Heritage of Nusantara: International Journal of Religious Literature and Heritage
Vol 3, No 2 (2014)

Dialetic Between Islamic Law and Adat Law in the Nusantara: A Reinterpretation of the Terengganu Inscription in the 14th Century

Yakin, Ayang Utriza ( Lecturer at the Faculty of Sharia and Law, State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, and Researcher at the Centre for the Study of Islam and Society, State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta)



Article Info

Publish Date
13 Feb 2015

Abstract

This article discusses the inscription found in Terengganu, which originated in the early XIV Century. The inscription documents the laws implemented by the rulers of the time. These texts reveal that the laws of this time came from two sources: Islamic law and customary (adat) law. In other words, the inscription indicates that legal pluralism was already in existence by the 14th Century. Adat law was the principle legal system in place, playing an important role in the archipelagic society at the time. However, there was an alternative system of Islamic law (e.g. stoning as a punishment for adultery) in place for lower social classes. This finding suggests that Islamic law was already in existence in the early 14th century—much earlier than the prevailing understanding of the history of Islamic law suggests. The article contributes by providing the new transliteration from Jawi into Latin characters and the new translation from old-Malay into modern English, which are arguably more accurate than the previous work.

Copyrights © 2014






Journal Info

Abbrev

HERITAGE

Publisher

Subject

Religion Social Sciences

Description

Heritage of Nusantara: International Journal of Religious Literature and Heritage (ISSN: 2303-243X, E-ISSN: 2442-9031) is an academic international journal published by Center for Research and Development of Religious Literature and Heritage, Agency for Research and Development and Training Ministry ...