The Hukum Kanun Lingga: A Grand Legacy of Islamic Legal History in Sarawak

This article aims to explain the significant role of the Hukum Kanun Lingga (HKL) in the history of Islamic law in Sarawak. The Muslim community once used the HKL as a legal reference during the reign of the Brunei Sultanate. This study employs a qualitative approach through the analysis of historical documents and legal texts, as well as philological methods, to understand the linguistic structure and legal context of the manuscript. This approach allows for an in-depth study of the development of Islamic law in Sarawak, particularly through the analysis of the original HKL text. The primary sources for this study are the HKL manuscript and previous studies related to the history of Islamic law in Borneo. The findings indicate that the HKL is a crucial document that validates the practice of Islamic law within Sarawak’s society. The HKL contains laws related to marriage, criminal justice, economics, and land ownership, which are based on Islamic Sharia principles and local customs. In conclusion, this study emphasizes that the HKL is an important document that not only highlights the practice of Islamic law in Sarawak but also played a significant role in shaping the social, cultural, and legal structure of the Muslim community during the Brunei Sultanate era. The HKL clearly integrates Islamic Sharia principles with local customs, making it a vital foundation of the legal system at that time. The findings of this study introduce a new narrative on the development of Islamic law in Sarawak, where the HKL serves as solid evidence of the existence of a structured Islamic legal system prior to the Brooke colonial era. Therefore, preserving and further studying this manuscript is essential to understanding the heritage of Islamic law in Sarawak and ensuring it remains appreciated as part of the state’s historical and cultural identity.