Customary Marriage and Child Protection in Islamic Family Law: A Comparative Study of Indonesia and South Africa
Main Article Content
Abstract
Customary marriage functions as a social institution under numerous legal systems; yet, its implementation often poses significant obstacles to the safeguarding of children's rights, especially when performed without official registration or involving minors. This paper investigates the normative boundaries of customary marriage within the context of Islamic family law, emphasizing child protection via a comparative examination of Indonesia and South Africa. This study uses normative legal research methods—integrating legislative, conceptual, and comparative approaches—to analyse customary marital patterns, child protection norms, and judicial reactions in both countries. The findings indicate that Islamic family law acknowledges custom (‘urf) only under the condition that it aligns with the objectives of Sharīʿah (maqāṣid al-sharīʿah), specifically the safeguarding of progeny (ḥifẓ al-nasl), the mitigation of harm (dar’ al-mafāsid), and the attainment of justice (‘adl). The prevalence of unregistered traditional marriages and lenient marriage dispensation norms in Indonesia compromises children's legal identification, parental responsibility, and access to civil rights. Conversely, South Africa enforces more stringent normative regulations via compulsory registration and judicial measures to amend customary behaviors detrimental to children. This paper normatively asserts that child safety is an essential requirement for the legality of customary marriage and illustrates how Islamic family law serves as an internal corrective mechanism within diverse legal systems.
Article Details
The Authors submitting a manuscript do so on the understanding that if accepted for publication, copyright of the article shall be assigned to International Journal of Nusantara Islam, Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University.
The copyright encompasses exclusive rights to reproduce and disseminate articles in all forms and media, including reprints, photographs, microfilm, and similar reproductions, as well as translations. Some or all of the contents of this journal can be stored in databases and transmitted in any form and media without the need for written permission from the International Journal of Nusantara Islam, Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University.
The Editors and the Advisory International Editorial Board make every effort to ensure that no wrong or misleading data, opinions or statements be published in the journal. In any way, the contents of the articles and advertisements published in the International Journal of Nusantara Islam (IJNI) are sole and exclusive responsibility of their respective authors and advertisers.
References
Admin. (2023, April 29). Pasal Kontroversi UU KUHP: Perkawinan secara Agama dan Adat akan Dipidanakan. ISIF. https://isif.ac.id/pasal-kontroversi-uu-kuhp-perkawinan-secara-agama-dan-adat-akan-dipidanakan/
Akolokwu, G. O., & Raji, B. A. (2019). Discriminatory Customary Practices against Women’s Rights: An Account of Intervention Strategies by Southern African Developing States. IIUM Law Journal, 27, 89. https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/iiumlj27&id=89&div=&collection=
Anas, A. (2025). Reinterpretation of Polygamy Verses Through Ibn ʿᾹshūr ’s Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah Theory. Al-’Allāmah: Journal of Scriptures and Ulama Studies, 2(1), 93–111. https://doi.org/10.70017/al-allmah.v2i1.26
antaranews.com. (2025, June 26). East Lombok fights child marriage with grassroots action. Antara News. https://en.antaranews.com/news/361945/east-lombok-fights-child-marriage-with-grassroots-action
Arif, M. Y. al. (2019). Penegakan Hukum dalam Perspektif Hukum Progresif. Undang: Jurnal Hukum, 2(1), 169–192. https://doi.org/10.22437/ujh.2.1.169-192
De, S. M. (2013). When non-registration becomes non-recognition: Examining the law and practice of customary marriage registration in South Africa. Acta Juridica, 2013(1), 239–272. https://doi.org/10.10520/EJC148457
Febrianty, Y., Pitoyo, D., Masri, F. A., Anggreni, M. A., & Abidin, Z. (2023). PERAN KEARIFAN LOKAL DALAM MEMBANGUN IDENTITAS BUDAYA DAN KEBANGSAAN. El -Hekam, 7(1), 168–181. https://doi.org/10.31958/jeh.v7i1.10591
Fikriya, K., & Tasrif, M. (2023). Tujuan Pernikahan dalam Al-Quran dan Relevansinya dengan Fenomena Childfree (Perspektif Tafsir Maqāṣidī). JUSMA: Jurnal Studi Islam Dan Masyarakat, 2(2), 36–55. https://doi.org/10.21154/jusma.v2i2.1886
Hamim, K. (2021). Ḥifẓ Al-Lisān as Maqāṣid Al-Sharī’ah Al-Ḍarūriyyah (Its Importance and Relevance in the Contemporary Era). Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Dan Hukum Islam, 5(1), 317–337. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v5i1.9139
Hanafiah, N. (2024). Relevansi Maqashid Syariah dalam Kebijakan Perlindungan Perempuan dan Anak pada Hukum Keluarga di Indonesia. Integrated Education Journal, 1(2), 112–125. https://barkah-ilmi-fiddunya.my.id/ojs/index.php/iej/article/view/71
Hartanto, D. A. (2017). Local Wisdom Of Sedulur Sikep (Samin) Society’s Marriage In Kudus: Perspective Of Law Number 1 Year 1974 On Marriage. Jurnal Dinamika Hukum, 17(2), 132–138. http://dinamikahukum.fh.unsoed.ac.id/index.php/JDH/article/view/723
Hassan, D. S. A., & Batool, D. M. (2024). Concept of ‘urf (Custom) in Islamic Law and its Application in Social Affairs: An Analytical Study. Mohi Ud Din Journal of Islamic Studies, 2(I), 1–30. https://mjis.miu.edu.pk/index.php/mjis/article/view/57
Hayati, N. (2016). Peralihan Hak dalam Jual Beli Hak Atas Tanah (suatu Tinjauan terhadap Perjanjian Jual Beli dalam Konsep Hukum Barat dan Hukum Adat dalam Kerangka Hukum Tanah Nasional). Lex Jurnalica, 13(3), 147934.
