999). Undang-undang keluarga Islam di Malaysia. Malayan Law Journal Sdn Bhd.
Ahmad Irfan. (2020). Inheritance with different religions in counter legal draft of Islamic law compilation: Legal epistemological analysis, Al-Bayyinah: Junal of Islamic Law, 4(1), 91.
Akta Undang-undang Keluarga Islam (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1984.
Ashgar Ali Ali Mohamed. (2010). Converting to Islam: Jurisdiction of court to dissolve non-Muslim marriage. Shariah Law Reports, 2, xix.
Enakmen Wasiat Orang Islam (Selangor) 1999
Hickling, R.H. (1979). Conversion and the kitabia in Malaysia. Jernal Undang-Undang, 55-70
Johan bin Abdul Walked Shaik v Runa Bangoe Olsen [2018] Shariah Law Reports, 3, 88-97
Kyaw, HW., Sa’id Adekunie Mikail., Mahamad Arifin. & Ashgar Ali Ali Mohamad. (2013). Feasibility of the application of the doctrine of judicial precedent in civil and shariah courts, Malayan Law Journal, 5, lxxiii-xxvii
Md Zahidul Islam. (2014). Interfaith marriage in Islam and present situation, Global Journal of Politics and Law Research, 2(1), 36-47
Noor Aisha Abdul Rahman. (2019). Muslim personal laws and the accommodation of minorities: The need to better balance individual rights and group autonomy in Singapore. German Law Journal, 20, 1079-1095.
Re Mustapha bin Ismail [2009] 2 SHLR 118.
Setiyowati. (2019). Legal aspects of interfaith marriage in Indonesia, International Journal of Business, Economics and Law, 19(5), 142.
Shafeeg bin Salim Talib and another v Fatimah Bte Abud bin Talib and others [2010] 2 SLR 1123
Syed Ahmad Idid. & Umar A Oseni. (2014). Appointing a non-muslim as arbitrator in tahkim proceedings: Polemics perceptions and possibilities. Malayan Law Journal, 5, xvi.
U Viswalingam v S Viswalingam [1980] 1MLJ 10
Yusuf Al-Qaradawi. (2018). The lawful and the pohibited in Islam. Translated by Kamal El-Hebbawy, M Moinuddin Siddiqui & Syed Shukry. Islamic Book Trust.
Published
2022-07-05
How to Cite
ARSHAD, Azhani; ABDULLAH, Rozlinda; MAT ALI, Syuhaeda Aeni. Kitabiyah in Muslim Marriages in Malaysia: Issues and Challenges. Kanun: Jurnal Undang-undang Malaysia, [S.l.], v. 34, n. 2, p. 261-276, july 2022. ISSN 2682-8057. Available at: <https://jurnal.dbp.my/index.php/Kanun/article/view/8304>. Date accessed: 29 mar. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.37052/kanun.34(2)no4.