2. THE CRIME OF KHALWAT
• Khalwat is described by Jabatan Agama as close proximity
between a male or female who are not muhrim.
• Section 27, of the Shariah Criminal offences(federal territories)
act 1997 provides that, any-
a) A man who is found together with one or more women, not
being his wife or mahram; or
b) A woman who is found together with one or more men, not
being her husband or mahram,
In any secluded place or in a house or room under
circumstances which may give rise to suspicion that they were
engaged in immoral acts shall be guilty of an offence and shall
on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding three thousand
ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or
to both
3. • However, if a man and woman opened the door of the
vehicle and the act was committed in public place, they will
charge with a charge of committing immoral act in public
place.
• Section 29, of the shariah criminal offences(federal territories)
act 1997 provides that anyone who engaged in immoral acts
in open place/public shall be guilty of an offence and shall on
conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand
ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six month
or to both.
4. KHALWAT OFFENCES IN ISLAMIC LAW
• The act of khalwat is not mentioned directly in the quran,
however, there is a quranic evidence which indirectly discussed
about khalwat,
“ Nor come near to adultery for it is shameful deed and an evil,
opening the road to other evils. "
• Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H said;
“ No man must be alone with a woman except in the presence of
her mahram. No woman shall travel except in company of a
mahram. "
• These hadith proves that under no circumstances woman may
travel alone. The shariah strictly forbade a meeting or dating or
travelling between two opposite sexes not within the prohibited
degrees.
5. • The Prophet Muhammad also mentioned:
“ Whoever amongst you sees an evil, he must change it with his
hand; if he is unable to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is
unable to do so, then with his heart and that is the weakest form of
faith. "
7. GOMBAK – Tangkapan membabitkan kes khalwat masih mencatatkan
angka tertinggi di antara kesalahan utama jenayah syariah direkodkan
Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais) pada 2011 iaitu sebanyak 1,734 kes.
Pegawai Hal Ehwal Jais, Ustaz Sharom Maarof berkata, statistik itu masih
dianggap besar meskipun ia mencatatkan penurunan berbanding
tangkapan kes sama pada 2010.
“Sebanyak 1,783 kes tangkapan dibuat pada 2010 dan kebanyakan mereka
yang ditangkap khalwat berumur 20 hingga 30 tahun,” katanya pada Diskusi
Isu Sosial Semasa (Diksi) Siri 3 anjuran Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) di
sini, semalam.
Menurutnya, banyak faktor yang boleh menjadi penyumbang kepada
khalwat antaranya pakej bayaran murah mengikut jam yang ditawarkan
hotel bajet.
Beliau berkata, kesalahan lain yang sering dilakukan termasuklah berjudi di
mana pada 2010, sebanyak 331 tangkapan dibuat dengan penurunan
ketara dicatatkan pada 2011 apabila tangkapan yang dibuat hanya 75.
8. Statistic of Khalwat raid in Selangor in 2010 and 2011
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2010 2011
10. SURAH AL- HUJURAT (49 :12)
“O ye who believe, avoid suspicion as much (as
possible) : for suspicion in some cases is a sin : and
spy not on each other, nor speak ill of each other
behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat flesh
of his dead brother? Nay, you would abhor it. But fear
for God for God is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.”
11. HADITH OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD P.B.U.H
“Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah
said, beware of suspicion , for suspicion is the worst of
false tales. Do not look for other’s faults. Do not spy
one another, and not practice Najsh (means to offer
a high price for something in order to allure another
customer who is interested in the thing). Do not be
jealous of one another and not enmity against one
another”
12. COMMENT : HAFIZ SALAHUDIN YUSUF
Surah al-Hujurat
…such suspicion about a muslim
for which no apparent without
any logic…
Hadith
…secure the honour of Muslims,
since doubt without any reason,
and search for defects and
weaknesses is strictly prohibited…
Different situation
It’s logic to have a suspicion
when we found that a man or
a woman both visited a house
or a condominium at night
and leave the place after few
hours.
13. SURAH AN-NUR (24: 27 -28)
“ O ye who believe, enter not houses other than your
own, until you have asked permission and saluted
those in them: that is the best for you, in order that ye
may heed (what is seemly). If you find no one in the
house, enter not until permission is given to you…”
14. HADITH OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD P.B.U.H
“Jabir (r.a) reported : I went to the Prophet and knock
at the door to seek permission. He asked, “Who is
there?” I said: “I”. He repeated, “I,I?!” as if he dislike
it.”
