The Understanding of Religious Freedom According To 4th-Year Undergraduate Fiqh And Fatwa Students At Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

In the Islamic viewpoint, freedom of religion encompasses honouring an individual's autonomy to select and observe their faith in alignment with their preferences. The primary catalyst for this lies in the burgeoning comprehension of Muslim youth, as their evolving understanding plays a pivotal role. Cultural influences often restrict the genuine grasp of Islam among many Muslim youth. Thus, this study evaluates the concept of religious freedom according to Islamic perspective, examine the challenges in understanding religious freedom and to propose the resolution in understanding the religious freedom in Malaysia. However, this research aims to analyse the level of understanding of religious freedom according to 4th Year Undergraduate Students of Fiqh and Fatwa in Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. Moreover, a quantitative methodology was employed to analyse the data through deductive and field research. For field research, this study conducted the questionnaire and survey that obtained 131 respondents out of 201 selected among 4th Year Undergraduate Students of Fiqh and Fatwa from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. The result indicates from SPSS analysis that respondents have a good understanding of religious freedom which is categorized into three variables: understanding of the concept of religious freedom (96.86%), awareness of law (97.25%) and religious discrimination (91.29%). Besides, this research shows that the comprehension level of religious freedom was elevated at (95.15%), reflecting a favorable perspective on religious freedom. This finding illustrates that religious freedom, when viewed through an Islamic lens, aligns with the foundational principles of justice and societal well-being in Malaysia. Additionally, policy discussions and legal reforms may be explored and be implicated to ensure that existing laws align with the principles of religious freedom within an Islamic context. Thus, this study underscores the significance of striking a balance between religious freedom and the preservation of Islamic values