The application of maqasid al‑shariah in multicultural Malaysia: developing strong institutions for interethnic unity

Mohamad Shukri, Syaza Farhana and Meor Azalan, Meor Alif (2023) The application of maqasid al‑shariah in multicultural Malaysia: developing strong institutions for interethnic unity. Contemporary Islam. pp. 1-18. ISSN 1872-0218 E-ISSN 1872-0226

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Abstract

Studies and writings on maqasid al-shariah cover a diverse array of topics from international relations to human development. Furthermore, studies on the maqasid approach have also focused on Muslim minorities living under non-Muslim authorities with an obvious absence of Islamic laws being part of government’s priority. This study adopts an inverted look at the aforementioned situation: how can Islamic laws be understood in its universal and holistic objectives to allow non-Muslims to live peacefully and confdently under a Muslim-majority government. Malaysia has always been a cauldron of a constitutionally Islamic country with a signifcant non-Muslim minority witnessing rising Islamization since the 1980s that was further boosted in the twenty-frst century. Discussion on hudud laws, specifcally, has created division in society. Based on maqasid al-shariah, societal harmony is an objective that is in line with today’s understanding on human rights. Therefore, using interviews with thirteen policymakers in Malaysia, this study hopes to discover whether maqasid al-shariah may provide the path for Malaysians to be able to see one another without suspicion. It was found that policymakers across the political spectrum agree in applying the maqasid approach in legislating in a multicultural country such as Malaysia—without specifying it as maqasid al-shariah for fear of upsetting non-Muslims.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Maqasid al-shariah · Fiqh al-ta’ayusy · Coexistence · Multiculturalism · Interethnic · Policymaker · Malaysia
Subjects:	J Political Science > JC Political theory > JC49 Islam and Politics
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Political Science
Depositing User:	Dr. Syaza Farhana Mohamad Shukri
Date Deposited:	05 May 2023 10:04
Last Modified:	05 May 2023 10:04
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/104541

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