15. COMMENT : ABDULLAH YUSUF ALI
Surah an-Nur
…discussed the principal of asking
respectful permission and
exchanging salutations ensures
privacy the people in the house…
Hadith
...teaches that at the doorstep, the
visitor should disclose his identity to
the host and when the host comes
out, he should first offer him salam…
Differrent situation
Should differentiate between
personal visit between friends,
commercial visit by salesman and
official or spot check by the
authority.
16. The prohibition of entering someone’s house without
salam and approval from the host is only applicable
in cases of personal visit among friends or family and
also commercial visit. It is not right to say that the
authority such as enforcement officers and
policeman cannot enter the premise in the absence
of permission from the host…
17. MAQASID AS-SHARIAH AND MASLAHAH
• The greatest development in the history of Islamic
jurisprudence. It conceived the sociopolitical and moral order
of human society.
• It is an important tool for formulating the fundamental
principles and cardinal values pertaining to human welfare
according to the descending order of human needs.
• Al-Shatibi has explained that the higher objectives of the
Lawgiver (Maqasid as-Shariah) can be classified into three
categories:
• Essentials (al-dharurat)
• Exigencies / objectives (al-hajiyyat)
• Embellishments (al-tahsiniyyat)
18. ESSENTIALS (AL-DHARURAT)
• These are things which are essential for the achievement of
human being’s spiritual and material well being.
• If these essential are missing, the result will be imbalance and
major corruption in people’s lives in both this world and the next.
• The essential interest consists of five elements namely:
• Religion
• Life
• Lineage
• Mind
• Property
19. EXIGENCIES (AL-HAJIYYAT)
• These are interests which, when fulfilled contribute to
relieve hardship and difficulty and creating ease in
the lives of those accountable before the Law.
20. EMBELLISHMENTS (AL-TAHSINIYYAT)
• They function to enhance and complete their
fulfillment, embellishments include things such as
commendable habits and customs, the observance
of rules of etiquette and a high moral standard.
21. • So, we can see that maqasid as-Shariah is closely related to
the concept of maslahah.
• Maslahah is defined as to secure benefit or to remove harm
intended by the Lawgiver (Allah), not absolute benefit or
harm.
• Imam al-Ghazali – Maslahah originally consists of securing
benefit or harm. Which relates to the five objective of the
Lawgiver. He also mentioned that whatever ensures the
protection of these five basic objectives is a maslahah, and
whatever causes the missing of these basic things is a
mafsadah.
• He also stressed that the maslahah is the protection of the
objectives of the Lawgiver, though it is contrary to the
objectives of the people.
• Eg : The suggestion by the Indonesian government to forbid
her cabinet members from having polygamy is the
objectives of people, but it is contrary to the objectives of
the Shariah which allows polygamy in order to prevent
adultery.
22. ISSUE
• As-Shatibi stressed that Islamic Law neglects nothing, great or
small in the realm of benefit and harm. In fact, the benefit and
harm are to be assessed on the basis of which the two elements
are predominant.
• If the predominant effect of the action is beneficial, it is classified
as a benefit, whereas if its predominant effect is harmful, it is
classified as a source of harm.
• This discussion also brings us to the matter of the conflict of interest
which often occurs between benefit and harm.
• Eg : the ruling by JAKIM which impose mandatory screening
test for HIV for Muslim couple who want to get married. It may
bring benefit to one person, but harm to another.
23. • So, khalwat raid falls under the principle of maslahah since its main purpose
is to protect religion and lineage.
• It also prevents a greater harm such as illegal pregnancies etc.
24. THE PRINCIPLE OF SADD AL-DHARA’I
• Sadd al-Dhara’I is defined as blocking the means which lead to
evil. (Prevention is better than cure)
• This principle of blocking the means is to prohibit a permissible
act when it leads to an unlawful act.
• E.g. : Trading during Friday prayer is prohibited since it could
lead the abandonment of Friday prayer.
• Even though the act of trading is permissible but since it leads to
a negative result, the act is prohibited in Islam
25. • One may argue that coupling and khalwat is not
necessarily will end up with zina. However, based on the
degree of near certainty (zann al-ghalib) or high
probability it is obvious that the act of khalwat could
lead to zina, which is prohibited in Islam.
