JUSTICE AND LEGAL RECOGNITION OF INTERFAITH HEIRS IN INDONESIA INHERITANCE LAW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15294/ciils.v5i1.34347Keywords:
inheritance law, interfaith heirs, legal pluralism, islamic law, civil law, justice , wasiat wajibahAbstract
The pluralistic inheritance law system in Indonesia, which consists of Islamic inheritance law, Western civil inheritance law, and customary inheritance law, creates significant legal complexity, particularly in inheritance disputes involving differences of religion between the deceased and the heirs. Normatively, Islamic inheritance law does not recognize interfaith inheritance, while Western civil law adopts a principle of religious neutrality, and customary law varies according to each community’s kinship system. These differences result in unequal legal protection for interfaith heirs and raise serious issues regarding legal certainty and substantive justice. This research aims to analyze the legal position of interfaith heirs within Indonesia’s inheritance law system and to examine how the concept of justice is realized in judicial practice, particularly through the application of the concept of wasiat wajibah (mandatory bequest). This study employs a normative juridical method using statutory, conceptual, and jurisprudential approaches. The findings demonstrate that Western civil inheritance law consistently recognizes inheritance rights without considering religious differences. In contrast, Islamic inheritance law normatively prohibits interfaith inheritance; however, judicial practice has developed the application of wasiat wajibah as a legal compromise to protect the economic interests of non-Muslim heirs of Muslim descendants. Nevertheless, the application of wasiat wajibah remains inconsistent and highly dependent on judicial discretion, resulting in legal uncertainty and unequal treatment in similar cases. This research concludes that the current pluralistic inheritance framework has not yet fully guaranteed legal certainty and substantive justice for interfaith heirs. Therefore, it recommends the harmonization and reformulation of national inheritance law to establish clearer and more uniform normative guidelines. Such reform is necessary to ensure the realization of legal certainty, social utility, and substantive justice while remaining aligned with religious values and the multicultural character of Indonesian society.
References
Ahyani, H., H. M. Putra, M. Muharir, F. Sa’diyah, D. K. Kasih, N. Mutmainah, and A. Prakasa. “Principles of Gender-Friendly Justice (Maslahah) in Inheritance Distribution in Indonesia.”Al-Mawarid Journal of Sharia and Law 5, no. 1 (2023): 73–100.
Alip Pamungkas Raharjo and Elok Fauzia Dwi Putri. "Analysis of the Granting of Mandatory Wills to Heirs of Different Religions Following Supreme Court Decision Number 331 K/Ag/2018."Voice of Law 4, no. 2 (2022): 233–249. https://doi.org/10.26740/sh.v4n2.p233-249.
Amir Syarifuddin. Islamic Inheritance Law. Jakarta: Kencana, 2012.
Asri, F. “Justice in the Distribution of Inheritance of Different Religions: Analysis of Judges' Decisions.”Journal of Ius Civile Law 9, no. 1 (2025): 77–95.
Bakti, A. "Law of Inheritance in the Perspective of Human Rights." The magazine ALSO 12, no. 3 (2021): 289–304. https://doi.org/10.30641/ham.2021.12.289-304.
Darmawan, Y. “The Concept of Mandatory Wills in the Reform of National Inheritance Law.”Legal idea 11, no. 1 (2024): 23–42. https://doi.org/10.21070/ri.v11i1.10721.
Duncan Pickard, “Inheritance Law and Religious Diversity in Tunisia,”
Dwiastuti, R. “Harmonization of the Inheritance Legal System in Indonesia: A Study of Legal Pluralism.”Scientific Journal of Legal Policy 19, no. 2 (2025): 211–229. https://doi.org/10.30641/kebijakan.2025.192.211.
El Chazli, “Recent Developments in Egyptian Family and Inheritance Law.”
Fadhilah, “Reform of Islamic Inheritance Law: Egyptian Mandatory Wills and
Harahap, Z. “Interfaith Inheritance Problems in Indonesia.”Journal of Legal Studies 7, no. 1 (2020): 55–70.
Hazairin. Bilateral Inheritance Law According to the Qur'an. Jakarta: Tintamas, 1964.
Hilman Hadikusuma. Customary Inheritance Law. Bandung: Alumni, 1983.
