The Practice of Muafakat in Inheritance Distribution Among Heirs in Terengganu: A Malaysia MADANI Perspective

The management and distribution of inheritance among the Muslim community in Malaysia frequently faces severe challenges arising from settlement delays and prolonged family disputes over frozen estates. Although the faraid system remains the principal pillar of Islamic inheritance law, the practice of muafakat or takharruj has gained prominence as a harmonious alternative resolution mechanism. This study evaluates the position of muafakat in inheritance distribution under Shariah principles and the Malaysian legal framework, with a specific scope focusing on community practices in Terengganu and their alignment with the core values of the Malaysia MADANI framework. Adopting a qualitative approach, the methodology relies on key informant interviews with religious institution officers, estate administration officers, and community members experienced in muafakat management. The findings indicate that muafakat is widely practiced for immovable assets like ancestral land, successfully preventing uneconomic property fragmentation and maintaining long-term asset viability. Most informants affirmed its Shariah compliance, provided it occurs voluntarily after heirs understand their faraid entitlements, though challenges such as dominant heirs and low public literacy persist. Synthesizing these findings with Malaysia MADANI principles demonstrates that muafakat operationalizes hormat (respect) and keyakinan (trust) through transparent governance, ihsan (compassion) by supporting vulnerable kin, and kemampanan (sustainability) alongside kesejahteraan (prosperity) by expediting settlements, preventing frozen assets, and preserving family harmony. In conclusion, enforceability through legal safeguards like Form DDA under the Small Estates (Distribution) Act 1955 remains essential to ensure procedural integrity and protect minor heirs while bridging divine law with modern socio-economic realities.

Mutual Agreement, Faraid, Inheritance, Takharruj, Terengganu

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