BETROTHAL AND GENERAL DAMAGES FOR HUMILIATION: AN APPRAISAL ON HARMONISATION OF SHARI’AH AND CIVIL LAW

Azizah Mohd; Nadhilah A. Kadir; Badruddin Hj Ibrahim

doi:10.31436/iiumlj.v32i2.993

Authors

Azizah Mohd Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyah of Laws, International Islamic University Malaysia
Nadhilah A. Kadir Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Badruddin Hj Ibrahim Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University of Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v32i2.993

Keywords:

Betrothal, General Damages for Humiliation, Islamic Law, Civil Law, Harmonisation

Abstract

Betrothal is an agreement or a promise to marry. The Shari’ah and civil law recognise betrothal as a significant plan before and towards a marriage contract. Both laws also agree that in the event of a breach of betrothal, the party in default is liable to certain damages and compensation. Nevertheless, there are different principles as regards general damages for humiliation or embarrassment. This paper deals with betrothal and the legal effect of a breach of betrothal under the Shari’ah and civil law. The research is qualitative, adopting library research and content analysis. The research seeks to study the position of betrothal generally under both the Shari’ah and civil law and the effect of a breach of betrothal on the parties who are at fault. This paper further examines items claimable as compensation under both laws including general damages for humiliation. The paper further analyses certain points of laws on damages in breach of betrothal under both laws that are in harmony and differing. Finally, the paper highlights the possibility of harmonisation between the Shari’ah and civil law particularly on general damages of humiliation.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Abdullah, Nuraisyah Chua. “Remedies for Breach of Betrothal: The Quest for Survival?.” International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences 12, no. 12 (2022): 43 – 51.

Abdullah, Nuraisyah Chua. Family Law for non-Muslims in Malaysia. Selangor: International Law Book Services, (2013).

Al-Burno, Muhammad Sidqi bin Ahmad bin Muhammad. Al-Wajiz fi Idoh Qawa’id al-Fiqh al-Kulliyyah, 5th ed., Beirut-Lebanon: Muassasah al-Risalah, (2002).

Al-San’ani, Muhammad bin Ismail al-Amir al-Yamani. Subul al-Salam, sharh bulugh al-Maram min Jam’I adillat al-Ahkam. Vol. 3. Beirut – Lebanon; Dar al-Fikr, (1988).

Al-Shawkani, Muhammad bin Ali bin Muhammad, Al-Fath al-Rabbani min Fatawa al-Imam al-Shawkani, Vol. 6. Sana’a: Maktabat al-Jayl al-Jadid, (1423H).

Al-Suyuti, Jalal al-Din ‘Abd al-Rahman. Al-Ashbah wa al-naza’ir. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, (1983/1403).

Al-Zuhaili, Wahbah, Al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu, tr. Ahmad Shahbari Solomon et. al. (Fiqh & Perundangan Islam), Vol. 7, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, (2001)

Blog Kamar Syarie, 2019, Maqasid Hukum Gantirugi Pertunangan Dalam Undang-undang Keluarga Islam di Malaysia, https://kamarsyarie.wordpress.com/2019/11/27/maqasid-hukum-gantirugi-pertunangan-dalam-undang-undang-keluarga-islam-di-malaysia/ accessed on 25 October (2024).

Cambridge Dictionary. “Betrothal.” Accessed September 9, (2023). https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/betrothal

Hj Mohamad, Abdul Hamid. "Harmonisation of Sharīʿah and Civil Law in Malaysia: Present Reality and Future Actions." Islamic Law and Society, (2003).

Ibrahim, Ahmad. Family Law in Malaysia. Third Edition. Kuala Lumpur: Malayan Law Journal, (1997).

Ibrahim, Norliah., Noraini Md Hashim, Najbah Mohd Zin, Azizah Mohd, Nora Abdul Hak, Normi Abdul Malek, Roslina Che Soh and Mohd Hisham Mohd Kamal. Family Law (non-Muslims) in Malaysia. Gombak: IIUM Press, (2021).

Ithnin, Hafiz, Dugaan Orang Bertunang, myMetro, at https://www.hmetro.com.my/WM/2022/07/861354/dugaan-orang-bertunang accessed on 25 October (2024).

Lettmaier, Saskia. Broken Engagements: The Action for Breach of Promise of Marriage and the Feminine Ideal, 1800-1940. Oxford: Oxford University Press, (2010).

Mohd, Azizah, “Challenges and innovations in harmonising sharīʿah and modern family law: Malaysia experience”, Al-Kashaf, 04 (03 (Special Issue), (2024), 23-35.

Mohd, Azizah, Najibah Mohd Zin, Nadhilah A.Kadir, Zati Ilham Abdul Manaf. “Registration of Adoptions Act 1952: towards harmonisation of adoption laws governing Muslims and non-Muslims in Malaysia”.

In: Harmonisation of Shariah and Law: Approaches and Progress, edited by Najibah Mohd Zin, Azizah Mohd, Norjihan Abd. Aziz & Nasimah Husin, 155-176, Harun M. Hashim Law Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2023.

Mohd Zin, Najibah, Nora Abdul Hak, Azizah Mohd, Normi Abdul Malek, Norliah Ibrahim, Roslina Che Soh @ Yusoff, Noraini Md Hashim and Badruddin Ibrahim. Islamic Family Law in Malaysia. Second Edition, Subang Jaya: Sweet & Maxwell, (2021)

Sha’ban, Zakiy al-Din. Ahkam al-Shar’iyyah li Ahwal al-Shakhsiyyah, 6th ed. Benghazi: Univeristi Qaryunus, (1993).

Shalabi, Muhammad Mustafa. Ahkam al-usrah fi al-Islam; dirasah muqaranah bayna fiqh al-madhahib al-Sunniyyah wa al-madhahib al-Ja‘fari wa al-qanun. Beirut: Dar al-Nahdah al-‘Arabiyyah, (1977/1397).

Sing, Bhag. “Awarding damages in Civil Claims.” Malaysian Bar, January 18, 2011. https://www.malaysianbar.org.my/article/news/legal-and-general-news/members-opinions/awarding-damages-in-civil-claims.

Sitiris, Miszairi & Nurul ‘Arifah Mohamad, 2017. Gantirugi Akibat Pembatalan Pertunangan: Menurut Fiqh serta Amalannya di Mahkamah Syariah, in Anwar Fakhri Omar et. al, Proceeding of International Conference on Law and Islamic Jurisprudence (ICLIJ 2017)

Sunder Raj, Kogila and Muammar Ghaddafi Bin Hanafiah, Adat Bertunang: Satu Kajian Perbandingan Antara Etnik Melayu Dengan Etnik India, JURNAL WACANA SARJANA, Vol. 3(2) Sept (2018): 1- 9

Thomson Reuters Practical Law. “Uberrimae fidei.” Accessed September 12, 2023. https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/w-018-4024?transitionType=Default&contextData= (sc.Default)#:~:text=A%20Latin%20term%20meaning%20%22utmost,facts%20to%20the%20other%20party.

Zahrah, Muhammad Abi. Al-Ahwal al-shakhsiyyah. n.pp: Dar al-Fikr al-Arabi, (1957/1377).

Zaydan, ‘Abd al-Karim. Al-Jami’ fi al-Fiqh al-Islami. Al-Mufassal fi ahkam al-mar’ah wa al-bayt al-Muslim fi al-Shari‘ah al-Islamiyyah. Vol. 6. n.pp: Mu’assasat al-Risalah, (2012).