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Ibrahim, Noryati Haji Divorce related issues : a study of financial settlement under Muslim family law in Brunei /. PhD thesis. SOAS University of London. http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/26499 Copyright © and Moral Rights for this thesis are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non‐commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. When referring to this thesis, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full thesis title", name of the School or Department, PhD Thesis, pagination. DIVORCE RELATED ISSUES: A STUDY OF FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT UNDER MUSLIM FAMILY LAW IN BRUNEI NORYATI HAJI IBRAHIM Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD 2015 Department/Centre of Law SOAS, University of London 1 ABSTRACT Finance is one of the most significant issues associated with divorce. In Brunei, although the Islamic Family Law Act (CAP. 217) was intended to reform and enhance the marriage and divorce relations, yet more pressing issues, as regards finance, have occurred. Therefore, the research is aimed at the following main objectives: to examine the current legal framework that entails financial aspects of divorce, to determine the Islamic principles from which those legislative provisions are derived, to analyze the financial settlements made in the Syariah courts of Brunei, to examine the factors that Syariah courts take into account in determining financial settlements, and to seek any contributing factors that further placed strains upon attaining a fair and equitable settlement in the family court system in Brunei. Settlement of maintenance for divorced wife and children, the issues of consolatory gift and matrimonial property are the primary focus in this study. The research will look into the Syariah Law to explore the very best of interpretation of the Quran and Sunnah as primarily derived by the four prominent scholars, to be considered as a point of reference, relative to Bruneian law and practice. Apart from the legislative provisions, the enforcement of the law of divorce financial-related matters will be critically examined, by doctrinal and empirical approach. Further, a comparison analysis will be attempted, in two different aspects of current divorce law, firstly, to compare the given provisions in the financial settlement statute with those stipulated in the Quran and Sunnah; secondly, to contrast the written law with the law in practice. Ultimately, the research would not only contribute positively to the development of the Islamic knowledge but also would contribute for reconstruction of a modern and wide- ranging Islamic family law when relating to specific divorce issues in Brunei, and that it would further serve as a body of reference to legal professionals, as well as academicians. 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First of all, I feel grateful to Allah (S.W.T) for being blessed with this rare opportunity and giving me strength and patience to complete this thesis. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the following people, without whose cooperation, the preparation of this thesis would not have been possible: 1. The Government of Brunei Darussalam for sponsoring me to pursue my study to Doctoral level. 2. My main supervisor, Mr. Ian D Edge for his continuous support of my PhD study and research, for his patience, motivation, valuable suggestions, comments and corrections. Without his guidance, I could never have made my PhD research as it is today. 3. The other two members of the Supervisory Committee of my research: Professor Martin W Lau and Professor Pillippe Cullet for their support and involvement especially with the upgrading process in the first year of my research study. 4. The officials and staff of the Syariah Court’s such as Hjh Kartini Hj Abdullah, Hjh Noraida Timpus Hjh Wan Zurina DSS Hj Abd Rahman and Hj Shahrul Bahar Hj Sulaiman, for the cooperation and assistance given in data collection works for my thesis, especially in preparation of the court cases. And also not to forget the cooperation obtained from the officers from MUIB and also JAPEM. 5. The legal Professionals who participated in the opinion survey for my thesis, for their kindness and willingness to cooperate and provide valuable feedbacks, and this appreciation note also goes to those individuals who shared their experiences with their court cases to be incorporated in this study. 6. The Director of Islamic Legal Unit, DSS Hj Tassim Bin Hj Akim for his support and understanding, and also all members of UPI who were always there for me when I was in need and their assistance in the process of completing this thesis. 