Regulations of Dissolution for Harm in Islamic Jurisprudence and Comparative Law

Main Article Content

Saad Abdulwahhab Alshekh

Abstract

This study examines the controls governing harm as a ground for judicial separation between spouses in Islamic jurisprudence, the Islamic Family Law of Selangor State 2003, and Iraqi law through a comparative approach aimed at clarifying the concept of harm, its legal and jurisprudential standards, and the methods of proving it. The importance of the study stems from the increasing prevalence of contemporary forms of domestic harm, particularly psychological and moral harm, and the legal challenges related to assessing and proving such harm before the courts. The study adopts the comparative method by examining and analyzing juristic and legal texts, together with relevant judicial applications, in order to identify the similarities and differences between the Malaysian and Iraqi legal systems in regulating judicial separation due to harm. The study concludes that Islamic jurisprudence established precise standards for harm, most notably seriousness, continuity, malicious intent, and customary considerations, while also expanding evidentiary methods to include presumptions, hearsay testimony, and arbitral reports. The findings further reveal that the Selangor law provides a more detailed and comprehensive codification of harm through specific temporal standards and clear procedural mechanisms, whereas Iraqi law is characterized by flexible legal provisions and broad judicial discretion in assessing and proving harm. The study ultimately concludes that both systems share the objective of protecting the family and removing harm, although Malaysian legislation is distinguished by institutional organization and detailed regulation, while Iraqi law is marked by greater judicial flexibility

Article Details

How to Cite
Abdulwahhab Alshekh س. (2026). Regulations of Dissolution for Harm in Islamic Jurisprudence and Comparative Law. MIsan Journal of Comparative Legal Studies, 15(1), 620–653. Retrieved from https://www.uomisan.edu.iq/law/mjcls/index.php/mjcls/article/view/561
Section
Articles

References

First: The Holy Qur’an

Second: Arabic Lexicons and Language References

Ibn Manzur, Jamal al-Din Muhammad ibn Mukarram, Lisan al-‘Arab, Dar Sadir, Beirut, 3rd ed., 1414 AH, root word “Darar”, Vol. 4, p. 482.

Al-Razi, Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, Mukhtar al-Sihah, Maktabat Lubnan Nashirun, Beirut, 1995, root word “Darar”, p. 178.

Third: Islamic Jurisprudence and Usul al-Fiqh References

Ibn Taymiyyah, Ahmad ibn Abd al-Halim, Majmu‘ al-Fatawa, compiled by Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn Qasim, King Fahd Complex, Madinah, 1416 AH, Vol. 32, p. 292.

Ibn al-Qayyim, Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, I‘lam al-Muwaqqi‘in ‘an Rabb al-‘Alamin, edited by Muhammad Abd al-Salam Shahin, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1991, Vol. 3, pp. 135–150.

Ibn Qudamah, Muwaffaq al-Din Abdullah ibn Ahmad, Al-Mughni, Maktabat al-Qahirah, Vol. 8, p. 193.

Ibn Nujaym, Zayn al-Din Ibrahim, Al-Ashbah wa al-Naza’ir, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1st ed., 1999, p. 85.

Ibn Rushd, Muhammad ibn Ahmad, Bidayat al-Mujtahid wa Nihayat al-Muqtasid, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2004, Vol. 2, pp. 145–150.

Al-Buhuti, Mansur ibn Yunus, Kashshaf al-Qina‘ ‘an Matn al-Iqna‘, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Vol. 5, p. 189.

Al-Shatibi, Ibrahim ibn Musa, Al-Muwafaqat fi Usul al-Shari‘ah, edited by Mashhur Hasan Al Salman, Dar Ibn Affan, 1997, Vol. 2, p. 302.

Al-Sharbini, Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn Ahmad, Mughni al-Muhtaj ila Ma‘rifat Alfaz al-Minhaj, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1st ed., 1415 AH / 1994, Vol. 4, p. 260.

Al-Suyuti, Jalal al-Din Abd al-Rahman, Al-Ashbah wa al-Naza’ir, edited by Muhammad al-Mu‘tasim Billah al-Baghdadi, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1st ed., 1411 AH / 1990, p. 87.

Al-Dardir, Ahmad ibn Muhammad, Al-Sharh al-Kabir ‘ala Mukhtasar Khalil, with Hashiyat al-Dusuqi, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut, Vol. 2, p. 345.

