Siri Polygamy from the Perspective of Islamic Law Versus State Law: A Study of Sociology and Legal Pluralism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65310/h5053x89Keywords:
Legal Pluralism, Siri Polygamy, Islamic Law, State Law, Family Law.Abstract
This study examines siri polygamy in Indonesia through the analytical lens of sociology and legal pluralism by exploring the interaction between Islamic law and state law in the construction of marital legitimacy and dispute resolution. The research employs a non empirical legal method based on normative legal analysis and a socio legal approach. Data were derived from constitutional provisions, marriage legislation, the Compilation of Islamic Law, judicial decisions, and relevant academic literature. The findings indicate that siri polygamy operates within a field of competing normative authorities where religious validity may coexist with limited state recognition. This condition generates legal uncertainty concerning marital status, child protection, inheritance rights, and access to justice. Judicial practice demonstrates a tendency to accommodate social realities through legalization mechanisms rather than relying exclusively on criminal sanctions. The study further reveals that women and children remain the most vulnerable parties within unregistered polygamous relationships. From a criminal law policy perspective, effective regulation requires a balanced approach that integrates legal certainty, substantive justice, and social legitimacy. The research argues that harmonization between Islamic family law and national law is essential for strengthening rights protection and improving the coherence of Indonesia’s plural legal system.
Downloads
References
Ansyari, F., Ramadhan, F. F., & Wicaksana, T. (2026). Harmonization of Islamic Family Law and National Law in Resolving Marital Disputes in Indonesia. Journal of Lex et Justitia, 2(1), 18-32.
Arief, B. N. (2018). Bunga rampai kebijakan hukum pidana: Perkembangan penyusunan konsep KUHP baru. Kencana.
Armi, M. I., & Elsera, U. R. (2024). Unveiling Legal Dimensions: Polygamy Permit Decisions No. 329/Pdt. G/2023/PA. Pdg in Padang Religious Courts. Sakena: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga, 9(1), 17-26.
Busriyanti, B., Pujiono, P., & Chamdan, U. (2025). Marriage Law Reform in Indonesia A Maqasid Al-Usrah Perspective on Legal Adaptation. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 10(2), 631-649.
Constitutional Court Decision Number 46/PUU-VIII/2010. (2012). Decision Number 46/PUU-VIII/2010.
Fajriyati, S. N., & Ilyas, M. (2026). Maslahah-Based Judicial Reasoning in Isbat Nikah Cases: Reconciling Legal Certainty and Substantive Justice in the Makassar Religious Court. Al-Adalah: Jurnal Hukum dan Politik Islam, 11(2), 306-326.
Fernando, H., Larasati, Y. G., Abdullah, I., Firdawaty, L., & Qodriyah, K. (2024). Bibliometrics of Family Law Research Trends in Southeast Asia: An Analysis Two Decades 2003-2023. El-Usrah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga, 7(1), 82-109.
Hasanah, I., & Faiz, B. (2026). Between Religious Authority and State Law: Legal Pluralism in Indonesian Islamic Family Law. Islamic Studies in the Global South, 1(1), 16-34.
Hayat, M. J. (2022). Preaching Islamic legal rules on screen: Conservatism on Islamic family law in digital-based dakwah program Mamah dan Aa Beraksi. Al-Jami'ah: Journal of Islamic Studies, 60(2), 427-466.
Hayati, S., & Murni, E. T. (2023). Phenomenology of Siri Marriage in Indonesia: An Analytical Study from a Legal Sociology Perspective. Diniyyah Jurnal, 10(2), 53-66.
Humaira, A., Rasyidah, N. A., Rahmani, R. T., & Kelana, A. B. (2025). Polygamy in Islamic Law and Contemporary Muslim Societies: A Maqāṣid-Oriented Systematic Review. Jurnal Fuaduna: Jurnal Kajian Keagamaan dan Kemasyarakatan, 9(2), 207-218.
Maiyori, C., & Tsauro, M. A. (2025). The Dynamics of Marriage Registration Implementation in the Multiethnic Muslim Community in Pekanbaru City, Riau. Afkaruna: Indonesian Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Studies, 21(2), 371-386.
Menski, W. (2006). Comparative law in a global context: The legal systems of Asia and Africa (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Muhyidin, M., & Setyawan, B. (2025). Legal unification and pluralism in customary marriage registration: lessons from the Baduy indigenous community. Masalah-Masalah Hukum, 54(3), 462-485.
