The Transformation of the Concept of Iddah in Indonesian Marriage Law: The Dialectic of Sharia Normativity and the Demand for Gender Equality

Authors

  • Moch. Choirul Musonifin UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri
  • Halil Thahir UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37680/ssa.10110

Keywords:

Iddah, Islamic Family Law, Gender Equality, Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah, Legal Reform

Abstract

The transformation of the concept of iddah in Indonesian marriage law has become a crucial issue in Islamic family law reform because it lies at the intersection of sharia normativity and the growing demands for gender equality in modern society. This study aims to analyze the dynamics of iddah regulations in the Indonesian marriage legal system and examine their relevance from the perspective of gender justice and maqāṣid al-syarī‘ah. The study uses a normative juridical approach with a literature study method through an analysis of Islamic legal sources, legislation, court decisions, and academic literature related to Islamic family law and gender issues. The results show that the concept of iddah in Indonesian regulations is still oriented towards classical fiqh constructions that place women as the primary subject of the waiting period obligation. However, scientific developments, changes in social structures, and increasing awareness of the principle of gender equality have encouraged the emergence of various reinterpretations of the purpose of iddah that emphasize aspects of offspring protection, legal certainty, and family welfare. This study concludes that the transformation of the concept of iddah needs to be directed towards a more contextual approach and one based on maqāṣid al-syarī‘ah so that it can maintain sharia values ​​while accommodating the principles of justice, equality, and protection of women’s rights in contemporary Indonesian marriage law.

References

Alfitri. (2021). Whose Authority? Contesting and Negotiating the Idea of a Legitimate Interpretation of Islamic Law in Indonesia. Asian Journal of Comparative Law, 10(2), 191–212. https://doi.org/10.1017/asjcl.2015.10

An-Na’im, A. A. (2021). Islamic Family Law and Constitutional Reform in Muslim Countries. Islamic Law and Society, 9(3), 331–355. https://doi.org/10.1163/156851902320901880

Arifin, B. (2020). Gender Equality and Islamic Family Law Reform in Indonesia. Al-’Adalah, 16(2), 233–250. https://doi.org/10.24042/adalah.v16i2.4556

Auda, J. (2022). Maqasid al-Shariah as Philosophy of Islamic Law: A Systems Approach. In International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT (p. 12).

Azizah, N., & Huda, M. (2021). Reformulating the Concept of Iddah in Contemporary Islamic Family Law. Jurnal Hukum Islam, 22(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.28918/jhi.v22i1.7854

Cammack, M., Young, L., & Heaton, T. (2023). Legislating Social Change in an Islamic Society: Indonesia’s Marriage Law. American Journal of Comparative Law, 44(1), 45–73. https://doi.org/10.2307/840521

Fadhli, M. (2021). Reinterpretasi Masa Iddah dalam Perspektif Maqashid Syariah. Jurnal Al-Ahwal, 13(2), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.14421/ahwal.2020.13203

Faqihuddin, A. K. (2022). Mubadalah and Gender Justice in Islamic Family Law. Al-Ihkam: Jurnal Hukum Dan Pranata Sosial, 16(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.19105/al-lhkam.v16i1.4287

Hidayatullah, S. (2022). Maqashid al-Shariah dan Rekonstruksi Hukum Keluarga Islam Kontemporer. Jurnal Ijtihad, 22(2), 201–218. https://doi.org/10.21111/ijtihad.v22i2.7845

Hooker, M. B. (2019). Indonesian Syariah: Defining a National School of Islamic Law". Australian Journal of Asian Law, 17(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2762039.

Kamali, M. H. (2019). Shari’ah Law: An Introduction. Islamic Studies, 47(3), 375–390.

Mashhour, A. (2021). Islamic Law and Gender Equality: Could There Be a Common Ground? Human Rights Quarterly, 27(2), 562–596. https://doi.org/10.1353/hrq.2005.0022

Hosaini, H., Rif’ah, R. A., & Muslimin, M. (2024). Integration Of Formal Education And Islamic Boarding Schools As New Paradigm From Indonesian Perspective. At-Ta'lim: Jurnal Pendidikan, 10(1), 107-121.

Minhaji, M., Hosaini, H., Prasetiyo, N. T., Maktumah, L., & Alehirish, M. H. M. (2024). Responsive Islamic Education in Exploring Social Values Through the War Takjil Phenomenon: Sociological Perspective in Indonesia. Jurnal Indo-Islamika, 14(1), 51-61.

Hosaini, H., Fitri, A. Z., Kojin, K., & Alehirish, M. H. M. (2024). The Dynamics of the Islamic Education System in Shaping Character. Edukasia: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Islam, 19(1), 79-98.

Mir-Hosseini, Z. (2020). Muslim Women’s Quest for Equality: Between Islamic Law and Feminism. Critical Inquiry, 32(4), 629–645. https://doi.org/10.1086/508085

Mudzhar, M. A. (2020). Islamic Legal Thought and Reform in Contemporary Indonesia. Al-Jami’ah, 51(2), 275–302. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2013.512.275-302

Mufidah, C. (2020). Perempuan dan Reformasi Hukum Keluarga Islam di Indonesia. De Jure: Jurnal Hukum Dan Syariah, 9(1), 57–72. https://doi.org/10.18860/j-fsh.v9i1.4218

Nurlaelawati, E. (2019). Modernization, Tradition and Identity: The Kompilasi Hukum Islam and Legal Practice in Indonesia. Al-Jami’ah, 48(1), 1–34. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2010.481.1-34

Rohman, F. (2023). Iddah dalam Perspektif Hukum Islam dan Hak Asasi Perempuan (Vol. 7, Issue 1). Jurnal Hukum Keluarga dan Hukum Islam. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v7i1.16824

Sonbol, A. E. (2020). Gender and Islamic Law: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives. Hawwa, 7(2), 145–164. https://doi.org/10.1163/156920809X458770

Suma, M. A. (2019). Iddah dan Dinamika Hukum Keluarga Islam di Indonesia. Ahkam: Jurnal Ilmu Syariah, 18(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.15408/ajis.v18i1.8765

Hosaini, H., Kandiri, K., Minhaji, M., & Alehirish, M. H. M. (2024). Human Values Based on Pancasila Viewed from Islamic Education. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 8(2), 539-549.

Qomar, M., & Fitri, A. Z. (2024). Innovative Learning Strategies for Islamic Religious Education Based on Merdeka Belajar Curriculum in Vocational High Schools. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 8(3), 966-981.

Syarifuddin, A. (2023). Pembaharuan Hukum Keluarga Islam di Indonesia dan Isu Kesetaraan Gender. Al-Manahij, 10(1), 85–102. https://doi.org/10.24090/mnh.v10i1.913

Tucker, J. E. (2019). Women, Family, and Gender in Islamic Law. Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies, 4(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.2979/MEW.2008.4.1.1

Downloads

Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

Musonifin , M. C., & Thahir , H. (2025). The Transformation of the Concept of Iddah in Indonesian Marriage Law: The Dialectic of Sharia Normativity and the Demand for Gender Equality. Social Science Academic, 3(2), 289–300. https://doi.org/10.37680/ssa.10110

Issue

Section

Articles