THE PROBABILITIES OF INTEGRATING AND/OR ISLAMIZING LAW AND SHARĪʻAH LEARNING OR VICE VERSA

Abstract

The implementation of integration or Islamization of Knowledge (IoK) approach within the law and Sharīʻah professional programme of studies started in 1983 at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The approach has never been easy. This research attempts to look into the probabilities and improbabilities of integrating and/or Islamizing law and Sharīʻah or vice versa in the Malaysian law and Sharīʻah studies. Can the integration of Sharīʻah into the current law curriculum, or the Islamisation of the law studies be done? The legal profession is regulated under the Legal Profession Act 1976 (Act 166), and the studies of law come under the control and supervision of the Legal Profession Qualifying Board of Malaysia (LPQBM) which prescribed the qualification for the legal practice, and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) has provided guidelines for the accreditation of law degrees from local law schools. The legal studies have seen the realities—the probabilities and improbabilities—in integrating and/or Islamizing law and Sharīʻah or vice versa which have been motivated by the movement of change in many educational institutions in Muslim countries on other disciplines, such as finance, economics, and politics. It is more practical to integrate law studies with Sharīʻah than having the law subjects be Islamized. Harmonisation of law and Sharīʻah is another issue requiring another research and write-up. This study on the aspects of integration or Islamization of legal knowledge is based on qualitative and doctrinal research methods, based on deep analysis of available literature on the subject.  Whether the constitutional and legal framework of the country allow integration or Islamization of the law Sharīʻah, vice versa, be introduced into the curriculum of law and Sharīʻah studies remains questionable.