PROGRAMME ABSTRACT BOOK

6 th International Conference on Islamic Jurisprudence 2017 (ICIJ2017)
“Towards Maqasid-Base Good Governance in Policies and Management from Wasatiyyah Perspective”
8- CIVIL SOCIETY AND NGOS
LEGAL LITERACY AMONG MUSLIM CONVERTS: ACHIEVING
COHESIVE SOCIETY AND FULFILLING THE MAQASID
Dr. Faridah Jalil
Law Faculty
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
faridah@ukm.edu.my
Dr. Nurhafilah Musa
Law Faculty
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
hafilah@ukm.edu.my
Dr. Mohd Al-Adib Samuri
Faculty of Islamic Studies
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
al_adib@ukm.edu.my
Many non-Muslims who convert to Islam did not realize that religious conversion has
implications on their private affairs, especially in marriage and the obligations arising
from the marriage. The most highlighted issues are the deadlock on the competent
forum to have marriage contracted prior to conversion dissolved, the offspring’s
religious status and the guardianship and custodial rights upon the offspring.
Therefore, it is important that the muallafs are exposed to the implication of their
conversion; obligations as well as legal rights arising from the act of conversion to
Islam. One of the means to educate the muallaf is by the creation of a legal literacy
module for them. The aim of the module is to provide a suitable guide on the proper
procedure to convert, to instill awareness on matters that need to be addressed and
resolved before conversion. The module will explain the nature of freedom of religion
and the importance to respect the choice made by an individual in exercising his right.
This helps to boost respect and tolerance among Malaysia’s multi-racial and multi
religious society and enhance national stability in term of ethnic relations. The positive
implication of the legal literacy module is that, Muslim converts will choose the proper
channel to address issues arising from conversion. This paper begins with an overview
of the current legal problems faced by muallafs. The paper argues that creating a legal
literacy module is one of the methods to overcome the problems faced by muallaf and
to narrow the social divide between the Muslims and non-Muslims in Malaysia in the
exercise of their right to choose their faith. The formulation of the module hopefully
will fulfill Maqasid Shari`ah, namely, to protect religion, life and dignity of human.
The paper ends with a proposal for the content that could be included in the module.
Keywords: legal literacy, muallaf, Muslim converts
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