Al-Zuhayli, Wahbah, Al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuh, Dar al-Fikr, Damascus, 4th ed., 1418 AH / 1997, Vol. 9, p. 6990.

Al-Zuhayli, Muhammad Mustafa, Al-Qawa‘id al-Fiqhiyyah wa Tatbiqatuha fi al-Madhahib al-Arba‘ah, Dar al-Fikr, Damascus, 1st ed., 1427 AH / 2006, Vol. 1, p. 311.

Zaydan, Abd al-Karim, Ahkam al-Usrah fi al-Fiqh al-Islami: Dirasah Muqaranah, Mu’assasat al-Risalah, Beirut, 2nd ed., 1993, p. 289.

Zaydan, Abd al-Karim, Al-Tafriq al-Qada’i bayna al-Zawjayn lil-Darar, Maktabat al-Quds, Baghdad, 1st ed., 1998, p. 95.

Ibn Farhun, Burhan al-Din Ibrahim ibn Ali, Tabsirat al-Hukkam fi Usul al-Aqdiyah wa Manahij al-Ahkam, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1st ed., 1416 AH / 1995, Vol. 2, p. 212.

Al-Qarafi, Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Idris, Al-Furuq, ‘Alam al-Kutub, Beirut, 1998, Vol. 1, p. 177.

Al-Kasani, Ala’ al-Din Abu Bakr ibn Mas‘ud, Bada’i al-Sana’i fi Tartib al-Shara’i‘, edited by Ali Muhammad Mu‘awwad and Adil Ahmad Abd al-Mawjud, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2nd ed., 1986, Vol. 7, p. 304.

Al-Nawawi, Yahya ibn Sharaf, Rawdat al-Talibin, Al-Maktab al-Islami, Beirut, Vol. 5, p. 23.

Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, Ahmad ibn Muhammad, Tuhfat al-Muhtaj fi Sharh al-Minhaj, Al-Maktabah al-Tijariyyah al-Kubra, Egypt, 1357 AH, Vol. 8, p. 204.

Al-Khafif, Ali, Ahkam al-Ahwal al-Shakhsiyyah fi al-Shari‘ah al-Islamiyyah, Dar al-Fikr al-‘Arabi, Cairo, 2nd ed., pp. 229–231.

Al-Durayni, Fathi, Nazariyyat al-Ta‘assuf fi Isti‘mal al-Haqq fi al-Fiqh al-Islami, Mu’assasat al-Risalah, Beirut, 2nd ed., 1408 AH / 1988, p. 214.

Imarah, Muhammad, Huquq al-Mar’ah fi al-Fiqh al-Islami, Dar al-Salam, Cairo, 1st ed., 2005, p. 177.

Al-Ibrahim, Muhammad ‘Uqlah, Nizam al-Usrah fi al-Islam, Maktabat al-Risalah al-Hadithah, Amman, 1st ed., 1409 AH / 1989, Vol. 2, p. 312.

Fourth: Legal and Personal Status Law References

Al-‘Ubaydi, Ali Hadi, Sharh Qanun al-Ahwal al-Shakhsiyyah al-‘Iraqi, Dar al-Kutub al-Qanuniyyah, Baghdad, 2020, p. 318.

Al-‘Allam, Abd al-Rahman Muhammad, Al-Wasit fi Sharh Qanun al-Ahwal al-Shakhsiyyah al-‘Iraqi: Dirasah Muqaranah bil-Fiqh al-Islami, Maktabat al-Sanhuri, Baghdad, 1st ed., 2011.

Al-Fatlawi, Salam Abd al-Zahrah, and Nabil Mahdi Zuwayn, Al-Wajiz fi Sharh Qanun al-Ahwal al-Shakhsiyyah al-‘Iraqi No. 188 of 1959 and its Amendments, Dar al-Salam Legal Library, Baghdad, 2015.

Al-Mu’min, Husayn, Al-Tafriq al-Qada’i fi Qanun al-Ahwal al-Shakhsiyyah al-‘Iraqi: Dirasah Muqaranah, منشورات Zain Legal Publications, Beirut, 2021, p. 145.

Murqus, Sulayman, Al-Wafi fi Sharh al-Qanun al-Madani, Cairo, 5th ed., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 133.

Al-Zubaydi, Amir Sa‘id, Al-Ta‘addud wa Atharuhu al-Qanuniyyah fi al-Tashri‘ al-‘Iraqi, Dar al-Hamid, Amman, 2020, p. 167.