Husni, M. “The Existence of Customary Inheritance Law in Legislation.”Unisma Law Journal 8, no. 2 (2021): 101–115. https://doi.org/10.12345/jhi.unisma.2021.08.02.
Irawan, A. “Pluralism of Inheritance Law in Indonesia: Problems and Solutions.”Journal of Law and Development 49, no. 2 (2019): 287–302. https://doi.org/10.21143/jhp.vol49.no2.1839.
Isnaini, F. “Inheritance Law in the Perspective of Interfaith Marriage.”Indonesian Journal of Law and Society 4, no. 1 (2023): 67–84. https://doi.org/10.19184/ijls.v4i1.3489.
Karimah, I., and A. Gunawan. “Implementation of Customary Law in the Distribution and Settlement of Inheritance Disputes in Minangkabau Society: A Case Study of the Pagaruyung Customary Council.”As-Syar'i: Journal of Family Guidance & Counseling 6, no. 2 (2024): 2302–2320.
Koentjaraningrat. Legal Anthropology in Indonesian Anthropology. Jakarta: Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Indonesia, 1989.
Mahfud, M. D. “The Politics of Legal Pluralism in Indonesia.”Constitutional Journal 16, no. 4 (2019): 721–740. https://doi.org/10.31078/jk1648.
Maizal, A. Z., Y. Eva, and S. Marwan. “The Inheritance of Different Religions in Judges' Decisions in Indonesia.”Al-Qisthu: Journal of Legal Studies 20, no. 2 (2022): 143–155.
Muhajir, M. "The Concept of Wasiat Wajibahs in Tafsir Surat Al-Baqarah Verse 180." Judisia: Legal Thought and Islamic Law 12, no. 1 (2021).
Muhammad Koesnoe. Law and Society. Surabaya: Airlangga University Press, 1979.
Musjtari, D.N., Benny Riyanto, dan R. Setyowati. “Reformulation of Mediation in Dispute Settlement on Islamic Banking.” Humanities and Social Sciences Reviews 7, no. 4 (2019): 184–194. https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2019.7425.
Mustofa, H. “Comparison of Islamic Inheritance Law and BW on Inheritance of Different Religions.”Indonesian Journal of Islamic Law 9, no. 1 (2021): 89–105.
Najib Jilani, “Interfaith Marriage and Inheritance in Tunisia,” Arab Law Quarterly 21, no. 3 (2007): 255–58.
Nasution, A. “Constitutional Rights of Heirs of Different Religions.”Constitutional Journal 17, no. 2 (2020): 399–416. https://doi.org/10.31078/jk1727.
Natania, M., and J. Lesmana. “Analysis of the Inheritance System in Indonesia from a Civil Law Perspective.”Journal of Citizenship 8, no. 1 (2024): 990–999.
Nida’ul Hopiah Ramdani Subagja Rasyid and Nuril Habibi. “Giving Assets to Heirs of Different Religions Through Mandatory Wills from the Perspective of TM Hasbi Ash Shiddieqy: A Case Study of the Decision of the Surabaya Religious Court Judge Number 3531/Pdt.P/2022/PA.Sby.”Relinesia: Journal of Indonesian Religious Studies and Multiculturalism 3, no. 4 (2024): 370–385. https://doi.org/10.35673/relinesia.v3i4.9043.
Novianto, R. D., and H. Soeskandi. “Interfaith Inheritance Practices According to Islamic Law, Positive Law, and Customary Law in Wonosalam Village, Jombang Regency.”Proceedings of Patriot Serves 1, no. 01 (2022): 525–533.
Nurhadi, M. “Pluralism of Inheritance Law in the Perspective of National Legal Politics.”Indonesian Journal of Legislation 19, no. 3 (2022): 275–292.
Priyono, E.A., R.B. Riyanto, dan F.X.J. Priyono. “The Function of Good Faith Principle in the Application of Freedom Principle in Franchise Contract.” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 175, no. 1 (2018): 012193. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/175/1/012193.
Purnadi Purbacaraka and Soerjono Soekanto. About the Legal Method. Bandung: Alumni, 1982.
Putri Handayani, Ernu Widodo, dan Subekti. “The Consequences of Interfaith Marriage Law on the Inheritance of Wives and Children Reviewed from the Compilation of Islamic Law.” Journal of Islamic Studies and Society 4, no. 1 (2025): 12–27. https://doi.org/10.58803/jiss.v4i1.1632.
