The 99 Laws of Perak from Persia You Didn't Know About
The 99 Laws of Perak originated from Persia and were brought to Perak in the 16th century by
Syed Husain Al Faradz Jamalullail
from Hadramaut, Yemen. These laws were established to define offenses and punishments for 99 types of misconduct.
Told through dialogues by the elders, the 99 Laws of Perak are considered to be more influenced by local customs than by Islamic religious elements. The 99 Laws of Perak are seen as prioritizing customary influence over Islamic religious elements. Clause 77 of these laws stipulates that the throne shall be inherited by the eldest royal child, and if there is none, the younger one shall inherit it. The 99 Laws of Perak lean more towards customary influence because, in Islam, the selection of a leader is determined through the concept of consultation (musyawarah).
Furthermore, in the realm of criminal law, the 99 Laws of Perak also reflect local customs more than Islamic religious elements. This situation can be seen in the matter of murder between Muslims, as stated in Clause 23. It is said that a Muslim who kills another Muslim cannot be sentenced to death; instead, the killer is only declared an infidel. This punishment is not in line with Islamic law, which dictates that a person who commits murder should also be sentenced to death. Further information concerns family management such as marriage, property distribution, and adultery. The issue of adultery is found in Clause 50, which touches on the matter of illicit intercourse. According to these laws, if both adulterers confess, they are only ordered to marry and pay a fine. Such statements clearly show that the punishments in these laws are more based on local customs than on Islamic religious elements.
Regarding marriage and household matters, Clause 65 of the 99 Laws of Perak states that newlywed couples are not allowed to be together for approximately 40 days to preserve their faith. Could you follow these laws? Strange, isn't it? However, according to Islam, once the marriage contract (akad nikah) is solemnized or confirmed, it is permissible for them to be together. Lastly, there are regulations and customs. These concern the protocols for audiences, selecting, and appointing a king. For example, the protocols while inside the palace. The punishments found in the 99 Laws of Perak in several aspects such as murder, adultery, and property inheritance are not aligned with Islamic religious law. However, for your information, these laws are no longer in use, and this is merely for your knowledge regarding the history of Perak.
