Developing a Policy Framework for the Observance of Ihdad Among Muslim Working Women in Malaysia

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-785-9_26How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Employment policy; Muslim Working Women; Mourning; Religious Obligations; Workplace Support System

Abstract

The observance of ihdād during a mandated mourning period for Muslim women following the death of a husband presents unique challenges, particularly for women who are actively engaged in the workforce. While ihdād is regulated within Islamic tradition, its application in the modern workplace raises important questions regarding religious obligations, employee rights, and institutional support. To date, there are no specific policies, laws, or guidelines that support the observance of ihdad for Muslim working women in Malaysia. This paper explores the need to develop a comprehensive policy framework to support working Muslim women in Malaysia during their ihdād period. It examines existing legal and organisational provisions, analyses gaps in current workplace practices, and highlights the lived experiences of women who are affected. Using a qualitative approach that includes document analysis and semi-structured interviews with ten female employees who experienced the death of their husbands, as well as nine employers from both the public and private sectors, the study identifies key areas where policy intervention is needed. Findings reveal several aspects that need to be considered in developing the policy framework for the observance of ihdad among Muslim working women in Malaysia, which include the provision of paid ihdad leave, flexible working hours and work arrangement, exemption from attending social or celebratory events or any external assignments, and notification of the ihdad period. The study proposes an inclusive policy framework that harmonises Islamic requirements of ihdad in employment settings. This research also highlights the importance of integrating religious observance into labour policies, whether at the federal, state or organisational level. Finally, it is not only to uphold the rights and dignity of Muslim women but also to promote a more compassionate and equitable working environment in Malaysia.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Norazla Abdul Wahab
AU  - Surianom Miskam
AU  - Zanariah Dimon
AU  - Norita Kamaruddin
AU  - Syh Noorul Madihah Syed Husin
AU  - Muhammad Yusri Zulkefli
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/07
TI  - Developing a Policy Framework for the Observance of Ihdad Among Muslim Working Women in Malaysia
BT  - Proceedings of the UUM 13th International Legal Conference 2025 (UUMILC 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 363
EP  - 379
SN  - 2667-128X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-785-9_26
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-785-9_26
ID  - Wahab2026
ER  -