USRATY : Journal of Islamic Family Law
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): USRATY : Journal of Islamic Family Law

Between Recognition and Legitimization: Women’s and Children’s Rights in Indonesia’s Extra-Judicial Divorce

Muhammad Nasrulloh (Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang)
Navisatul Zahro (Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang)
Fikri Ahmad Islami (Universitas Islam Negeri Kiai Haji Achmad Siddiq Jember)
Faridatus Suhadak (Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang)
Zummy Humairoh (Ma'
had Aly Al-Zamachsyari Malang)

Rafeah Saidon (Universiti Teknologi MARA)



Article Info

Publish Date
05 May 2026

Abstract

This study aims to examine the tension between the religious recognition of extra-judicial divorce under Islamic jurisprudence and its legitimization under Indonesia’s positive law, concerning the protection of women’s and children’s rights. The study employs normative legal research using statutory, conceptual, and case approaches, supported by qualitative analysis based on maṣlaḥah and maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah. The findings demonstrate that the dualism between Islamic jurisprudence, which recognizes the religious consequences of divorce pronounced outside the court, and positive law, which requires divorce to be determined by a court, creates legal uncertainty concerning marital status, maintenance, child custody, ‘iddah, remarriage, and family law administration. This uncertainty affects women and children by weakening the enforceability of post-divorce rights and obligations. The analysis establishes that religious recognition of divorce occurring outside the court should not be equated with legitimization, because legitimization may undermine judicial oversight and protection of vulnerable members. Judicial confirmation of divorce can instead function as a restorative mechanism that provides legal certainty concerning an occurred divorce without legitimizing extra-judicial divorce as a lawful form. The study concludes that maintaining a clear distinction between recognition and legitimization is essential for reconciling Islamic legal consequences with Indonesia’s positive law while safeguarding women’s and children’s rights. Academically, the study contributes a maṣlaḥah- and maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah-based framework for family law that conceptualizes judicial confirmation of divorce as restorative recognition rather than legal legitimization, offering a rights-sensitive approach to resolving tensions surrounding extra-judicial divorce in Indonesia.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

usraty

Publisher

Subject

Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

FOCUS Usraty focuses to provide a scientific article on Islamic family law that developed in attendance through the article publications. SCOPE Usraty welcomes papers from academicians on theories, philosophy, conceptual paradigms, academic research, as well as religious practices. In particular, ...