Muslim, A., Idham, I., Mujizatullah, M., Marannu, B., & Yuwono, D. B. (2025). Compromises and Customs: Strategic Practices in Bugis Sinjai Traditional Marriages. Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga dan Hukum Islam, 9(2), 1130-1153.
Mustopa, C., Kusmawaningsih, S., & Natalia, D. (2026). Unregistered Polygamy Among Public Figures: A Socio-Legal Analysis of Marital Consent and Islamic Family Law in Indonesia. Nuris Journal of Education and Islamic Studies, 6(1), 103-120.
Rahardjo, S. (2009). Hukum progresif: Sebuah sintesa hukum Indonesia. Genta Publishing.
Republic of Indonesia. (1945). The 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia
Republic of Indonesia. (1974). Law Number 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage (Undang-Undang Nomor 1 Tahun 1974 tentang Perkawinan). State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia of 1974 No. 1.
Republic of Indonesia. (1991). Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 1991 concerning the Compilation of Islamic Law (Kompilasi Hukum Islam).
Republic of Indonesia. (2023). Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (Undang-Undang Nomor 1 Tahun 2023 tentang Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana). State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia of 2023 No. 1.
Rohman, H., Ğafurof, R. A., Jamaluddin, A., Toyyibah, W., & Naf'an, A. W. (2025). Between Law and Faith: Judicial Dilemmas of Unregistered Polygamy and Divorce in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Islamic Law, 8(2), 168-187.
Safitra, W., & Badri, K. (2026). Unregistered Marriage with Wali Muhakkam in Shafi ‘i Fiqh Perspective and Indonesian Positive Law. Al Muhkam: Journal of Islamic Law and Jurisprudence, 2(1), 24-32.
Sarib, S., Yusnita, E., Utama, C., & Zain, M. I. H. (2024). Polygamy among Muallaf in Manado: Islamic Legal Perspectives and Social Challenges. JURIS (Jurnal Ilmiah Syariah), 23(2), 241-252.
Seff, N., Hidayat, M., Nurliana, N., Elraisy, T. E., & Rosyid, M. (2025). Islamic Family Law and Women’s Rights in Indonesia: Between Normativity, Reform, and Social Realities. ASEAN Journal of Islamic Studies and Civilization (AJISC), 2(2), 237-256.
Siregar, S., Sakti, I., Munthe, I. P., Hasibuan, P. H., & Harahap, P. H. (2026). The Phenomenon of Siri Marriage and Its Implications for Islamic Family Law. Multidisciplinary Indonesian Center Journal (MICJO), 3(1), 2187-2198.
Sudrajad, A. S. A., Siregar, I., & Harahap, Z. A. A. (2024). Legal Conflict in Isbat Nikah of Polygamous: Perspective of SEMA Number 3 Year 2018 and its Implications for Biological Justice. Tribakti: Jurnal Pemikiran Keislaman, 35(2), 243-262.
sukmawati Assaad, A., & Marwing, A. (2025). Critical Discourse Analysis on Inter-Religious Marriages in a Luridical Sociological Review in Buntu Batu Village, Bastem District, Luwu Regency. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 13(2), 5396-5413.
Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia. (2015). Decision Number 376 K/PID/2015 concerning Marriage Crime. Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia.
Suryana, A., Hidayah, K., & Muhammad, M. (2025). Rethinking Marriage Guardians for Widows in Indonesia: Perspective of Legal Certainty and Maslahah Theory. Justicia Islamica, 22(1), 71-92.
Tanjung, K. S., Masum, A., Rahmi, N., & Mardiah, I. (2025). A normative study on polygamy and gender justice in Islamic family law: Insights from ASEAN jurisprudence. ASEAN Journal of Islamic Studies and Civilization (AJISC), 2(2), 211-235.
Wahyuni, S., Sarairah, A. A., & Abouyounes, M. W. (2026). Cross-Border Nikah Sirri between Malaysia and Indonesia: Contemporary Legal and Social Dynamics in Borneo. MILRev: Metro Islamic Law Review, 5(1), 611-634.
Watoni, L. S. (2025). A Literature Study on Polygamy Practices in the Context of Islamic Law and Indonesian Legal Framework. Journal of Islamic Religious Studies, 2(2), 225-233.
Zakki, M., & Zuhriyah, A. (2026). Harmonization of Islamic Law and State Law in Marriage Regulations. SAMARA INSANI: Indonesian Journal of Islamic Law and Family Studies, 1(1), 16-31.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ainun Yasminnatul Mu’minah (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.














