Converting in Secret: Legal Issues among Muslim Converts in Malaysia
(Kerahsiaan Kemasukan Islam: Isu Undang-Undang Kes Pemelukan Islam Saudara Baru di Malaysia)
Abstract
This article discusses the issue of secret conversion to Islam among muallaf (Muslim converts) in Malaysia. The objective of the research is to analyse the impact of such secrecy on court decisions in cases of conversion to Islam, which create conflict between the Shariah law and civil law. This is a qualitative study using content analysis approach with reference to primary and secondary sources. It also involves a semi-structured interview with several officers involved in this field. The data collected is analyzed through descriptive and thematic approaches. The study finds that the secret conversion to Islam by muallaf causes difficulties to judges in deciding cases, due to the conflict of laws applicable between both parties in the case. Furthermore, such secrecy is the main factor muallaf are able to avoid responsibilities they may have had previously under civil law. In contrast, for those muallaf who announced their conversion to Islam, their cases can be decided quickly according to the particular courts' jurisdictions to the satisfaction of all parties involved in the case. This research concludes making announcement of conversion to Islam mandatory is seen as the best solution in handling the conflict of jurisdiction between the civil and Shariah courts in Malaysia.
Keywords: secrecy, conversion to Islam, Malaysian law, muallaf, conflict of laws
References
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Al-Buti, Muhammad Sa'id Ramadhan, 1983. Fiqh al-Sirah. Jilid 1. Diterjemah oleh Mohd. Darus Sanawi. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Pustaka Fajar.
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Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, "A Child's Right to Religion in Malaysia: An Overview" dlm. IKIM Law Journal 9 (1): 291-309, 2005.
Pedley lwn Majlis Agama Islam Pulau Pinang & Anor (1990) 2 MLJ 307.
Perlembagaan Persekutuan Malaysia.
Saeed, Abdullah & Hassan, 2004. Freedom of Religion, Apostasy and Islam. England: Ashgate Publishing Company.
Shamala Sathiyaseelan lwn Dr. Jeyaganesh C Moragajah & Ors [2004] 2 CLJ 416.
Subashini Rajasingam lwn Saravanan Thangatoray & Anor Appeals (2008) 2 MLJ 147.
Tan Sung Moi lwn Too Miew Kim [1994] 3 MLJ 117
Teoh Eng Huat lwn Kadi of Pasir Mas Kelantan & Majlis Agama Islam ([1990] 2 MLJ 228.
Wan Mahyuddin Wan Muhammad, 2010. "Shariah Courts: Conflicting Jurisdiction in Conversion Cases" dlm. Shariah Law Report 4: 83-105.
Wessels, Antonie, 1972. A Modern Arabic Biography of Mohammad: A Critical Study of Mohammad Husayn Haykal's Hayat Mohammad. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
Zuliza Mohd Kusrin & Mohd Zamro Muda, "Conversion of Minors to Islam in Malaysia" dlm. Religion & Human Rights 4 : 107-119, 2009.
Zuliza Mohd Kusrin et. al., "Comment Conversion and the Conflict of Laws in Respects of Spouse Rights to Inheritence in Malaysia" dlm. Religion & Human Rights 7: 107-19, 2012.
Akta Penjagaan Budak 1961 [Akta 351].
Akta Pentadbiran Agama Islam (Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan) 1993 [Akta 505].
Ahmad Ibrahim, "The Need to Amend Section 51 of the Law Reform (Marriage & Divorce) Act, 1976" dlm. Malayan Law Journal 1: Ivii, 1990.
Ahmad Ibrahim, 2000. "Effect of Conversion on Marriage - Section 51 of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976" dlm. Administration of Islamic Law in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia.
Ahmad Ibrahim, 2000. "Conversion to and From Islam" dlm. Administration of Islamic Law in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia.
Al-Buti, Muhammad Sa'id Ramadhan, 1983. Fiqh al-Sirah. Jilid 1. Diterjemah oleh Mohd. Darus Sanawi. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Pustaka Fajar.
Al-Ghazali, Muhammad, 2005. Fiqh al-Sirah. Jilid 3. Kaherah: Dar al-Shuruq.
Al-Mubarakfuri, Safiy al-Rahman, 2008. The Sealed Nectar: Biography of the Noble Prophet. Riyadh: Maktabah Dar al-Salam.
Ali Nadvi, Abu al-Hasan, 1993. Muhammad the Last Prophet: A Model for All Time. Jeddah: Dar al-Shuruq.
Ashgar Ali Ali Mohamed, 2010. "Converting to Islam: Jurisdiction of Court to Dissolve Non-Muslim Marriage" dlm. Shariah Law Report 2: 19-28.
Attorney General lwn Reid [1965] 2 MLJ 34
Eeswari Visuwalingam lwn Government of Malaysia [1990] 1 MLJ 36.
Enakmen Pentadbiran Agama Islam (Negeri Selangor).
Enakmen Pentadbiran Agama Islam Perak.
Farid Sufian Shuaib, "Strengthening Administrative Institutions of Islamic Law in Malaysia: An Overview" dlm. Jurnal Syariah 16 (keluaran khas): 443-64, 2008.
Haykal, Mohammad Husayn, 1976. The Life of Mohammad.Translated from the 8th Edition of Hayat Mohammad by Isma'il Ragi A. al-Faruqi. North American Trust Publication.