• In a simple words, the act of khalwat or immoral
behavior such as coupling activity must be blocked in
order to prevent zina
• Based on the explanation, it is clear that khalwat raid
constitute as a medium of sadd al-Dhara’I which plays a
very important role in preserving the objective of
maqasid as-Shariah
• In this case, 2 categories of Shariah are involved,
(protection of life & lineage)
27. Literal: To consider something good
Islamic jurisprudence: To departure from the
requirement of direct evidence of a general principle
in favour of custom in order to secure maslahah
Ibnu al – Arabi’: Sacrificing some of implications of an
evidence by way of exception insofar as the
exception oppose some of these implications
Hashim Kamali: Departure from a general ruling in
order to avoid rigidity that might result from the literal
enforcement of the law in order to avoid rigidity that
might result due to special circumstances.
28. HISTORICAL EVIDENCE
[Caliph ‘Umar al-Khattab] – He did not punish the
offender who committed theft during famine period
since the general ruling in the Quran cannot be
applied during that period. The exceptional situation
or the special circumstances in this discussion is closely
related the principle of maqasid al- dharurriyah
namely the protection of life
29. …ISSUE OF KHALWAT… [CONT.]
Main purpose of khalwat raid
• To protect the religion and lineage
• Preventing greater harm and that is the act of zina
Section 12 of Domestic Violence Act, 1994 :
“Anyone who aware or suspect of the commission of the
domestic violence to their neighbours, friends or relatives
shall forthwith give information to the nearest authority or
police officer of such domestic violence or abuse…”
30. The spying and peeping method are needed to help the
needy which fall under one of the maqasid al-Shariah
and that is the protection of life as how we want to help
the victims of domestic violence if we don’t spying and
peeping. Same goes with khalwat…
31. T H E P R O C E DUR ES U N DER T H E S YA RIAH C R I MINAL
P R O C E D URE ( F E D E RAL T E R R ITO RIE S ) 1 997 [ A C T
5 60]
32. SECTION 9 : PUBLIC TO GIVE INFORMATION OF CERTAIN
MATTERS
• “Every person aware of the commisson of or the
intention of any offence shall forthwith give information
to the nearest Religious Enforcement Officer or police
officer of such commission or intention”
• Under this provision, we can see that the concept of ‘al-
amr bil maa’ruf wa al-nahyu al-munkar’ is applicable.
The right of public to give information to the authority is
provided in a wide scope in which they can give the
information pertaining to the commission of or the
intention of any other person to commit any offence in a
private place or public place including commercial
premise.
33. SECTION 10 - ARREST: HOW TO MAKE AN ARREST
• (1) In making an arrest the Religious Enforcement Officer,
police officer or other person making the arrest shall actually
touch or confine the body of the person to be arrested, unless
there be a submission to the custody by word or action.
• (2) If such person forcibly resists the endeavour to arrest him or
attempts to evade the arrest, such officer or other person may
use all means necessary to effect the arrest.
• (3) Nothing in this section gives a right to cause the death of
any person.
34. SECTION 11: SEARCH OF PLACE ENTERED PERSON SOUGHT TO
BE ARRESTED
• (1) If any person acting under a warrant of arrest, of any
Religious Enforcement Officer of police officer having
authority to arrest, has reason to believe that any person
to be arrested has entered into or is within any place,
the person residing in or in charge of such place shall, on
demand of the person acting under the warrant such
Religious Enforcement Officer or police officer, allow him
free ingress thereto and afford all reasonable facilities for
a search therein.
• (2) If ingress to such place cannot be obtained under
subsection(1), it shall be lawful, in any case for a person
acting under a warrant and in any case in which a
warrant may be issued but cannot be obtained without
affording
35. the person to be arrested an opportunity to escape, for
such Religious Enforcement Officer or police officer to
enter such place and search therein, and, in order to
effect an entrance into such place, to break open any
outer or inner door or window of any place whether that
of the person to be arrested or of any other person if, after
notification of his authority and purpose and demand of
admittance duly made, he cannot otherwise obtain
admittance.
36. SECTION 12: SEARCH OF PERSONS IN PLACE SEARCHED UNDER
WARRANTY
• “Whenever a search for any thing is or is about to
be lawfully made in any place respect of any
offence, all persons found therein may be lawfully
detained until the search is completed, and they
may, if the thing sought is in its nature capable of
being concealed upon the person, be searched for
it by or in the presence of a Religious Enforcement
Officer or a police officer not below the rank of
Inspector.”
37. SECTION 13: POWER TO BREAK OPEN ANY PLACE FOR
PURPOSE OF LIBERATION
• “ Any Religious Enforcement Officer or other person
authorized to make an arrest may break open any
place in order to liberate himself or any other person
who, having lawfully entered the place for the purpose
of making an arrest, is detained therein.”
