Syariah Court of Singapore

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ROOTED IN TRADITION

READY FOR TOMORROW

Years

(1958 - 2023)

SYARIAH COURT

OF SINGAPORE

S YA R I A H C O U R T O F S I N G A P O R E

The word Syariah means the way to the watering place, or the righteous

path to follow. The Syariah, which is founded on the Quran and prophetic

traditions, represents the divine law that provides guidance on all areas of

Muslim believers’ lives. The main objective of the Syariah is to construct

human life on the basis of virtues and to cleanse it of vices. From the primary

sources of the Syariah, a codified rule of law, or hukum, developed over

centuries and continues to develop.

In Singapore, the Syariah legal system is applied to Muslim personal laws.

The Syariah Court, or Mahkamah Syar’iah, is the only institution administering

matters related to Muslim divorces and other matters arising from it. After

65 years, it still commits firmly to its Islamic traditions even as it strengthens

its capabilities to meet the future needs of the Muslim community.

V I S I O N

A reliable, dynamic and just court which inspires confidence

M I S S I O N

To save/salvage marriages

To settle divorces amicably

To deliver just outcomes

C O N T E N T S

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FOREWORD

I would first like to congratulate the Syariah Court of

Singapore for reaching this momentous milestone of

65 years of steadfast service to the Muslim community.

The Syariah Court was established in 1958, even before

Singapore became independent. Since then, it has

served as a key institution for the Muslim community in

Singapore. This book captures the Syariah Court’s rich

history, impressive achievements as well as the hard

work, contributions, and unwavering spirit of the people

behind it.

In its humble beginnings, the Syariah Court was led by

a single president supported by a small team. Today,

it is a dynamic judicial institution with four full-time

presidents led by a senior president, supported by two

registrars. The Court is further supported by mediators

and hakam who are empanelled by the Syariah Court.

Beyond this, community partners support the applicants

with the Marriage Counselling Programme (MCP) and

divorce support specialist agencies support Muslim

families through the divorce process.

The strides achieved by the Syariah Court are made

possible with the constant evolution of the legal and

religious landscape. The Administration of Muslim

Law Act has strengthened the Syariah Court’s ability

to deliver just outcomes and support Muslim families,

such as making it mandatory for parties to attend MCP

before they can file a divorce application. Recognising

the need to strengthen Muslim families, some of our

asatizah have undergone specialised training to perform

the role of hakam and resource persons for MCP.

The Syariah Court has played a key role in

strengthening Muslim families in Singapore, in close

partnership with the Ministry of Social and Family

Development, the Family Justice Courts, the M3

agencies (Muis, MENDAKI and PA MESRA) and other

community partners. Its efforts are well-recognised

by the Muslim community, as well as the family

development and legal fraternities in Singapore

and beyond.

The Syariah Court’s drive for service excellence

exemplifies the spirit of our Community of Success.

Its digital transformation will improve access to

justice and make the Court processes more convenient

and efficient for Court users and staff. It is also

incorporating social science to enhance child-centricity

in the divorce process through a Court Counselling

Framework and other initiatives.

These transformative steps are possible because of the

Syariah Court’s leadership and dedication of its staff

over the past 65 years. I am confident that the Syariah

Court will continue to strengthen its services and

team in order to further strengthen Muslim families

in Singapore.

I wish the Syariah Court my heartiest congratulations

on its 65th anniversary and every success in the

years ahead.

Assalamualaikum

Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

MR MASAGOS ZULKIFLI MASAGOS MOHAMAD

Minister for Social and Family Development

Second Minister for Health

Minister-In-Charge of Muslim Affairs

MESSAGE

My sincerest congratulations to Syariah Court on

the occasion of its 65th Anniversary.

The Syariah Court is an important institution in

the Muslim community. Its inception in 1958 was

a necessity to administer divorces so as to preserve

the sanctity of the marriage institution in Islam, and

to ensure that due rights are accorded to those who

need it. Since then, the Syariah Court continues

to play a key role in upholding the sacred union

between Muslim partners by providing services to

help save marriages, bring about peaceful resolution

and maintain strong parenting bonds even if some

marriages cannot be saved.

