No abstract

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) benefits human life in various aspects. Islamic history has proven that the practice of proving a case through DNA has been carried out as early as the time of the Prophet Joseph (p.b.u.h.) and the time of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.). A lot of efforts have been done to introduce evidence through DNA in the Syariah Court. However, there are some important issues that must be addressed by various parties in Malaysia before starting to apply the DNA evidence in the Syariah Court. This study was conducted to identify important issues that require attention in the realization of the use of DNA evidence in the Syariah Court. This qualitative study employed socio-legal and library-based research in collecting primary and secondary data. Then, the data have been analyzed by using content analysis method through inductive and deductive reasoning. This study found five issues that need to be addressed namely the knowledge and understanding of shariah officers in regard to the DNA, the need to establish Syariah Forensic Laboratory, the suspect's reluctance to provide his DNA sample for DNA analysis, DNA forensic expert qualification as an expert witness in Syariah Court, and the evidential value of DNA in Syariah Court. This study concludes that these issues require effective and practical solution for the effort to bring DNA evidence to be successfully carried out.

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The development of science and technology today has contributed to the advancement of evidence law in the Civil Courts as well as Syariah Courts. The said application of science and technology refers to the scientific evidence produced from the results of analysis done by the expertise in forensic science. Numbers of reported Syariah cases has applied forensic science analysis and test to produce scientific evidence. These cases have portrayed the admission of scientific evidence in Syariah Courts and indicate the readiness of human capital in the Syariah Legal Institutions to apply the scientific evidence. Therefore, this study carry three purposes, to examine the main issues in handling the scientific evidence, to provide suggestion to rejuvenate human capital in Syariah Legal Institutions, and to suggest solution for the issues pointed out throughout the discussion. The result of this study elucidates two main issues that play integral part in handling the scientific evidence, which are the lack of knowledge and adequate experience. In order to overcome these particular issues, rejuvenation on the existing human capital in Syariah Legal Institutions must be done. This study focused on the rejuvenation in the aspect of knowledge and skills of human capital. The said module should contain two mains aspect, theoretical and practical aspect of forensic science. The target of this module is to serve the Syariah officers in the Syariah Legal Institutions as comprehensive guideline and instruction to lead the fundamentals of the forensic science in Syariah Courts into an appropriate platform. In conclusion, this study suggests the development of Fiqh Forensics Fundamental Module to curb the issues of lack of sufficient knowledge and adequate skills in handling scientific evidence.

The advancement in the field of forensic science highly affects the legal and enforcement field. As for the Shariah law, Syariah officers in Malaysia face challenges in controlling scientific-based exhibits and evidence. This has been seen as a result of lack of exposure, knowledge and comprehensive training in evidencing procedures using scientific-based qarinah. This preliminary study discusses the proposal to establish fiqh forensics fundamental module for the use of Syariah officers in Islamic legal institutions in Malaysia. This qualitative study applied inductive and deductive approaches in obtaining general and specific conclusion from primary and secondary sources. The findings show that there is a need to propose for the development of a specific module to empower human capital which includes enforcement, shariah prosecutors, judges and registrars within the integration framework of forensic science integration and fiqh based on the concept of 'fiqh forensics'. As such, this study addresses the proposed development of the fiqh forensics fundamental module for the use of shariah legislation.