Reconceptualising Fatwa Authority: An Institutional Governance Framework through a Comparative Study of Indonesia and Malaysia

Rusli Abdul Roni

doi:10.66882/iil.v1i1.3

Authors

Rusli Abdul Roni Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) Kajang-Selangor, Malaysia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66882/iil.v1i1.3

Keywords:

fatwa authority, Islamic legal institutions, institutional governance, institutional legitimacy, comparative Islamic law

Abstract

Fatwa authority is increasingly exercised through institutions situated at the intersection of Islamic jurisprudence, state regulation, organisational governance, and public religious life. Although existing scholarship has examined the legal status, centralisation, state integration, and social effects of fatwas, less attention has been given to how these dimensions interact to constitute and sustain institutional authority. This article reconceptualises fatwa authority as an institutional outcome rather than an attribute derived solely from juristic expertise or formal legal recognition. Employing normative legal research and comparative institutional analysis, it examines Indonesia and Malaysia as contrasting institutional configurations through constitutional and statutory provisions, institutional regulations, official fatwa materials, judicial and regulatory documents, and relevant scholarly literature. The analysis identifies six interrelated dimensions: legal foundation, institutional mandate, governance structure, scholarly authority, public legitimacy, and adaptive capacity. The findings demonstrate that neither state integration nor institutional autonomy alone adequately explains the durability and practical influence of fatwa authority. Rather, authority emerges through the interaction of legal anchoring, organisational governance, epistemic credibility, social recognition, and institutional responsiveness. On this basis, the article develops the Institutional Fatwa Governance Framework (IFGF) as a multidimensional model for examining how fatwa institutions acquire, exercise, legitimise, and sustain authority amid changing legal and social conditions. The framework advances Islamic legal studies by shifting attention from the formal status of fatwas to the institutional processes through which Islamic legal authority is organised and reproduced. Beyond Indonesia and Malaysia, IFGF provides a transferable basis for analysing the institutional governance of Islamic legal authority across contemporary Muslim legal orders.

References

Abdillah, Ali, and Rico Novianto. “Lembaga Quasi Non Governmental Organization (QUANGO) Dalam Sistem Ketatanegaraan Indonesia: Majelis Ulama Indonesia.” Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan 49, no. 1 (2019). https://doi.org/10.21143/jhp.vol49.no1.1913. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21143/jhp.vol49.no1.1161

Adams, Maurice, Jaakko Husa, and Marieke Oderkerk, eds. “Comparative Law Methodology.” In The International Library of Comparative Law Series, 1st ed. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781785363672

Adhani, Adinda Selvina, and Iskandar Ritonga. “A Comparative Analysis of DSN-MUI Fatwas and Malaysia’s Shariah Advisory Council on Contracts, Consumer Protection, and Supervision in E-Money, P2P Financing, and Equity Crowdfunding.” At-Taradhi: Jurnal Studi Ekonomi 17, no. 1 (2026). https://doi.org/10.18592/taradhi.v17i1.18961.

Arifin, Jaenal, Rahma Aulia, Labib Nubahai, Muhammad Aunurrochim Mas’ad Saleh, and Melinda Berliana. “A Comparative Study on Sharia Governance and Supervisory Authority in Islamic Banking of Indonesia and Malaysia.” Malaysian Journal of Syariah and Law 13, no. 3 (2025). https://doi.org/10.33102/mjsl.vol13no3.737. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33102/mjsl.vol13no3.737

Bisri, M. Mustofah. “Diskursus Kekuatan Hukum Fatwa DSN-MUI Dalam Yurisprudensi Peradilan Indonesia: Analisis Komparatif Dengan Mekanisme Rujukan Wajib Shariah Advisory Council Malaysia.” Recht Studiosum Law Review 5, no. 1 (2026): 45–57. https://doi.org/10.32734/rslr.v5i1.25212.