Our asatizah have played an important role in the

Syariah Court since its establishment. They have

actively served as counsellors and resource persons,

mediators, hakam and presidents, ensuring that the

Court functions in accordance with Muslim laws and

principles. In addition, the presidents of the Syariah

Court have also contributed to the growth and

development of Muslim jurisprudence by applying

and interpreting Muslim law in their judgments

and decisions. This is a body of knowledge that

continues to grow, and is a useful reference to

practitioners. It is very encouraging to see asatizah

working together with legal and public officers from

the various ministries to strengthen the Syariah

Court so that it continues to be an institution

trusted by the community to deliver justice.

The highly capable staff and leaders of the

Syariah Court have shared with me this important

aspiration. From the programmes, services and

upgrades that they have undertaken over recent

years, I am confident that they will advance further

in their tireless efforts to serve the needs of Muslim

families and adapt to the changing demands of

administering family law.

It behooves us to congratulate the Syariah Court

for their dedication in providing services to Muslim

families for the past 65 years. I hope that they

continue to serve Muslim families with strong

leadership, committed staff and strong partnership

with the religious, legal and social science fraternities.

All praises be to Allah Almighty,

the Compassionate and Merciful.

USTAZ DR NAZIRUDIN MOHD NASIR

Mufti, Republic of Singapore

اﻮُﻨُﻜْﺴَﺘِّﻟ ﺎًﺟاَوْزَأ ْﻢُﻜِﺴُﻔﻧَأ ْﻦِّﻣ ﻢُﻜَﻟ َﻖَﻠَﺧ ْنَأ ِﻪِﺗﺎَﻳآ ْﻦِﻣَو

ٍتﺎَﻳَﻵ َﻚِﻟ َذ ِﰲ َّنِإ ۚ ًﺔَﻤْﺣَرَو ًةَّدَﻮَّﻣ ﻢُﻜَﻨْﻴَﺑ َﻞَﻌَﺟَو ﺎَﻬْﻴَﻟِإ

َنوُﺮَّﻜَﻔَﺘَﻳ ٍمْﻮَﻘِّﻟ

FOUNDATION

And among His signs is this,

that He created for you mates from among yourselves,

that you may dwell in tranquility with them,

and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts);

verily in that are signs for those who reflect.

Al-Quran 30:21

اﻮُﻨُﻜْﺴَﺘِّﻟ ﺎًﺟاَوْزَأ ْﻢُﻜِﺴُﻔﻧَأ ْﻦِّﻣ ﻢُﻜَﻟ َﻖَﻠَﺧ ْنَأ ِﻪِﺗﺎَﻳآ ْﻦِﻣَو

ٍتﺎَﻳَﻵ َﻚِﻟٰ َذ ِﰲ َّنِإ ۚ ًﺔَﻤْﺣَرَو ًةَّدَﻮَّﻣ ﻢُﻜَﻨْﻴَﺑ َﻞَﻌَﺟَو ﺎَﻬْﻴَﻟِإ

َنوُﺮَّﻜَﻔَﺘَﻳ ٍمْﻮَﻘِّﻟ

The Syariah Court building at Pearl’s Hill Terrace between 1978 and 1987.

6 CHAPTER 1: FOUNDATION

1880

Mahomedan Marriage Ordinance 1880 is enacted as a separate Muslim legal jurisdiction

for marriage, divorce and other personal affairs

1908

Muhammadan Marriage Ordinance 1908 is passed, replacing the Mahomedan

Marriage Ordinance

1947

Muslim Advisory Board replaces Mohammedan Advisory Board

1951

Plans begin to form an Islamic court

1955

1957

1960

25 November 1958

17 August 1966

1 July 1968

Muslims Bill is introduced to the Singapore Legislative Assembly

Muslims Ordinance 1957 is passed, replacing the Muhammadan Marriage Ordinance

Four prominent Muslim groups call for the formation of a central Muslim body

Syariah Court is formed to settle matrimonial disputes in Muslim

marriages and provide recourse for women in the event of divorce

Administration of Muslim Law Act 1966 is passed, replacing the Muslims

Ordinance and providing a centralised administration covering all aspects

of Muslim life in Singapore

Administration of Muslim Law Act 1966 comes into force

MILESTONES

1915

Mohammedan Advisory Board is formed to represent the Muslim community

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