The Legal Prohibition Of Surrogacy For Muslims In Malaysia: A Critical Analysis

Authors

  • Kyaw Hla Win Md. Hassan Ahmed Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32890/uumjls2015.6.3

Keywords:

Surrogacy, Surrogate mother, Surrogacy in Malaysia, Surrogacy in Islam

Abstract

This paper sets out to determine the legal status of human reproductive surrogacy for Muslims in Malaysia. It asks whether or not Muslims are prohibited by Islamic Law from human reproductive surrogacy. Muslims are governed in their personal matters by the Islamic law of the respective states. The word Muslim is not defined in the Malaysian Constitution. Argument deals with the position of the Islamic law in Malaysia, before discussing surrogacy. This will be set out first in the position of the Islamic law, then, argument discusses the role of the Islamic jurist and the Islamic legal consultative committee. This is followed by the role of the national fatwa committee. Finally, the article deals with the prohibition of surrogacy for Muslims as a legal dilemma. The paper will suggest that in some states, Muslims would be free to use surrogacy services in accordance with the general law of Malaysia.
 

Keywords:Surrogacy, Surrogate mother, Surrogacy in Malaysia, Surrogacy in Islam

References

[1] Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, Hukum Menggunakan Kaedah Khidmat Ibu Tumpang Untuk Mendapatkan Zuriat, Fatwa Management Division, 11-12 June 2008, retrieved 17 April 2015, <http://www.e-fatwa.gov.my/fatwa-negeri/hukum-menggunakan-kaedah-khidmat-ibu-tumpang-untuk-mendapatkan-zuriat-0>. [2] Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, Hukum Menggunakan Kaedah Khidmat Ibu Tumpang (Surrogate Motherhood) Untuk Mendapatkan Zuriat, Fatwa Management Division, 4 July 2013, retrieved 17 April 2015, <http://www.e-fatwa.gov.my/fatwa-negeri/hukum-menggunakan-kaedah-khidmat-ibu-tumpang-surrogate-motherhood-untuk-mendapatkan-z-0>. [3] Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, In vitro fertilization as an effort to have baby, Fatwa Management Division, 8 April 2003, retrieved 16 April 2015, <http://www.e-fatwa.gov.my/fatwa-kebangsaan/pencantuman-benih-untuk-mendapatkan-zuriat-0>. [4] Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, In vitro fertilization as an effort to have baby 2, Fatwa Management Division, 7 May 2003, retrieved 16 April 2015, <http://www.e-fatwa.gov.my/fatwa-kebangsaan/pencantuman-benih-untuk-mendapatkan-zuriat-2>. [5] Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, The ruling on the use of surrogate mother to have a child, Fatwa Management Division, 1-3 February 2008, retrieved 16 April 2015, <http://www.e-fatwa.gov.my/fatwa-kebangsaan/hukum-menggunakan-kaedah-khidmat-ibu-tumpang-untuk-mendapatkan-zuriat>. [6] Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, The ruling on the use of surrogate mother to have a child, Fatwa Management Division, 10 July 2008, retrieved 16 April 2015, <http://www.e-fatwa.gov.my/fatwa-negeri/hukum-menggunakan-kaedah-khidmat-ibu-tumpang-untuk-mendapatkan-zuriat>. [7] Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, What is Fatwa?, Fatwa Management Division, 2015, retrieved 16 April 2015, <http://www.e-fatwa.gov.my/apa-itu-fatwa>. [8] Government of Selangor, Hukum Menggunakan Kaedah Khidmat Ibu Tumpang (Surrogate Motherhood) Untuk Mendapatkan Zuriat, Gazette No. 1, Reference No. MAIS/SU/BUU/02/016/2-1; P.U. Sel. AGM. 0007. Jld. 2, 6 February 2011, retrieved 17 April 2015, <http://jawatankuasafatwakumpulan7tlc4.yolasite.com/resources/PewartaanFatwa2011(3).p>. [9] KH Win @ MH Ahmed, ‘Law: Functions, Classifications and Divisions’, in AAA Mohamad (ed.), Malaysian Legal System, The Malaysian Current Law Journal Sdn Bhd, 2014. [10] WA Hamzah, A First Look at the Malaysian Legal System, Oxford Fajar Sdn Bhd, 2009

[11] WM Aun, The Malaysian Legal System, 3rd edn, Pearson Malaysia Sdn Bhd, 2005.

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Published

01-12-2015

Issue

Vol. 6 (2015): UUM Journal of Legal Studies

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Md. Hassan Ahmed, K. H. W. (2015). The Legal Prohibition Of Surrogacy For Muslims In Malaysia: A Critical Analysis. UUM Journal of Legal Studies, 6, 33-40. https://doi.org/10.32890/uumjls2015.6.3

Research impact

Harvested 2026-11-11
1 citations, from OpenAlex — the highest of the sources checked

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Identifiers DOI 10.32890/uumjls2015.6.3 OpenAlex W2901973606