Bovens, Mark, Thomas Schillemans, and Paul ‘t Hart, eds. The Oxford Handbook of Public Accountability. Office of Educational Resources Research, Department of Postgraduate Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States: Oxford University Press, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199641253.001.0001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199641253.013.0038

Daud, Mahyudin, and Ahmad Najib Abdullah. “Penginstitusian Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan Dan Kaifiat Pengeluaran Hukum: Suatu Tinjauan Umum.” Al-Basirah Journal 9, no. 2 (2020). DOI: https://doi.org/10.22452/basirah.vol9no2.3

Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM). i-FIQH 2.0: Fatwa and Fiqh Information System. Putrajaya: JAKIM. JAKIM i-FIQH 2.0

Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM). Legal Information Sources: National Muzakarah and State Fatwas. Putrajaya: JAKIM.

Fligstein, Neil, and Doug McAdam. A Theory of Fields. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Hallaq, Wael B. Authority, Continuity and Change in Islamic Law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511495557. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511495557

Harifadilah Rosidi, Mohd. “Navigating Fatwa Governance: A Comparative Study of Institutional Centralisation and Religious Legitimacy.” International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science IX, no. V (2025). https://doi.org/10.47772/ijriss.2025.905000252. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.905000252

Hoecke, Mark Van. Methodologies of Legal Research: Which Kind of Method for What Kind of Discipline? LMU Munich: Bloomsbury Academic, 2013.

Hussein, Husam Abdulhameed, Raed Ashraf Kamil Albadri, and Hapini Awang. “Determinants of Public Trust in Contemporary Fatwa Institutions: A Quantitative Model Based on Legitimacy Theory.” International Journal of Islamic Theology & Civilization 4, no. 2 (2026): 41–50.

Ilahi, M. Ridho, M. Nurul Irfan, Kamarusdiana Kamarusdiana, Hidayatulloh Hidayatulloh, and Eva Achjani Zulfa. “Fatwa Institutions in Handling Religious Blasphemy Crimes in Indonesia and Malaysia.” Al-Ahkam 34, no. 1 (2024). https://doi.org/10.21580/ahkam.2024.34.1.18624. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21580/ahkam.2024.34.1.18624

Ismail, Abdul Manan, and Ahmad Syukran Baharuddin. “Parameter Pengeluaran Fatwa Dalam Kerangka Maqasid Syariah.” Malaysian Journal of Syariah and Law 13, no. 3 (2025). https://doi.org/10.33102/mjsl.vol13no3.1244. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33102/mjsl.vol13no3.1244

Kamali, Mohammad Hashim. Shariah Law: An Introduction. Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2008.

Kusumawati, Sundari Arum, Abdul Rahman Prakoso, and Putri Indriyani. “Legal Authority and Fatwa Convergence in Islamic Finance: A Comparative Study of DSN-MUI and SAC Malaysia.” Mawaddah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Islam 3, no. 2 (2025): 335–55. https://doi.org/10.52496/mjhki.v3i2.36.

Majelis Ulama Indonesia. Pedoman Penetapan Fatwa Majelis Ulama Indonesia. Jakarta: Majelis Ulama Indonesia, 2018.

Majelis Ulama Indonesia. Pedoman Dasar dan Pedoman Rumah Tangga Majelis Ulama Indonesia. Jakarta: Majelis Ulama Indonesia.

Majelis Ulama Indonesia. Peraturan Organisasi Majelis Ulama Indonesia Nomor 11/PO-MUI/VIII/2021 tentang Anggaran Dasar dan Anggaran Rumah Tangga Dewan Syariah Nasional–Majelis Ulama Indonesia. Jakarta: Majelis Ulama Indonesia, 2021.

Majelis Ulama Indonesia. Kumpulan Fatwa Majelis Ulama Indonesia. Jakarta: Majelis Ulama Indonesia.

Majelis Ulama Indonesia. Layanan Komisi Fatwa Majelis Ulama Indonesia. Jakarta: Majelis Ulama Indonesia.

Malaysia. Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993, Act 505. Kuala Lumpur: Government of Malaysia, 1993.

