Inheritance Practices in Intermarriages Between the Malay and Minangkabau Ethnic Groups in Perawang, Siak Regency: An Islamic Law Perspective

Abstract

This article examines inheritance practices in interethnic marriages between the Malay and Minangkabau communities in Perawang, Siak Regency, Riau Province, from the perspective of Islamic law. Perawang represents a unique socio-cultural setting where two distinct customary legal traditions coexist, namely the bilateral (parental) kinship system of the Malay community and the matrilineal kinship system of the Minangkabau community. These differences significantly influence family perceptions and practices regarding inheritance rights and the distribution of inherited property. This study is based on the assumption that the interaction between these two customary systems often creates differing understandings of inheritance within interethnic families. In practice, Islamic inheritance law frequently serves as a common normative reference for resolving inheritance-related issues, although its application is not always uniform. Employing a qualitative socio-legal approach, this research combines fieldwork, document analysis, and normative examination of Islamic inheritance law. The findings reveal that inheritance disputes and distribution arrangements within Malay Minangkabau families are predominantly resolved through family deliberation and mutual agreement rather than through formal legal institutions. Customary values and kinship ties continue to play a significant role in shaping inheritance practices, while Islamic law functions as a normative framework that provides legitimacy to the decisions reached by family members. In short, inheritance practices among interethnic families in Perawang show how customary law and Islamic law constantly interact and negotiate with each other in everyday life.