Himonga, C. (2011). The Future of Living Customary Law in African Legal Systems in the Twenty-First Century and Beyond, with Special Reference to South Africa. In J. Fenrich, P. Galizzi, & T. E. Higgins (Eds), The Future of African Customary Law (pp. 31–57). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511844294.003
Jayadi, S., Ridho, A. R., & Rahmawati, R. (2023). Customary Law “Merariq” Marriage in the Sasak Ethnic Society in Lombok Eastern Indonesia. 1480–1486. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-180-7_151
KPAI. (2013, June 6). Perkawinan Tidak Dicatatkan: Dampaknya bagi Anak. Komisi Perlindungan Anak Indonesia (KPAI). https://www.kpai.go.id/publikasi/tinjauan/perkawinan-tidak-dicatatkan-dampaknya-bagi-anak
Malisi, A. S. (2022). PERNIKAHAN DALAM ISLAM. SEIKAT: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial, Politik Dan Hukum, 1(1), 22–28. https://doi.org/10.55681/seikat.v1i1.97
Mbaku, J. M. (2019). International Law, African Customary Law, and the Protection of the Rights of Children. Michigan State International Law Review, 28, 535. https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/mistjintl28&id=564&div=&collection=
Mgidlana, R. H., & Mwambene, L. (2021). Should South Africa Criminalise Ukuthwala Leading to Forced Marriages and Child Marriages? https://uwcscholar.uwc.ac.za/10.17159/1727-3781/2021/v24i0a9423
Munir, M. (2023). Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah Between Classical and Postmodern Periods: An Advanced Islamic Juridical Context (SSRN Scholarly Paper No. 3994622). Social Science Research Network. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3994622
Mwambene, L. (2017). The essence vindicated? Courts and customary marriages in South Africa. African Human Rights Law Journal, 17(1), 35–54. https://doi.org/10.17159/1996-2096/2017/v17n1a2
Mwambene, L. (2018). Recent legal responses to child marriage in Southern Africa: The case of Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malawi. African Human Rights Law Journal, 18(2), 527–550. https://doi.org/10.17159/1996-2096/2018/v18n2a5
Mwambene, L., & Kruuse, H. (2015). Unfulfilled Promises? The Implementation of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act in South Africa. International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family, 29(3), 237–259. https://doi.org/10.1093/lawfam/ebv009
Mwambene, L., & Mqidlana, R. H. (2021). Should South Africa criminalise Ukuthwala leading to forced marriages and child marriages? Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad, 24(1). https://www.ajol.info/index.php/pelj/article/view/235526
Nalle, V. I. W. (2024). BEYOND DICHOTOMIES: SOETANDYO WIGNJOSOEBROTO’S VISION FOR A MODERATED LEGAL PARADIGM: Mimbar Hukum, 36(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.22146/mh.v36i1.6984
Ngozi, O. (2017). The face of violence: Rethinking the concept of Xenophobia, Immigration laws and the rights of non-citizens in South Africa. BRICS Law Journal, 4(2), 40–70. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/the-face-of-violence-rethinking-the-concept-of-xenophobia-immigration-laws-and-the-rights-of-non-citizens-in-south-africa
Njatrijani, H. W. R. (2019). IMPLEMENTASI PUTUSAN MK NO 97 / PUU-XIV / 2016 TERHADAP PELAKSANAAN PERKAWINAN PADA MASYARAKAT ADAT SAMIN (SEDULUR SIKEP) DI JAWA TENGAH. Diponegoro Private Law Review, 3(2). https://ejournal2.undip.ac.id/index.php/dplr/article/view/6542
Parker, G. (2015). The Practice of Lobola in Contemporary South African Society. Journal of Third World Studies, 32(2), 175–190. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48518235
Prasetyo, A. B. (2020). Akibat Hukum Perkawinan Yang Tidak Dicatatkan Secara Administratif Pada Masyarakat Adat. Administrative Law and Governance Journal, 3(1), 23–34. https://doi.org/10.14710/alj.v3i1.23-34
Raphalalani, T. D. (2016). From the African Customary Marriages Law to the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act (Act 120 of 1998)(RCMA): A Descriptive Analysis. Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology, 7(4), 267–272. https://www.academia.edu/download/75462768/JSSA-07-4-267-16-233-Raphalalani-T-D-Tx_5B10_5D.pdf
Sheik, N. E. (2014). African Marriage Regulation and the Remaking of Gendered Authority in Colonial Natal, 1843–1875. African Studies Review, 57(2), 73–92. https://doi.org/10.1017/asr.2014.48
Siregar, S. A. (2022). Marlojong Tradition On The Islamic Law Perspective. Jurnal AL-MAQASID: Jurnal Ilmu Kesyariahan Dan Keperdataan, 8(1), 46–66. https://doi.org/10.24952/almaqasid.v8i1.5609
Weeks, S. M. (2021). Constitutionally Transforming South Africa by Amalgamating Customary and Common Law: Ramuhovhi, the Proprietary Consequences of Marriage and Land as Property. Constitutional Court Review, 11(1), 1–41. https://doi.org/10.2989/CCR.2021.0007
Yi, B. L. (2019, October 31). In Indonesia, ‘bride kidnapping’ tradition fuels child marriage despite new ban. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/world/in-indonesia-bride-kidnapping-tradition-fuels-child-marriage-despite-new-ban-idUSKBN1XA00A/