Nushūz in Islamic Family Law: A Comparative Study between Afghanistan and Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31436/ijfus.v10i1.391Keywords:
Nushūz, Islamic jurisprudence, Family Law, Afghanistan, Malaysian lawAbstract
Issues of nushūz (marital disobedience) constitute one of the major challenges in Islamic jurisprudence and family law due to their direct impact on family stability and the rights of both spouses—especially in societies where the interaction between Sharīʿah texts, social customs, and modern legislation is complex. Most previous studies have been limited either to theoretical jurisprudential discussions or to isolated local experiences, with a lack of in-depth comparative research between Muslim countries that have differing legal systems, such as Afghanistan and Malaysia. This study aims to analyze and address nushūz cases through a comparative examination of the Sharīʿah judiciary in Afghanistan and Malaysia, in order to reveal how Islamic jurisprudence interacts with local customs or modern laws, and to clarify the gap between legal texts and practical application. The research adopts a comparative analytical methodology based on the analysis of jurisprudential texts, official legislations, and international reports, alongside a review of selected judicial rulings from both countries. It also employs critical analysis of the textual evidence. The findings show that the Afghan system is deeply influenced by tribal traditions that undermine legal safeguards for women, whereas the Malaysian system provides a more structured institutional framework through codified nushūz provisions and procedural guarantees—although disparities in implementation persist among states. This study contributes to the scholarly literature by presenting a comparative model that highlights the influence of social and legal contexts on the application of nushūz rulings, and it recommends legislative and judicial reforms that strike a balance between the objectives of Sharīʿah and the demands of contemporary justice.
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