4 7. Ibrahim Al-Haj Family i.e. my parent, my husband, my two daughters, my siblings, my in-laws and all my nephews and nieces for their endless support and prayers for my success. Without them, I would not have enough courage to go through this journey and face all the obstacles in the way. And to anyone who may indirectly helped for the preparation of this book. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Title……………………………………………………………………………... 1 Declaration Page…............................................................................................... 2 Abstract………..……………………………………………………………....... 3 Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………….... 4 List of Cases……………………………………………………......................… 10 List of Statutes……………………….................................................................. 13 Abbreviation Lists…………………………………..……………....................... 15 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS 1.1. Introduction and Research Problems………………………………….... 16 1.2. The Dominance of Syariah law in Brunei……………………………… 19 1.3. The Islamic Concept of Financial Rights after Divorce………………… 23 1.4. Prevailing Approaches in the Settlement of Divorce Financial-Related Cases in the Syariah Courts of Brunei………………………………….. 26 1.4.1 Income and Financial Capability of the Husband.…..………….. 27 1.4.2 Financial Need and Condition of the Wife……….…………….. 28 1.4.3 Needs and Welfare of Children………………….……………… 29 1.4.4 Contribution Made by Each Party..……………….…………….. 30 1.4.5 Other Factors………………………………………………….. 30 1.5. Research Questions……………………………………………………... 31 1.6. Rationale of the Study…………………………………………………... 32 1.7. Literature Review/Previous Studies.……………………………………. 32 1.7.1 An Overview of the New Islamic Family Law in Brunei………. 33 1.7.2 ‘Iddah Maintenance…………………………………………….. 35 1.7.3 Mut’a al-Talaq………………………………………………………… 37 1.7.4 Harta Sepencarian……………………………………………… 39 1.7.5 Child’s Financial Support ……………………………………… 42 1.8. Methodology……..……………………………………………………….. 43 1.8.1. Doctrinal Research…………...…………………………………. 43 1.8.2 Empirical Research…………………………………..…………. 46 1.8.3 Comparative Analysis…………………………………………... 50 1.9. Scope of the Study..………………………………………………………... 51 CHAPTER 2 : HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF ISLAMIC LAW IN BRUNEI: AN OVERVIEW 2.1 Introduction………………………………………………………….….. 52 2.2 The Birth of Islamic Law………………………………………..……… 52 2.2.1 Arrival of Islam and Theories Evolved Around it…………..….. 53 6 2.2.2 The Evolution of Islam and its law in Brunei……………..……. 56 2.2.3 First Codified Islamic Law……………………………………... 57 2.3 Islamic Law Administration under the British Protectorate (1906-1984)……………………………………………………………... 63 2.3.1 Governing Muslim Legislation under British Rule……………... 64 2.3.2 The Structure of Bruneian Muslim Courts……………………… 69 2.3.3 Major Changes Over the Roles of Islamic Law in Brunei……… 73 2.4 The Administration of Islamic Law In Contemporary Brunei………….. 78 2.4.1 The Concept of Malay Islamic Monarchy……………………… 79 2.4.2 The Committees towards the Implementation of Islamic laws in Brunei…………………………………………………………… 80 2.4.3 Islamic Legal Unit………………………………………………. 84 2.4.4 The Present Muslim Courts System in Brunei………………….. 86 2.4.5 Brunei’s Modern Islamic Legislation…………………………... 88 2.5 Conclusion…………………………………...…………………………. 94 CHAPTER 3 : FINANCIAL RIGHTS ON DIVORCE AS AWARDED IN THE SYARIAH 3.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………... 96 3.2 Sources of Syariah Law: An overview…………………………………. 97 3.2.1 Quran………………………………………………………….... 97 3.2.2 Sunnah…………………………………………………………... 99 3.2.3 Ijma'……………………………………………………………… 101 3.2.4 Qiyas…………………………………………………………..... 103 3.2.5 Other Sources of Syariah Law………………………………….. 105 3.3 Rights to Maintenance………………………………………………….. 108 3.3.1 Meaning of Maintenance……………………………………….. 109 3.3.2 Legality of Maintenance………………………………………... 110 3.3.3 When Does the Maintenance Become Obligatory?...................... 115 3.3.4 Conditions for the Rights of Maintenance………………………. 116 3.3.5 What Does Maintenance Consist of?............................................ 121 3.3.6 Assessment of Maintenance…………………………………….. 125 3.3.7 Other Relevant Rulings Regarding Maintenance………………... 126 3.4 Rights to Mut’a al-Talaq………….………………………………………….. 130 3.4.1. Definition of Mut’a al-Talaq ……………………………………..… 131 3.4.2. The Ruling of Mut’a al-Talaq whether or not it is obligatory and its Relevant Authorities………………………….……………… 131 3.4.3. Quantum of Mut’a al-Talaqand its Asessment…………………. 133 3.4.4. Will the right of Mut’a al-Talaq be lost if the Divorced Wife Acts Nusyuz or Disobedient?......................................................... 136 3.5 Harta