Evaluating the Effectiveness of Legal Support for Women's Post-Divorce Rights: Maslahah Approach in Indonesia and Malaysia

El-Usrah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga https://jurnal.ar-raniry.ac.id/index.php/usrah/index ISSN: 2620 – 8075 ║ E-ISSN: 2620 – 8083 Vol. 8. No. 2. December 2025 DOI: 10.22373/ujhk.v8i2.26951 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Legal Support for Women's Post-Divorce Rights: Maslahah Approach in Indonesia and Malaysia Rusdaya Basri1, Rahmawati1, Ridha Ridha1, Asma Luthfi2, Mohd Nasran B Mohamad3 1 Institut Agama Islam Negeri Parepare, Indonesia 2 Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia 3 Fakulti Pengajian Islam, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia Email: Abstract The purpose of this study is to analyze and compare the fulfillment of women's postdivorce rights in Indonesia and Malaysia through the lens of maslahah (general welfare). The research specifically examines rights such as nafkah iddah and mut'ah, as well as the challenges associated with their implementation in both countries. A qualitative methodology with an empirical juridical approach was employed, relying on in-depth interviews with judges in Indonesia's religious courts and officials and community leaders in Malaysia, supplemented by observations and document analysis. Data were analyzed using a flow model that included data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results indicate that Malaysia’s legal system, supported by the Family Support Division (BSK), more effectively secures women's post-divorce rights compared to Indonesia, where, despite the protective provisions of SEMA No. 2 of 2019, women continue to face complex legal procedures and high execution costs. The originality of this study lies in its comparative approach and application of maslahah theory to assess women’s welfare within family law in two Muslim-majority countries. The study implies that Indonesia's legal system could benefit from reform by incorporating elements of Malaysia's institutional support structures, enhancing women’s access to their rights post-divorce, and promoting a more equitable system for women’s welfare. Keywords: Post-divorce rights, Nafkah Iddah and Mut'ah, Women's welfare, Maslahah approach, Comparative legal analysis. 979 Rosdaya, et.al., Evaluating the Effectiveness of Legal Support 980 Abstrak Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis dan membandingkan pemenuhan hakhak perempuan pascaperceraian di Indonesia dan Malaysia melalui perspektif maslahah (kemaslahatan umum). Penelitian ini secara khusus mengkaji hak-hak seperti nafkah iddah dan mut‘ah, serta berbagai tantangan dalam pelaksanaannya di kedua negara. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kualitatif dengan pendekatan yuridis empiris, yang didasarkan pada wawancara mendalam dengan para hakim di pengadilan agama di Indonesia serta pejabat dan tokoh masyarakat di Malaysia, yang dilengkapi dengan observasi dan analisis dokumen. Data dianalisis menggunakan model alur yang meliputi reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sistem hukum di Malaysia, yang didukung oleh keberadaan Family Support Division (BSK), lebih efektif dalam menjamin pemenuhan hak-hak perempuan pascaperceraian dibandingkan dengan Indonesia. Di Indonesia, meskipun telah terdapat ketentuan perlindungan melalui SEMA Nomor 2 Tahun 2019, perempuan masih menghadapi prosedur hukum yang kompleks serta biaya eksekusi yang tinggi. Keaslian penelitian ini terletak pada pendekatan komparatif dan penerapan teori maslahah untuk menilai kesejahteraan perempuan dalam hukum keluarga di dua negara dengan mayoritas penduduk Muslim. Penelitian ini mengimplikasikan bahwa sistem hukum di Indonesia dapat memperoleh manfaat dari reformasi dengan mengadopsi unsurunsur dukungan kelembagaan seperti yang diterapkan di Malaysia, sehingga dapat meningkatkan akses perempuan terhadap hak-haknya pascaperceraian serta mendorong terwujudnya sistem yang lebih adil bagi kesejahteraan perempuan. Kata kunci: Hak pascaperceraian, nafkah iddah dan mut‘ah, kesejahteraan perempuan, pendekatan maslahah, analisis hukum komparatif. Introduction Divorce in Indonesia significantly impacts women’s psychological, emotional, and economic well-being.1 The high number of divorce cases, particularly those filed by women, reveals the financial and emotional strains that often follow.2 The increasing divorce rate emphasizes the urgency of post-divorce protections, especially for economically vulnerable women. In 2021, data from Indonesia’s Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) recorded 447,743 divorce cases, reflecting a rise from 2020. Of these cases, a substantial portion were initiated by wives, indicating a shift in societal trends. The upward trend continued in 2022, with divorce cases reaching 516,334 the highest in six years highlighting the need to secure women’s 1 Atun Wardatun and Bianca J Smith, “Woman-Initiated Divorce and Feminist Fiqh in Indonesia: Narrating Male Acts of Nushūz in Marriage,” Ulumuna 24, no. 2 (2020), pp. 266–95. 2 Mursyid Djawas et al., “The Government’s Role in Decreasing Divorce Rates in Indonesia: The Case of Aceh and South Sulawesi,” AHKAM : Jurnal Ilmu Syariah 21, no. 1 (2021). https://jurnal.ar-raniry.ac.id/index.php/usrah/index Vol. 8 No. 2, December 2025 Rosdaya, et.al., Evaluating the Effectiveness of Legal Support 981 rights after divorce. These statistics underscore the importance of ensuring that women receive necessary protections to mitigate the adverse effects of divorce.3 Both Islamic and statutory laws address post-divorce rights and obligations for spouses.4 Conventional Islamic jurisprudence and modern family laws have long set standards for post-divorce rights, reflecting ongoing reforms in Muslim family law worldwide.5 Scholars like Tahir Mahmood note that such aspects are central to contemporary Muslim family law frameworks. For example, Indonesia’s Marriage Law No. 1 of 1974 and the Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI) Article 149 outline clear post-divorce rights for women. Additionally, Supreme Court Circular No. 2 of 2019 enhances these protections by specifying that payment obligations be settled before obtaining the divorce certificate.6 In Malaysia, these rights are upheld through the Islamic Family Law Enactment, offering guidelines for iddah maintenance and other essential support.7 These examples highlight how Islamic and national laws work together to support women's post-divorce rights, aligning with evolving family law practices in Muslim-majority countries.8 3 Cindy Mutiah Annur, Kasus Perceraian di Indonesia Melonjak Lagi pada 2022, Tertinggi dalam Enam Tahun Terakhir (n.d.). 4 Vida Nurul Fadillah, “Eksekusi Putusan Pengadilan Agama Mengenai Hak Istri Selepas Perceraian: Studi Komparatif Kompilasi Hukum Islam Indonesia Dan Enakmen Undang-Undang Keluarga Islam Malaysia” (UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, 2023); H Hamzah, Oyo Sunaryo Mukhlas, and Usep Saepullah, “Hak-Hak Perempuan Pasca Perceraian Dalam Hukum Positif Dan Hukum Islam,” Usroh 6, no. 1 (n.d.), pp. 62–80; Mursyid Djawas Djawas, Azka Amalia Jihad, (...truncated)