Although the women’s rights group, Sisters in Islam (SIS), had been labelled as ‘deviant’, many Muslim women (and men) would tend to disagree.
Yesterday, on 31 July 2025, the much respected NGO, the former Sisters-in-Islam dropped the word “Islam” at the Sultan’s behest, and has renamed* itself as ‘SIS Forum’.
Remember the phrase “What’s in a name?”, from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet? You can call a rose by any other name, but it would still smell as sweetly as it does with the name “rose”.
For reasons known only to themselves, the privileged group of men, and perhaps women too, in the Fatwa Council of the Selangor Islamic Department (JAIS-Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor) decided to brand the former Sisters-in-Islam as a deviant group.
For the several thousands maligned and marginalised Muslim women, SIS provided a turning point in their lives.
In their experience, SIS was their only lifeline, a place they turned to for advice, for seeking information, knowledge and refuge, especially when others were reluctant to help them, for one reason or another.
Although men and women are deemed equal in the name of Islam, in reality, that is not the experience of many Muslim women in Malaysia.
If the laws and practices to bring justice to women were that easily available, then SIS might not need to exist.
If only we could change our deep-rooted beliefs and put an end to discriminatory practices towards women, but these will probably take a few generations to take root, provided the intolerant conservative Islam does not have a firm grip on the population.
It the system was infallible and perfect and the help readily available to those who need it, then there would be no need for SIS.
In truth, SIS is probably one of the few NGOs that exists to assist both men and women, especially with respect to syariah law. Many Muslim Malaysians have had the privilege and opportunity to benefit from the help given by SIS.
The NGO provides free legal aid to those who need it most and to those who qualify for this aid. The panel of voluntary lawyers gives impartial advice to those who find that they have been discriminated against.
SIS holds talks, workshops and produces literature to keep us, the general public informed and aware of the latest developments in syariah law.
It is a valuable source of information, almost a one-stop shop for those seeking advice.
It does not give money but helps by pointing the seeker of the information in the right direction.
Although it is mostly manned by a team of volunteers, a majority of the members work with dedication and commitment and are accessible to those who seek its advice, by phone, e-mail and appoinment, something which most ministers, politicians or those civil servants in the appropriate government department are unable to do.
Although many have utilised the services of SIS and possibly not all have been satisfied with the final outcome, nevertheless it is there and is an alternative body for help and information or a place where those who are desperate can go to.
The majority of people who use SIS are normally those who are faced with a problem, like those seeking clarification or solutions on divorce, custody of children, distribution of inheritance and the like. They are victims, or are vulnerable, or are going through a set of problems for which SIS may be able to provide the answers. They provide an invaluable service to the public, especially the people who find they have nowhere else to turn to.
However, in July 2014, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (JAIS) issued a fatwa which declared that SIS had deviated from Islamic teachings and had allegedly subscribed to “liberalism” and “religious pluralism”.
However, the ordinary Malaysian would find the allegations hard to digest and the terminology difficult to grasp. Many are unclear about the terms “liberalism” and “religious pluralism”. What do they really mean? How do these manifest themselves in multicultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-faith Malaysia?
As far as others were concerned, especially those who had the privilege to access the services of SIS, this lengthy legal wrangle was merely an academic exercise in law. In their opinion, SIS had not deviated from Islamic teachings.
Finally, after a ten year wait, the Federal Court ruled in SIS’ favour on 19 June. Despite its victory SIS lamented the fact that it was declared “deviant” simply because it upheld justice and equality in Islam.
Their victory was significant because the court acknowledged that their struggle was a fundamental right as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.
“SIS strongly believes that when a country uses Islam as a source of law, policy and practice, and the outcomes discriminate against women and violate our fundamental liberties, citizens have the right to seek judicial review.
“This case is not about Islam, but public law and public policy that must pass the test of public scrutiny.”
JAIS issued a fatwa against SIS for being deviant. The Federal Court has declared otherwise.
Naim Moktar, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) stressed that fatwas guide Muslims. the need for cooperation between judiciary, lawmakers, and religious bodies.
To disband SIS and declare it haram will be a wrong move. It will give the wrong message to the public. It will further downgrade the role of women both at home and in politics.
The people who need the services SIS provides have already been abused once. There is no need to abuse them a second time and further humiliate or deny them justice by taking away this one other avenue with which these people can assert their rights.
“Urging” them to change their name will not detract from the good work they do, that they have done and will continue to do.
What has happened with this renaming exercise just shows the precarious state of Muslim women in Malaysia, but the SIS women are smarter than most.
The fatwa council may claim a victory of sorts, but will they grow up and stop being childish, and acknowledge that there is equality in Islam, but perhaps, not in Malaysia.
Missing the wood for the trees. Misunderstood. Maligned. Misoygonistic.
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