Pertunangan: Sah Atau Moral Sahaja?

Baru-baru ini saya terbaca di dalam suratkhabar tempatan tentang tindakan seorang Muslim mengambil tindakan terhadap bekas tunangnya di sebuah mahkamah Syariah. Beliau ingin memohon ganti rugi daripada bekas tunangnya kerana memutuskan pertunangan tersebut. Ini merupakan suatu tindakan yang jarang dilakukan kerana menurut undang-undang keluarga Islam, pertunangan bukan merupakan suatu kontrak sah tetapi hanya suatu kontrak moral sahaja. Ini bermakna pertunangan boleh diputuskan dan tiada nilai perundangannya. Yang berkaitan dengan putus pertunangan hanyalah berkenaan persoalan pemulangan balik barang-barang semasa pertunangan sahaja. Tindakan meminta ganti rugi dalam pertunangan ini walaubagaimanapun dibenarkan dalam undang-undang keluarga sivil. Undang-undang keluarga sivil menganggapnya sebagai suatu kontrak sah. Jumlah ganti rugi akan ditentukan mahkamah sivil tersebut. Persoalannya sama ada beliau mendapat inspirasi daripada amalan undang-undang sivil dan ingin mencuba nasib di mahkamah Syariah pula. Pada pandangan saya, kalau sesebuah pasangan itu sudah tidak serasi semasa menjalinkan hubungan semasa pertunangan, seelok-eloknya berundur dan putus dengan cara yang baik. Oleh itu, amalan undang-undang keluarga Islam berkenaan perkara ini lebih baik dan sesuai. Yang penting, tidak boleh dipaksa hati seseorang untuk berkahwin. Tepuk dada tanya selera.

Civil Family Law: Child As The Main Focus Of Attention

Assalamualaikum and hello. The modern family law now concentrates on upholding the right, interest, and welfare of the child in the family. Priorities are given to the right, interest, and welfare of the child without neglecting those of the parents and others. The focus on the right, interest, and welfare of the child actually began in the early 1900’s due to some situations such as the belief of the society in the right, interest, and welfare of the child, the increase of divorce rates, of children birth outside marriage, and also of child abuse. Eventually, the family law legislations in many countries were amended in order to embrace the new orientation of upholding the right, interest, and welfare of the child without neglecting those of the parents and others. For instance, in England the law uses the terms parental responsibility interpreted through the welfare of the child principle in which the child has the right to have love and care from the parents. The welfare of the child principle is also currently adopted by the law in Malaysia. In Australia, the law also uses the terms parental responsibility as in England but interpreted through the best interests of the child consideration. In short, the law and the society unanimously agree for the first time that the child deserves his right, interest, and welfare. Wassalam and thank you.

Civil Family Law: The Origin of the Law

Assalamualaikum and hello to all.

The civil family law is suggested to be originated from the ancient Roman society which practised the Roman law. The Roman law practised a unique family system which we may today oppose as being inhuman or bias. In a typical Roman family, it was headed by the male head of the family known as the pater familias. The pater familias indeed had absolute powers or patria potestas over the family in all matters and the powers could not be challenged at all. Examples of the powers were: the power to the life and death of the family, the power to sell the family, the power to control the family marital affairs, and the power to determine custody and visitation rights. In addition, the powers of the pater familias would continue until his death. As such, the powers through patria potestas would then dominate the civil family law not only in Rome but also other countries through invasion and war. In short, the civil family law was developed based on the dominant of male in the society in the past.

Wassalam and thanks.

Civil Family Law: The Rise of Women Domination

Assalamualaikum and hello.

The emergence of the industrial revolution in Europe and also the United States had changed the focus of civil family law from men domination to women domination. The impact of the revolution was obvious in which women starter to have access to information and knowledge. Thus, the situation had influenced the establishment of women rights' groups fighting for their rights especially in civil family law. The groups were successful in their cause in which civil family had witnessed a rapid revolution. For example, prior to the revolution in custody of the child's litigation, normally custody was given to the father because of his ability to provide for the child adequate financial supports. After the revolution, custody was normally awarded to the mother because of her ability to provide the child with love and care. In short, the change of focus of the civil family was inevitable because the society indeed accepted and recognise the role of women in the family and the society.

Thanks and wassalam.