Al-Qanun: Jurnal Kajian Sosial dan Hukum Islam
Vol 7, No 2 (2026): Al-Qanun: Jurnal Kajian Sosial dan Hukum Islam

Harmonization of Divorce Law: Between Hadith and Positive Law in Indonesia

Muhammad Yasir Nasution (Universitas Agama Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau)
Jumni Nelli (Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau)
Ilyas Husti (Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau)



Article Info

Publish Date
23 Sep 2026

Abstract

The hadith on joking divorce (HR. At-Tirmizi) creates normative tension with Indonesian positive law requiring judicial divorce proceedings. Textual understanding of this hadith potentially legitimizes unilateral divorce, while Law No. 1/1974 and the Compilation of Islamic Law emphasize legal protection for women and children. Objective: This study analyzes the normative conflict between the joking divorce hadith and Indonesian positive law, and formulates a harmonization model by positioning the hadith "antum a'lamu bi umūri dunyākum" as the philosophical foundation for divorce regulation in Indonesia. Method: This normative-philosophical research employs hadith text analysis (taḥlīl al-naṣ) and legal policy analysis, with primary and secondary sources analyzed qualitatively-interpretively. Results: Three main findings emerge: (1) The joking divorce hadith must be understood as affirming moral responsibility (mas'ūliyyah), not as an absolute procedural rule; (2) The "antum a'lamu" hadith provides normative legitimacy for the state to regulate divorce procedures for substantive justice; (3) Religious Courts function as institutions converting divorce utterances into legally valid decisions both religiously and nationally. Conclusion: Divorce law harmonization is achieved through the "procedural divorce" concept distinguishing normative-moral validity at the individual level and juridical-public validity at the institutional level. Implication: This model offers a new paradigm in contemporary Islamic family law integrating textual authority and state authority hierarchically-functionally.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

alqanun

Publisher

Subject

Religion Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

Al-Qanun: Jurnal Kajian Sosial dan Hukum Islam, this journal accepts research articles, conceptual articles, field study reports, book reviews on social studies and law such as: 1. Social; 2. Law; 3. Theology; 4. Economy; 5. Philosophy; 6. Gender; 7. Regional Studies; 8. Islamic Studies; 9. And ...