Feasibility of the application of the doctrine of judicial precedent in civil and shariah courts

Ahmed, Kyaw Hla Win @ Md Hassan and Mikail, Sa'id Adekunle and Arifin, Mahamad and Ali Mohamed, Ashgar Ali (2013) Feasibility of the application of the doctrine of judicial precedent in civil and shariah courts. Malayan Law Journal, 5 (lxxiii). pp. 1-18. ISSN 0025-1283

PDF - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (55kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

The doctrine of judicial precedent plays an empirical role in the common law system, but it only has persuasive value in European countries which are practicing the civil legal system. Moreover, it has not been recognised as having a binding force in the Islamic legal system and thus each case has to be decided based on its own merits and previous decisions were merely considered as guidance for the future decision. This position is still being maintained by some countries such as Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. In Pakistan and Nigeria, however, the doctrine of judicial precedent is followed. Due to this contradiction among the Shariah legal system in various countries, as a result, a question arises relating to the feasibility of the application of the doctrine of judicial precedent in Shariah Courts needs thorough study. Accordingly, in this paper, the factual nature of the judicial precedents in both civil and Shariah legal systems have been examined comparatively in some detail with reference to countries such as England, Malaysia, Nigeria and Pakistan. This paper points out that the doctrine of stare decisis and judicial precedent can be applied in the Shariah Courts system as guiding precedents but not as binding precedents since it is allowed in Shariah to take guidance from previous decisions and there is no express prohibition in Shariah on them.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	6585/32549
Uncontrolled Keywords:	judicial precedent
Subjects:	K Law > K Law (General)
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws > Department of Civil Law
Depositing User:	Dr Ashgar Ali Ali Mohamed
Date Deposited:	11 Nov 2013 11:26
Last Modified:	21 Jul 2014 15:18
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/32549

Actions (login required)

View Item