DR. ZULFAKAR BIN RAMLEE SMP
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
AHMAD IBRAHIM KULLIYYAH OF LAWS
INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA
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ISLAMIC LAW IN MALAYSIA
 Before colonization
 During colonisation
 Before MERDEKA
 After MERDEKA
 Current issues.
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Historical Background
 Batu 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.
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18th century: British colonization
 1786 in Penang.
 1824 Malacca and Temasik (singapore)
 1874 Perak , 1895 Selangor and Pahang.
 1909 all Malay states.
 The Introduction of:
 English Common Law and
 Equity
 Courts/judicial system
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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.
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“Sebelum triti-triti pertama, penduduk
negeri-negeri ini hampir semuanya terdiri
dari orang Melayu (Islam) bersama
pelombong dan pengusaha Cina. Satusatunya undang-undang yang terpakai
kepada orang-orang Melayu ialah UndangUndang Islam yang disesuaikan dengan Adat
tempatan”
AILM p.29
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“Tidak boleh diragukan lagi bahawa
Undang-Undang Islam akan menjadi
Undang-Undang Tanah Melayu (lex
loci),Sekiranya Undang-Undang
British tidak masuk dan menahannya”
-R.J. Wilkinson (1908)
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Prior to 1948, In Federation of Malay
States (Pahang, Perak, Selangor & N 9), Syariah
Court was recognised and put under the
hierarchy of court’s structure.
But was lower than 2nd class Magistrate Court.
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Post 1952:
 New Muslim enactments were introduced:
 Selangor 1952
 Pahang 1956
 Negeri sembilan 1957
 ie. All matters fall under family or personal affairs
except inheritance & succession were put under
Syariah Court.
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“ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THE DECISIONS OF
CIVIL COURT WITH SYARIAH COURT, THE
FORMER WILL PREVAIL”
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SUPREMACY OF CONSTITUTION
 This 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)
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The courts referred to in clause
(1) shall have no jurisdiction in
respect of any matter within the
jurisdiction of the Syariah
courts.
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THE POSITION OF ISLAM
 Religion 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.
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Islam: legal definition
 Kes Che Omar bin Che Soh v PP [1988] 2 MLJ 55 SC
See 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 FC
See AILM at p. 222-225.
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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.
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(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 MahkamahMahkamah Sivil tidak boleh campur tangan dalam hal itu.
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Islamic Legal Institutions:
 Conference of Rulers (Majlis Raja-Raja)
 Mufti
 Council of Islamic Religion
 Department of Islamic Religion
 Syariah Courts (Department of Syariah judiciary)
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1.Conference of Rulers (Majlis Raja-Raja)
 Art. 38 of FC
 9 Malay Rulers + 4 YDP Negeri
 At Federal level, CR is regarded as the highest
authority in Islamic matters.
 Each Ruler is the Head of the religion of Islam for
respective states
 YDPA for M, P, S and S.
 See Art. 3(2) FC
 See AAB,Islam Dalam Perlembagaan, p. 50-71.
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2. Mufti
 Islamic scholar , as advisor to ruler
 Chief religious adviser for the Ruler
 From the era of Malacca Malay Sultanate
 Fatwa Committee for every state in Malaysia
 Role: to issue fatwa
 Note: violation of fatwa is an offence
 See section 9 and 12 of the Syariah Criminal Offences
(FT) Act 1997
 See AILM, at p.581-588.
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3. Council of Islamic Religion
 Under 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.
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(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;
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(c) to carry on any such activities in association with other bodies or persons,
including the departments or authorities of the Federal Government, or as
managing agent or otherwise on behalf of the Federal Government;
(d) to invest in any authorized investment as defined by the Trustee Act 1949
[Act 208], and to dispose of the same on such terms and conditions as the Majlis
may determine;
(e) subject to the approval of the Finance Minister, to establish any scheme for
the granting of loans from the Fund to Muslim individuals for higher learning;
(f) to establish and maintain Islamic schools, and Islamic training and research
institutions; and
(g) to do all acts which the Majlis considers desirable or expedient.
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4. Department of Islamic Religion
 Established under state goverment
 As an executor or enforcer to policies made by Majlis
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5.Department of Syariah Judiciary
 JKSM was established by Federal government in 1998
 The 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 officers
 Almost all states join the JKSM
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The constitutionality of
Syariah Court
 In all States:
By virtue of:
 Article 74
 Ninth Schedule;Item 1 of the State List.(List II)
 In Federal Territories:
 Ninth Schedule; Item 6(e) of the Federal List.(List I)
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Section 40 AIL 1993
 (1) Syariah Subordinate Court,
 (2) Syariah High Court,
 (3) Syariah Appeal Court.
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Jurisdiction of Shariah Court
 Sec.46 & 47 AILA 1993.
 Two categories:
 Civil jurisdiction:
 10 matters from (a) – (x)
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(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;
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(v) wills or death-bed gifts (marad-al-maut) of a deceased Muslim;
(vi) gifts inter vivos, or settlements made without adequate consideration in
money or money's worth, by a Muslim;
(vii) wakaf or nazr;
(viii) division and inheritance of testate or intestate property;
(ix) the determination of the persons entitled to share in the estate of a
deceased Muslim or of the shares to which such persons are respectively
entitled; or
(x) other matters in respect of which jurisdiction is conferred by any written law.
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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.
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[2013] 3 MLJ 269
Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim v Bank Islam (M) Bhd
COURT 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).
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Jurisdiction of Shariah Court
 Criminal jurisdiction:
 Any offences committed by a Muslim under:
 - Islamic family law Act/Enactment
 -Syariah offences Act/enactment
 Any other written law
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Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction)
Act 1965 (Amendment) 1984




Less than 3 years imprisonment
Less than RM 5,000.00 fine
Less than 6 strokes
Zero death penalty.
3560
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Shariah Court
Vs
Civil Court
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