Malaysia. Federal Constitution, arts. 3, 11, 74, 77, and Ninth Schedule, State List. Kuala Lumpur: Government of Malaysia.

Mursyida, Aisyah Nurhalisha, Syarifuddin Syarifuddin, and Ali Murtadho. “The Scope of Contemporary Islamic Legal Thought: A Methodological Analysis and a Comparative Study of Indonesia and Malaysia.” Al-Qanun: Jurnal Kajian Sosial Dan Hukum Islam 7, no. 1 (2026): 58–62. https://doi.org/10.58836/al-qanun.v7i1.26496. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58836/al-qanun.v7i1.26496

Nasrudin, Muhamad, Ali Sodiqin, Abdul Mujib, Budhi Santoso, and Muhammadun. “From Nonbinding to Binding: Legal Authority Transformation of DSN–MUI Fatwas within the National Legal System.” Jurnal Hukum Islam 23, no. 2 (2025). https://doi.org/10.28918/jhi.v23i2.03. DOI: https://doi.org/10.28918/jhi.v23i2.03

Oliver, Christine. “Strategic Responses to Institutional Processes.” Academy of Management Review 16, no. 1 (1991). https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1991.4279002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/258610

Republic of Indonesia. The 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. Jakarta: People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia.

Republic of Indonesia. Law No. 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Assurance. Jakarta: Government of the Republic of Indonesia, 2014.

Republic of Indonesia. Law No. 23 of 2011 concerning Zakat Management. Jakarta: Government of the Republic of Indonesia, 2011.

Rosidi, Mohd Harifadilah. “Fatwa Institutions in Malaysia: Navigating Current Challenges and Changes.” International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science VIII, no. IX (2024). https://doi.org/10.47772/ijriss.2024.8090195. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.8090195

Salim, Arskal, and Azyumardi Azra, eds. “Fatwa and Politics in Modern Indonesia.” In ISEAS Series on Islam. Singapore: Institut of South East Asian Studies, 2003.

Scott, W. Richard. Institutions and Organizations: Ideas, Interests, and Identities. 4th ed. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, 2013.

Selangor. Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003, Enactment No. 1 of 2003. Shah Alam: Government of the State of Selangor, 2003.

Selangor Fatwa Committee. Gazetted Fatwas under the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003. Shah Alam: Government of the State of Selangor.

Suaedy, Ahmad, Fariz Alnizar, Juri Ardiantoro, and Said Aqil Siroj. “Language, Authority, and Digital Media: The Impact on the Legitimacy of Fatwas.” Ahkam: Jurnal Ilmu Syariah 23, no. 1 (2023). https://doi.org/10.15408/ajis.v23i1.28875. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15408/ajis.v23i1.28875

Suaidi, Zainul Mun’im, Sriyati Dwi Astuti, Ivan Riyadi, Siti Khabibah, and Nurul Huda. “Harmonisation Between DSN-MUI Fatwas and OJK Regulations: Towards an Innovative and Inclusive Sharia-Compliant Fintech Ecosystem in Indonesia.” Mazahib Jurnal Pemikiran Hukum Islam 24, no. 1 (2025). https://doi.org/10.21093/mj.v24i1.10032. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21093/mj.v24i1.10032

Suchman, Mark C. “Managing Legitimacy: Strategic and Institutional Approaches.” Academy of Management Review 20, no. 3 (1995). https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1995.9508080331. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/258788

Virga, Rika Lusri. “Fatwas and Figures: How NU and Muhammadiyah Shape Religious Authority on Indonesian Instagram Accounts.” Jurnal Sosiologi Reflektif 19, no. 2 (2025). https://doi.org/10.14421/j4wpwh96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14421/j4wpwh96

Wahid, Soleh Hasan, Anjar Kususiyanah, and Fuady Abdullah. “Strengthening the Trust and Authority of Fatwa Institutions in the Digital Era: Lessons from Indonesia.” Journal of College of Sharia and Islamic Studies 43, no. 2 (2025). https://doi.org/10.29117/jcsis.2025.0425. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29117/jcsis.2025.0425