The Execution of Muslim’s Will (Wasiyyah) in Malaysia: A Way to Evade Islamic Inheritance (Faraid) (Pelaksanaan Wasiat di Malaysia: Satu Cara Pembahagian Harta Pu-saka (Faraid))

Authors

  • Akmal Hidayah Halim Associate Professor, Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University Malaysia.
  • Nor Azlina Mohd Noor Assistant Professor, UUM College of Law, Government & International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia.
  • Wan Noraini Mohd Salim Assistant Professor, Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31436/jia.v17i3.992

Abstract

In cases where a Muslim dies and leaves a will (wasiyyah), the jurisdiction to deal with the deceased’s estate lies with the Civil High Court and Shariah Court as far as the procedural and substantive laws are concerned respectively. The existence of the dual jurisdiction has given rise to the conflict of jurisdiction between the High Court and the Shariah Court particularly when an application for the grant of probate from the High Court is required in order to formalise the appointment of the wasi which must be made via a valid will (wasiyyah). In this context, the law is silent as to the requirement for such a will to be firstly validated by the Shariah Court before probate could be granted to the wasi. This paper seeks to analyse the jurisdiction of the High Court and Shariah Court to examine the law and procedure relating to the execution of Muslim wills in Malaysia. The study adopts a content analysis by examining the existing primary and secondary materials including the statutory provisions provided in the Probate and Administration Act 1959, Wills Act 1959, Rules of Court 2012, Muslim Will Enactments and case law. The findings show that the absence of a legal provision relating to the requirement for the reference of a Muslim’s will to the Shariah Court before the issuance of the grant of probate would open up room for the execution of a wasiyyah which does not comply with the Islamic law on wills, thus avoiding the distribution of the estate to be made according to Islamic inheritance.

Keywords: Muslim wills, Islamic inheritance, High Court, Syariah Court, estate administration, Malaysia.

Abstrak

Dalam kes wasiat seseorang Islam yang telah meninggal dunia, bidang kuasa untuk mentadbir harta si mati dari sudut prosedurnya terletak di bawah Mahkamah Tinggi Sivil manakala Mahkamah Syariah pula berbidangkuasa untuk menentukan keabsahan wasiat tersebut dari sudut substantifnya. Kewujudan kedua-dua bidangkuasa ini telah menimbulkan konflik di antara Mahkamah Tinggi dan Mahkamah Syariah terutamanya apabila suatu permohonan untuk pemberian probet dari Mahkamah Tinggi perlu dibuat untuk mengesahkan perlantikan wasi. Dalam konteks ini, tiada undang-undang yang memperuntukkan bahawa wasiat tersebut perlu disahkan dahulu oleh Mahkamah Syariah sebelum probet boleh diberikan kepada wasi. Oleh itu, penulisan ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa bidang kuasa Mahkamah Tinggi dan Mahkamah Syariah bagi mengkaji undang-undang dan prosedur yang berkaitan dengan pelaksanaan wasiat Islam di Malaysia. Penulisan ini menggunakan kaedah analisis data utama dan sekunder termasuklah peruntukan undang-undang dalam Akta Probet dan Pentadbiran 1959, Akta Wasiat 1959, Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah 2012, Enakmen Wasiat Islam dan kes-kes yang telah diputuskan. Penulisan ini mendapati bahawa ketiadaan peruntukan undang-undang berkaitan dengan rujukan wasiat Islam kepada Mahkamah Syariah sebelum pemberian probet akan membuka ruang kepada pelaksanaan wasiat yang tidak selari dengan hukum wasiat Islam dan seterusnya mengelakkan berlakunya pembahagian harta pusaka  mengikut pewarisan harta dalam Islam.

Kata kunci: Wasiat orang Islam, Pewarisan harta Islam, Mahkamah Tinggi, Mahkamah Syariah, Pentadbiran pusaka, Malaysia.

 

References

Akmal Hidayah Halim. Administration of Estates in Malaysia: Law and Procedure (2nd Edition). Petaling Jaya: Sweet & Maxwell Asia, 2018.

Akmal Hidayah Halim. “Reforming Legal Framework for Administration of Estates in West Malaysia: An Overview”. The Law Review(2013) :95-306.

Akmal Hidayah Halim. “Administration of Testate Estates: A Malaysian Identity.” Paper presented at 9th Asian Law Institute Conference, 2012.

Jasni S. “The Influence of English Law for the Local: A Study on the Administration of Islamic Law of Inheritance in Malaysia.” Paper presented at the WEI International Academic Conference Proceedings, Antalya Turkey, 2013.

Mahinder Singh Sidhu. The Law of Wills Probate Administration & Succession In Malaysia and Singapore (With Cases and Commentaries) (2 ed.). Kuala Lumpur: International Law Book Services, 2005.

Mohd Zamro Muda. “Instrument of Hibah and Wills: Analysis of the Regulations and Applications in Malaysia.” Paper presented at the Proceedings of Hibah and Faraid National Convention, Wilayah Mosque, Kuala Lumpur, 2008.

Pawancheek M. Islamic Inheritance Laws in Malaysia (2nd Edition). Kuala Lumpur: Lexis Nexis, 2008.

Raman, G. Probate and Administration in Singapore and Malaysia. Appendices to the Probate and Administration in Singapore and Malaysia. Singapore: LexisNexis, 2012.

Downloads

Published

2020-11-04

How to Cite

Halim, A. H. ., Mohd Noor, N. A. ., & Mohd Salim, W. N. . (2020). The Execution of Muslim’s Will (Wasiyyah) in Malaysia: A Way to Evade Islamic Inheritance (Faraid) (Pelaksanaan Wasiat di Malaysia: Satu Cara Pembahagian Harta Pu-saka (Faraid)). Journal of Islam in Asia (E-ISSN 2289-8077), 17(3), 184–197. https://doi.org/10.31436/jia.v17i3.992