LLB02303

ADMINISTRATION OF
ISLAMIC LAW IN MALAYSIA
SHARIAH COURT
• THE SYARIAH COURT:
• Established based on the Federal Constitution which gives the power to States to administer
Islamic law (personal law) – Schedule 9, List 2 Item 1.
 JURISDICTION OF SYARIAH COURT IN
MALAYSIA
• According to article 121 (1A) of the federal constitution, exclusive jurisdiction has been given to
the Syariah Court in the administration of Islamic Laws
• Syariah Court have jurisdiction only over Muslims.
• Syariah laws in Malaysia apply in the following areas:
i. family laws in respect of marriage, divorce, custody and guardianship, maintenance of children ,
matrimonial properties, and alimony.
ii. Laws of succession: probate and administration - relating to distribution, as well as trust deed.
iii. Criminal laws the jurisdiction of the Syariah laws are limited and confined to offences in respect of
polygamous marriage, close proximity, indecent dressing and behavior, violation of the ‘pillars of Islam’
– not fasting during Ramadan, not attending Friday prayers, desertion by either spouse and apostasy.

• However action against unnatural offences (eg: sodomy) committed by a Muslim is brought in the
civil court although such offences are provided in both Syariah law and civil law.
 Power of Syariah Court on criminal and civil matter

• Criminal jurisdiction of Shariah Court (Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965)(Act
355) – Section 2
• Only applicable to Muslim
• Jurisdiction is up to:
• Imprisonment up to 3 years;
• Fines up to RM5000;
• Canning up to 6 strokes; or
• Combination of any of the above.
• Offences:
• Cruelty to wife;
• Nusyuz;
• Khalwat;
• Incest;
• Drink alcohol;
• Murtad.
• Civil jurisdictions of Syariah Court:
• Have jurisdiction over the family cases such as:
• Betrothal;
• Marriage;
• Divorce;
• Termination of marriage;
• Ancillary claims;
• Maintenance;
• Claim for the matrimonial property.
The Syariah Subordinate Court

• The Syariah Subordinate Court were divided according to each district:

• Functions:
• Has jurisdiction within the state at districts that are fixed and must be within it criminals jurisdiction,
for offences committed by Muslim under Islamic law (according to state enactments) or any other
written law which stipulates offence for Islamic religion;
• Has jurisdiction, within the state at districts that are fixed and must be in its mal jurisdiction, can hear
and decide all actions and proceedings where the Syariah High Court has been given power to hear and
decide, (not including hadhanah claim or harta sepencarian).
• Section 47 of the Administration Of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993
(1) A syariah subordinate court shall have jurisdiction throughout the federal territories and shall be
presided over by a judge of the syariah subordinate court.
(2) the Syariah Subordinate Court shall—
(a) in its criminal jurisdiction, try any offence committed by a Muslim under the enactment or any other written
law prescribing offences against precepts of the religion of Islam for which the maximum punishment
provided by the enactment or such written law does not exceed two thousand ringgit or imprisonment for a
term of one year or to both, and may impose any punishment provided therefor;
(b) in its civil jurisdiction, hear and determine all such actions and proceedings as the Syariah High Court is
authorized to hear and determine in which the amount or value of the subject-matter in dispute does not
exceed fifty thousand ringgit or is not capable of estimation in terms of money.
(3) the Yang Di-pertuan Agong may from time to time by notification in the gazette extend the civil
jurisdiction of the Syariah Subordinate Court.
 The Syariah High Court
• The Syariah High Court has the following jurisdiction:
• Criminal Jurisdiction:
• Try any offence committed by A Muslim under the Islamic law(according to state enactment) or any other
written law which prescribes offences against the precepts of the religion of Islam.
• Civil / Mal Jurisdiction Within The State, “The Syariah High Court” Can:
• Hear and decide all action and proceeding if all parties in actions or proceedings are muslims and
actions or proceedings are related with
• Betrothal, marriage, ruju’, divorce, annulment of marriage (fasakh), nusyuz, or judicial separation(faraq) or
any other matter relating to the relationship between husband and wife;·
• Any disposal or claim properties raised from any matters stated in the subparagraph (I); ·
• The maintenance of dependents, legitimacy, or guardianship or custody (hadhanah) of infants;·
• Wills or gifts made while in A state of marad-al-maut;·
• Gifts inter vivos, or settlements made without adequate consideration in money or money’s worth by a Muslim;
• Wakaf or nazr;
• Division and inheritance of testate or intestate property;·
• The determination of the persons entitled to share in the estate of a deceased Muslim or the shares to which such
persons are respectively entitled;
• A declaration that a person is no longer a Muslim;
• A declaration that a deceased person was a Muslim or otherwise at the time of his death; and·
• Other matters in respect of which jurisdiction is conferred by any written law.
• Section 46 of the Administration Of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993
(1) A syariah high court shall have jurisdiction throughout the Federal territories and shall be presided over by a syariah judge.
(2) a syariah high court shall
(a) in its criminal jurisdiction, try any offence committed by a muslim and punishable under the enactment or the islamic family law (federal territories) act
1984 [act 303], or under any other written law prescribing offences against precepts of the religion of islam for the time being in force, and may impose
any punishment provided therefor;
(b) (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; (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;
(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;
(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.
• Section 48 of the Administration Of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993
(1) An appeal shall lie to the Syariah High Court from any decision of a Syariah Subordinate Court
(a) in its criminal jurisdiction, by the prosecution or by a person convicted, and such appeal may be against an
acquittal, conviction or sentence or any of them;
(b) in its civil jurisdiction
(i) by any person aggrieved by the decision, if the amount claimed is not less than one thousand ringgit;
(ii) in all cases involving any decision as to personal status, by any person aggrieved by the decision;
(iii) in all cases relating to maintenance of dependents, by any person aggrieved by the decision, but no appeal shall lie
against a decision made by consent; and
(c) in any other case, if the syariah high court gives leave to appeal.
(2) on any appeal, the syariah high court may—
(a) in a criminal matter, dismiss the appeal, convict and sentence the appellant, order the trial court to call
for the defence or make further inquiry, enhance or alter the nature of the sentence, order a retrial, or
alter or reverse any order of the trial court;
(b) in a civil matter, confirm, reverse or vary the decision of the trial court, exercise any such powers as
the trial court could have exercised, make such order as the trial court ought to have made, or order a
retrial.
• Section 51 of the Administration Of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993
(1) the Syariah High Court shall have supervisory and revisionary jurisdiction over all Syariah Subordinate
Courts and may, if it appears desirable in the interest of justice, either of its own motion or at the instance
of any party or person interested, at any stage in any matter or proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in
any Syariah Subordinate Court, call for and examine any records thereof and may give such directions as
justice may require.
(2) whenever the Syariah High Court calls for the records under subsection (1), all proceedings in the Syariah
Subordinate Court on the matter or proceedings in question shall be stayed pending further order of the
Syariah High Court.
The Syariah Court Of Appeal

• Have jurisdiction to hear and determine any appeals for any decision that has been made by the
Syariah High Court in execution of original jurisdiction.
• Can set aside/annul any conviction or lessen any sentence.
• Have monitoring power and checking on the Syariah High Court and, if found needed for justice,
• either on their own need or on any party to the proceedings or people at large, at any level in any matter or
proceeding in Syariah High Court, either mal or criminal, called and examined any record about it and can
make orders as required for justice.

• Cases heard by a panel of 3 person (appointed by sultan).

• Chief Syarie Judge is the chairman of this panel.
• Section 52 of the Administration Of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993
(1) the Syariah Appeal Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any appeal against any
decision made by the Syariah High Court in the exercise of its original jurisdiction.
(2) when an appeal from a decision of a Syariah Subordinate Court has been determined by the Syariah
High Court, the Syariah Appeal Court may on the application of any party grant leave for the
determination by itself of any question of law of public interest which has arisen in the course of the
appeal and the determination of which by the Syariah High Court has affected the result of the appeal.
(3) when leave has been granted by the Syariah Appeal Court it shall hear and determine the question
allowed to be referred for its determination and make such order as the Syariah High Court might
have made and as it considers just for the disposal of the appeal.
• Section 53 of the Administration Of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 199
(1) The Syariah Appeal Court shall have supervisory and revisionary jurisdiction over The Syariah High Court
and may, if it appears desirable in the interest of justice, either of its own motion or at the instance of any
party or person interested, at any stage in any matter or proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in the
Syariah High Court, call for and examine any records thereof and may give such directions as justice may
require.
(2) whenever the Syariah Appeal Court calls for the records under subsection (1), all proceedings in the
Syariah High Court on the matter or proceedings in question shall be stayed pending further order of the
Syariah Appeal Court.
THANK YOU