Islamic Legal Pluralism and Constitutional Tolerance: A Normative Study of State–Sharia Interaction in Malaysia and Indonesia
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Abstract
This study explores the dynamics of Islamic legal pluralism and constitutional tolerance in Malaysia and Indonesia by examining how Sharia law interacts with national legal systems within two democratic states with Muslim-majority populations. The research identifies a critical gap in understanding the normative implications of integrating Islamic law into modern constitutional frameworks, particularly regarding jurisdictional conflict, human rights, and legal harmonization. Employing a qualitative normative legal method, the study uses doctrinal, comparative, and theoretical approaches rooted in legal pluralism, constitutional tolerance, and maqāṣid al-sharīʿah. The findings reveal significant structural and interpretive differences between Malaysia’s dual legal system and Indonesia’s integrated but decentralized religious court system. Malaysia’s constitutional recognition of Islam as the religion of the federation introduces complex jurisdictional disputes and limits judicial flexibility. In contrast, Indonesia’s Pancasila-based secularism and the flexible application of the Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI) offer a more adaptable framework for religious legal integration. The study recommends a dialogical model of constitutional tolerance and contextual ijtihad to foster legal harmonization that upholds both Islamic values and universal human rights.
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