Ibn al-Athir, al-Jazari Abu al-Sadat al-Mubarak ibn Muhammad, 1986. Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh. Jilid 3. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr.
Ibn Hisyam, Abu Muhammad Abdul Malik bin Hisyam, 2009. Sirah Nabawiyyah Ibnu Hisyam. Jilid 1. Diterjemah oleh Panel penterjemah. Selangor: al-Hidayah Publications.
Ibn Ishaq, Mohammad, 1955. The Life of Mohammad. Translated into English by Alfred Guillaume. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ibn Kathir, 1998. Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah. Jilid 2. Diterjemah oleh Trevor Le Gassick. The Life of the Prophet Muhammad. United Kingdom: Garnet Publishing.
Indira Gandhi a/p Mutho lwn Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Perak & Ors [2013] 5 MLJ 555.
Isabela Madeline Roy & Ors lwn Sarimah Low Abdullah & Ors (2005) 2 MLJ 521.
Kaliammal a/p Sinnasamy lwn Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (2005) 1 CLJ 753.
Kamali, M.H. .2008. The Right to Life, Security, Privacy and Ownership in Islam. Cambridge: Islamic Texts Society.
Kung Lim Siew Wan lwn Choong Chee Kuan [2003] 6 MLJ 260
Majlisi, Mohammad Baqir, 1982. The Life and Religion of Mohammad. English translation of Vol. 2 of Hayat al-Qulub, by James L. Merrick. San Antonio: Zahra Trust.
Mehrun Siraj, 2012. Conflicts of Laws in Child Custody Cases. Bangi: Fakulti Undang-Undang Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Moenawar Chalil, K.H., 1999. Sejarah Lengkap Sirah Nabi Muhammad SAW. Jilid 2. Selangor: Darul Kitab Sdn. Bhd.
Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil, 1998. "Kesan dan implikasi pertukaran agama dalam perundangan Malaysia" dlm. Ahmad Hidayat Buang (pnyt). Undang-Undang Islam di Mahkamah-Mahkamah Syariah di Malaysia, hlm. 31-43. Kuala Lumpur: Universiti Malaya.
Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil, "Seksyen 51 Akta Membaharui Undang-Undang (Perkahwinan dan Perceraian) 1976: Kesan dan Implikasinya terhadap Undang-Undang Keluarga Islam" dlm. Kanun Jurnal Undang-Undang Malaysia 6(3): 7-15, 1996.
Mohd Naim Mokhtar, Pengarah Bahagian Sokongan Keluarga Jabatan Kehakiman Syariah Malaysia. Temu bual pada 6 Februari 2014.
Ng Wan Chan lwn Majlis Ugama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan & Anor (1991) 3 MLJ 1991.
Najeebabadi, Akbar Shah, et al., 2001. The History of Islam. Jilid 1. Riyadh: Dar al-Salam.
Narizan Abdul Rahman, "Conversion of Minor to Islam in Malaysia: Whither Consent of Parents?" dlm. Jurnal Syariah 16 (keluaran khas): 585-602, 2008.
Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, "Pertukaran Agama: Hak Penjagaan Anak, Isu dan Masalah" dlm. Malayan Law Journal 3: xxxiv-xlvi, 2004
Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, "A Child's Right to Religion in Malaysia: An Overview" dlm. IKIM Law Journal 9 (1): 291-309, 2005.
Pedley lwn Majlis Agama Islam Pulau Pinang & Anor (1990) 2 MLJ 307.
Perlembagaan Persekutuan Malaysia.
Saeed, Abdullah & Hassan, 2004. Freedom of Religion, Apostasy and Islam. England: Ashgate Publishing Company.
Shamala Sathiyaseelan lwn Dr. Jeyaganesh C Moragajah & Ors [2004] 2 CLJ 416.
Subashini Rajasingam lwn Saravanan Thangatoray & Anor Appeals (2008) 2 MLJ 147.
Tan Sung Moi lwn Too Miew Kim [1994] 3 MLJ 117
Teoh Eng Huat lwn Kadi of Pasir Mas Kelantan & Majlis Agama Islam ([1990] 2 MLJ 228.
Wan Mahyuddin Wan Muhammad, 2010. "Shariah Courts: Conflicting Jurisdiction in Conversion Cases" dlm. Shariah Law Report 4: 83-105.
Wessels, Antonie, 1972. A Modern Arabic Biography of Mohammad: A Critical Study of Mohammad Husayn Haykal's Hayat Mohammad. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
Zuliza Mohd Kusrin & Mohd Zamro Muda, "Conversion of Minors to Islam in Malaysia" dlm. Religion & Human Rights 4 : 107-119, 2009.
Zuliza Mohd Kusrin et. al., "Comment Conversion and the Conflict of Laws in Respects of Spouse Rights to Inheritence in Malaysia" dlm. Religion & Human Rights 7: 107-19, 2012.
Published
2020-04-23
How to Cite
HUSIN, Khairani; SAMURI, Mohd. Al Adib.
Converting in Secret: Legal Issues among Muslim Converts in Malaysia.
Kanun: Jurnal Undang-undang Malaysia, [S.l.], v. 26, n. 1, p. 1-25, apr. 2020.
ISSN 2682-8057.
Available at: <https://jurnal.dbp.my/index.php/Kanun/article/view/7969>. Date accessed: 06 may 2024.
Section
Articles
