THE PRACTICE OF SUBSTITUTE HEIRS IN INDONESIAN RELIGIOUS COURT: Restricted Interpretation

Abstract

As part of reformation outcomes, the substitute heir in Islamic inheritance law has been long heeded by Indonesian jurists. However, amidst the facet of the traditional scheme, Indonesian Religious Court judges (judex factie) have not shared the same implementation of this succession. This article endeavors to examine the practice of substitute heir in the field. Relies on the Religious Court decisions as the primary source, this article argues that the norm of substitute heir (Article 185 of The Compilation of Islamic Law) has been implemented restrictedly according to The Compilation and the Supreme Court consensus. Restricted interpretation means the descendants of the pre-deceased side-relative was not accounted as substitute heir. It implies that the state reformation attempt in Islamic inheritance law has not come into play in the way the state desires.