Fiqh Al-Waṭan and the Evolution of Islamic Law in Pahang: From Hukum Kanun Pahang to Contemporary Enactments

The concept of Fiqh al-Waṭan has emerged as a contemporary jurisprudential framework that seeks to contextualise Islamic law within the realities of modern nation-states while remaining faithful to the objectives of the Sharīʿah. This study examines the application of Fiqh al-Waṭan in the state of Pahang, Malaysia, by analysing its historical foundations and contemporary manifestations within the state's Islamic legal framework. Employing a qualitative research design based on doctrinal legal analysis and historical inquiry, the study analyses primary sources including the Hukum Kanun Pahang, relevant constitutional provisions, and selected Islamic legal enactments of Pahang, namely the Administration of the Religion of Islam Enactment 1991, the Islamic Family Law Enactment 2005, and the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 2013. Secondary sources comprising scholarly books, journal articles, and academic studies are also examined. The findings reveal a significant continuity between the historical legal tradition embodied in the Hukum Kanun Pahang and the contemporary administration of Islamic law in the state. The influence of Fiqh al-Waṭan is reflected in the localisation of Islamic legal norms through statutory codification, the integration of Sharīʿah principles within constitutional boundaries, the institutional role of the Sultan as Head of the Religion of Islam, and the adaptation of Islamic legal rules to the social realities of Pahang. The study concludes that Islamic law in Pahang demonstrates a practical model of Fiqh al-Waṭan, where classical Islamic jurisprudence is harmonised with local customs, legal institutions, and constitutional governance to achieve the objectives of the Sharīʿah within a contemporary state framework.

Fiqh al-Watan; Pahang; Islamic law; localisation; Sultanate

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