LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF INHERITANCE DISTRIBUTION UNDER BATAK KARO CUSTOMARY LAW BY MUSLIM MEMBERS OF THE BATAK KARO TRIBE

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the inheritance distribution system under Batak Karo customary law in modern society and to examine its legal position and validity for Muslim Batak Karo communities from the perspectives of Islamic law and national law. The issue arises because the patrilineal system of Batak Karo customary law, which prioritizes sons, potentially differs from the principles of justice and proportional distribution in Islamic inheritance law. This situation raises questions regarding the harmonization between custom and sharia, as well as its juridical implications in the event of a dispute. The research employs a normative legal method using statutory and conceptual approaches. Primary legal materials include Law Number 3 of 2006 and the Compilation of Islamic Law, supported by literature and academic journals as secondary legal sources. The analysis is conducted qualitatively through systematic interpretation. The findings indicate that Batak Karo customary inheritance distribution continues to exist through family deliberation mechanisms; however, within Muslim families, adjustments have been made to align with the principles of faraidh. Socially, customary distribution is considered valid when agreed upon by all heirs, but juridically, it is subject to Islamic law if a dispute is brought before the Religious Court.