• This provision seems to be in contradiction with the
hadith of the Prophet Muhammad which asks Muslim to
give salam three times and leave the house or premise
in the absence of the permission from the host. However,
it should be bear in mind that the Religious Enforcement
Officers are performing their job to protect in the
maqasid as-Shariah.
38. SECTION 14: NO UNNECESSARY RESTRAINT AND MODE OF
SEARCHING A PERSON.
• (1)The person arrested shall not be subjected to
more restraint than is necessary to prevent his
escape.
• (2) Whenever it is necessary to cause a person to
be searched, the search shall be made by a person
of the same sex as the person being searched with
strict regard to decency.
39. SECTION 15: SEARCH OF PERSONS ARRESTED
• (1) Whenever a person is arrested:
(a)by a Religious Enforcement Officer or police officer
under a warrant which does not provide for the taking
of bail or under a warrant which provides for the
taking of bail but the person arrested cannot furnish
bail; or
(b)without warrant and the person arrested is unable to
furnish bail, the Religious Enforcement Officer or
police officer making the arrest may search person
and seize all articles other than the necessary wearing
apparel found upon him and place them in safe custody
40. • and any of such articles which there is reason to believe were used
in committing the offence may be detained until his discharge or
acquittal.
• (2)The list of all articles seized under subsection(1) shall be
prepared by the officer making the arrest and shall be signed by
him.
41. S 17, Search of persons for name and address
• “Every person lawfully in custody, who by reason of incapacity
• from intoxication, illness, mental disorder or infancy is unable to
• give a reasonable account of himself, may be searched for the
• purpose of ascertaining his name and place of residence”
S 18, Arrest without warrant
• Without prejudice to the provisions of any other written law, any
Religious Enforcement Officer, police officer or Pegawai Masjid
may, without an order from a Judge and without a warrant,
arrest—
• (a)any person who has been concerned in any seizable offence
in the Federal Territories or against whom a reasonable complaint
has been made or credible information has been received or a
reasonable suspicion exists that he has been so concerned;
• (b)any person who has committed or attempted to commit in his
presence any offence involving a breach of the peace;
• (c)any person against whom a warrant issued under this Act is still
in force, although such warrant is not in his possession.
42. 20. A Pegawai Masjid making an arrest without a warrant:
• Without unnecessary delay hand over the person so arrested to the
nearest Religious Enforcement Officer or police officer or, in the
absence of such officer, take such person to the nearest police
station, and a Religious Enforcement Officer or police officer shall re-
arrest every person so arrested.
21. Pursuit of offenders
• For the purpose of arresting any person whom he has power to arrest
without a warrant under this Act, a police officer may pursue such
person in any part of Malaysia.
43. 22. How person arrested is to be dealt with and detention for more than twenty-four
hours
• (1) A Religious Enforcement Officer or police officer making an arrest
without a warrant under this Act shall without unnecessary delay
and subject to the provisions of this Act as to bail or previous release,
take or send the person arrested before a Judge of a Syariah
Subordinate Court.
• (2) No Religious Enforcement Officer or police officer shall detain in
custody a person arrested without a warrant for a longer period
than is reasonable under all the circumstances of the case.
• (3) Such period shall not exceed twenty-four hours, exclusive of the
time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the Court.
• (4) When the person arrested is brought before the Court, the Court
shall immediately hear the charge against him or adjourn the case.
• (5) If the case against the accused is adjourned, the accused shall,
unless he is released on bail, be remanded in prison or police
custody under a remand warrant issued by a Judge in Form 1 of the
Second Schedule
44. 23. Release of person arrested
• No person who has been arrested by a Religious Enforcement
Officer or police officer under this Act shall be released except on
bond or bail or under the order in writing of a Judge or Chief
Religious Enforcement Officer or of a police officer not below the
rank of Inspector.
24. Offence committed in the presence of a Judge
• When any offence is committed in the presence of a Judge within
the local limits of his jurisdiction, he may himself arrest or authorize
any person to arrest the offender and may thereupon, subject to
the provisions of this Act as to bail, commit the offender to custody.
45. SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE KHALWAT RAIDS
• Operation at commercial premises should be continued.
Operation must also be performed at open places.
• Operation at public building can only be performed in
the presence of information
• Enforcement officers must consist of male and female
officers.
• Enforcement officer should allow ample time to the
arrested couple to dress up properly.