Abstract:
The Muslim law on polygamy in Singapore has developed significantly since the enactment of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap 3, 2009 Rev Ed), which established procedural rules to regulate applications to contract a polygamous marriage. On the other hand, the legal principles underlying polygamy are deeply rooted in the religion and guidance can be gleaned from the decisions of the Singapore Syariah Appeal Board to understand how contemporary courts practise Muslim law on polygamy in the current legal landscape. Therefore, this article aims to provide a meaningful articulation of Singapore’s Muslim law on polygamy based on the decisions of the Singapore Syariah Appeal Board and the interaction with the relevant statutes, and considers comparisons between Singapore and Malaysia in their approach towards Muslim polygamy.