R. Subekti and R. Tjitrosudibio.Civil Code. Jakarta: Pradnya Paramita, 2009.
R. Subekti. Various Agreements. Bandung: Alumni, 1982.
Rahmatillah, N. A. “Plurality of Inheritance Law in Indonesia: A Normative Review.”Muamalah Journal 4, no. 1 (2024): 12–25. https://doi.org/10.12345/jmuamalah.2024.041.12.
Rahmawati, S. “Mandatory Wills: Between Justice and Legal Certainty.”Justice Journal 18, no. 2 (2022): 201–218. https://doi.org/10.12345/justitia.2022.182.201.
Ramdan Fawzi, Encep Abdul Rojak, Ilham Mujahid, and Mualimin Mochammad Sahid. “Legal Discovery Method for Non-Muslim Heirs as Recipients of Wasiat Wajibahs.”Journal of Islamic Law 22, no. 1 (2024): 101–118. https://doi.org/10.28918/jhi.v22i1.9323.
Santoso, D. “Inheritance Rights of Different Religions in the Constitutional Framework.”Constitutional Journal 19, no. 1 (2025): 45–62. https://doi.org/10.31078/jk1913.
Setiawan, B. “Compilation of Islamic Law and the Problems of Interfaith Inheritance.”Al-Mazahib 12, no. 2 (2024): 233–250. https://doi.org/10.14421/almazahib.v12i2.4444.
Shiddiq, M. “The Relevance of Mandatory Wills in Modern Inheritance.”Al-Ahkam 30, no. 1 (2020): 123–140. https://doi.org/10.21580/ahkam.2020.30.1.5117.
Soepomo. Chapters on Customary Law. Jakarta: Pradnya Paramita, 1977.
Subekti. Principles of Civil Law. Jakarta: Intermasa, 1985.
Subject, and M. Yahya Harahap. Aspects of Contract Law. Jakarta: Kartini Library, 1986.
Sudargo Gautama. Introduction to Indonesian International Civil Law. Bandung: Alumni, 1987.
Sudikno Mertokusumo. Indonesian Civil Procedure Law. Yogyakarta: Liberty, 1993.
Supriyadi. “Choice of Inheritance Law in a Pluralistic Society (A Comparative Study of Islamic Law and Civil Law).”Al-'Adalah 12, no. 1 (2017): 553–568. https://doi.org/10.24042/adalah.v12i1.1443.
Syafruddin, A. “Implementation of the Supreme Court Decision on Mandatory Wills for Heirs of Different Religions.”Journal of Sharia Science 15, no. 1 (2022): 101–118.
Tengku Muhammad Hasbi Ash-Shiddieqy. Philosophy of Islamic Law. Semarang: PT Pustaka Rizki Putra, 2013.
Their Relevance to the Indonesian Concept of Substituted Inheritance.”
Wahyuni, L. "Mandatory Wills as Alternative Settlements for Heirs of Religious Differences." Al-Manahij: Journal of Islamic Law Studies 13, no. 2 (2019): 223–240. https://doi.org/10.24090/mnh.v13i2.2019.2491.
Wirjono Prodjodikoro. Inheritance Law in Indonesia. Bandung: Sumur Bandung, 1962.
Yearbook of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law 14 (2008): 119–21.
Yulia, A., R. Benny Riyanto, dan F.X. Joko Priyono. “The Role of Notary Public Honorary Council in the Enforcement of the Notary Code of Ethics in Indonesia.” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 175, no. 1 (2018): 012172. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/175/1/012172.
Yusdani. “Configuration of Inheritance Law in Indonesia: Between Islam, Custom, and BW.”Jurnal Hukum Right Because Right 25, no. 3 (2018): 433–452. https://doi.org/10.20885/iustum.vol25.iss3.art2.
Zulhidayat, M. “The Ambiguity of the Constitutional Right to Freedom of Religion and Belief in Indonesia from the Perspective of Ius Constitutum.”Journal of Justice Reasoning 1, no. 1 (2021): 59–73.
Downloads
Published
Article ID
34347Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Tri Andari Dahlan, Ubaidillah Kamal, Yustina Dhian Novita, Risky Agung Firnanda, Aldina Ulya (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
All writings published in this journal are personal views of the author and do not represent the views of this journal and the author’s affiliated institutions.