Al-‘Abbadi, Abbas, Usul al-Ithbat fi Qadaya al-Ahwal al-Shakhsiyyah, Baghdad, pp. 110–115.

Bakr, Ismat Abd al-Majid, Sharh Qanun al-Ithbat, Al-Maktabah al-Qanuniyyah, Baghdad, 2nd ed., 2007.

Fifth: Laws and Legislation

Iraqi Personal Status Law No. 188 of 1959 (as amended), published in Al-Waqa’i‘ al-‘Iraqiyyah, No. 280, dated 30/12/1959, Article 40.

Iraqi Law of Evidence No. 107 of 1979 (as amended), Articles 102–104.

Islamic Family Law (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003, Section 2.

Islamic Family Law (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003, Section 53.

Kaedah-Kaedah Hakam (Negeri Selangor) 2014, Rule 9.

Sixth: Arabic Academic Journals and Articles

Ibrahim Abd al-Hasan Mustafa, “The Judge’s Authority in Managing Civil Litigation between the Requirements of Justice and the Principle of Confrontation: A Comparative Study,” Maysan Journal of Comparative Legal Studies, Vol. 14, No. 1-1, 2026, pp. 101–126.

Kazim Haydar Husayn, “Judicial Separation for Material and Moral Harm Affecting One of the Spouses: A Comparative Legal Study with Islamic Jurisprudence,” Journal of Kufa Studies Center, Vol. 1, No. 35, 2025.

Rashid Aziz Zuhayr and Emil Jabbar Ashur, “The Objective Confrontation of Domestic Violence Crimes: A Comparative Study,” Maysan Journal of Comparative Legal Studies, Vol. 1, No. 7, 2025, pp. 338–351.

Al-Sulaym, Shukr Mahmud Dawud, “The Legal Presumption and Its Role in Judicial Separation,” Al-Rafidain Law Journal, College of Law, University of Mosul, Vol. 11, No. 42, 2009.

Sha‘ban Abd al-Jabbar al-Ghazawi, “Testimony by Reputation in the Context of Marital Life,” Journal of Islamic Studies and Qur’anic Sciences, No. 3, 2024.

Qaytah Hayat and Layla Jam‘i, “The Problem of Proving Harm Suffered by One of the Spouses,” Journal of Comparative Legal Studies, Vol. 25, No. 59, 2021, p. 428.

Abd al-Amir Hassan Jamal and Abd al-Amir Hassan Qasim, “Judicial Oversight over Sham Marriage Contracts: A Comparative Study,” Maysan Journal of Comparative Legal Studies, Vol. 14, No. 1-1, 2026, pp. 414–444.

Seventh: Malaysian and Foreign References

Ahmad Ibrahim, The Administration of Islamic Law in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur: Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia, 2000.

Farid Sufian Shuaib, Freedom of Religion under Islamic Family Law, IIUM Press, Kuala Lumpur, 2020.

Mardhiyyah Sahri, Consent and Validity in Islamic Marriage, Universiti Malaya Press, 2021.

Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh, “Proof and Evidence in Syariah Courts of Malaysia,” Journal of Malaysian and Comparative Law, Vol. 45, No. 2, 2019.

Nora Abdul Hak, Women and Islamic Law in Malaysia, IIUM Press, Kuala Lumpur, 2010.

Norziah Othman, Property Rights of Muslim Women in Malaysia, Universiti Malaya Press, 2021.

Nurhidayah Muhammad Hashim, “The Role of Social Reports in Islamic Family Disputes,” Malaysian Journal of Syariah and Law, Vol. 7, 2019.

Raihanah Abdullah, Islamic Family Law in Malaysia, Malayan Law Journal, Kuala Lumpur, 2005.

Raihanah Abdullah, Polygamy and Justice in Malaysian Islamic Law, Universiti Malaya Press, 2019.

Roslina Che Soh, Domestic Violence and Muslim Women in Malaysia, Universiti Malaya Press, Kuala Lumpur, 2019.

Siti Zalikhah Md Nor, Mental Health and Islamic Family Law, IIUM Press, 2022.

Zaleha Kamaruddin, Islamic Law and Family Institution in Malaysia, IIUM Press, Kuala Lumpur, 2017.

Eighth: Judicial Decisions

Iraqi Federal Court of Cassation Decision No. 879/Separation for Harm/2008 dated 4 May 2008, holding that forced sodomy by the husband constitutes grave harm justifying judicial separation.