The Interplay of Fiqh, Adat (Customary Law), and State Law in Inheritance Cases: A Study in the Minangkabau Community of West Sumatra

Md Shodiq; Nina Anis; Faisal Razak

doi:10.70177/jnis.v2i4.3300

Md Shodiq ⁽¹⁾, Nina Anis ⁽²⁾, Faisal Razak ⁽³⁾

(1) Jayabaya University, Indonesia,

(2) Monas University, Malaysia,

(3) Univeristi Malaya, Malaysia

https://doi.org/10.70177/jnis.v2i4.3300

Issue
Vol. 2 No. 4 (2025)

Submitted
26 January 2026

Published
30 January 2026

Keywords:

Adat Law, Fiqh, Inheritance, Minangkabau Society, State Law

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Abstract

Inheritance in the Minangkabau community of West Sumatra represents a complex legal phenomenon that reflects the coexistence and tension between fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), adat (customary law), and state law. This study aims to analyze how these three normative systems interact, overlap, and negotiate authority in resolving inheritance disputes among Minangkabau people. Using a qualitative sociolegal approach, the research was conducted through indepth interviews, field observations, and document analysis of inheritance cases handled by both adat institutions and religious courts. The findings reveal that inheritance practices in Minangkabau are shaped by a hybrid legal culture: adat prioritizes matrilineal lineage and communal ownership, fiqh emphasizes individual entitlement based on Qur’anic prescriptions, while state law seeks harmonization through formal judicial mechanisms. In practice, local communities often employ adat principles for land and property distribution but rely on fiqhbased settlements when disputes escalate to formal courts. The study concludes that the coexistence of these systems demonstrates a dynamic legal pluralism, where social harmony is maintained through pragmatic compromise rather than rigid adherence to a single legal framework.

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Authors

Md Shodiq

Jayabaya University

emdeshodiqq@pascajayabaya.ac.id (Primary Contact)

Nina Anis

Monas University

Faisal Razak

Univeristi Malaya

Shodiq, M., Anis, N., & Razak, F. (2026). The Interplay of Fiqh, Adat (Customary Law), and State Law in Inheritance Cases: A Study in the Minangkabau Community of West Sumatra. Journal of Noesantara Islamic Studies, 2(4), 209–219. https://doi.org/10.70177/jnis.v2i4.3300