MALACAANG

M a n i l a
PR5lDNTlAL DCR No. l083
A DCR TO ORDAlN AND PROMULGAT A COD RCOGNlZlNG TH 5Y5TM Ol
llLlPlNO MU5LlM LAw5, CODllYlNG MU5LlM PR5ONAL LAw5, AND PROVlDlNG lOR
lT5 ADMlNl5TRATlON AND lOR OTHR PURPO55
WHFRFAS, pursuanL Lo Lhe spiriL o Lhe provision o Lhe ConsLiLuLion o Lhe Philippines LhaL,
in order Lo promoLe Lhe advancemenL and eecLive parLicipaLion o Lhe NaLional CulLural
CommuniLies in Lhe building o Lhe New SocieLy, Lhe SLaLe shall consider Lheir cusLoms,
LradiLions, belies and inLeresLs in Lhe ormulaLion and implemenLaLion o iLs policies,
WHFRFAS, lslamic law and iLs principles o equiLy and jusLice, Lo which Lhe Filipino Muslim
communiLies adhere, provide an essenLial basis or Lhe uller developmenL o said
communiLies in relaLion Lo Lhe search or harmonious relaLions o all segmenLs o Lhe Filipino
naLion Lo enhance naLional uniLy,
WHFRFAS, Lhe enorcemenL, wiLh Lhe ull sancLion o Lhe SLaLe, o Lhe legal sysLem o Lhe
Filipino Muslims shall redound Lo Lhe aLLainmenL o a more ordered lie amongsL Lhem,
WHFRFAS, iL is Lhe inLense desire o Lhe New SocieLy Lo sLrengLhen all Lhe eLhno-linguisLic
communiLies in Lhe Philippines wiLhin Lhe conLexL o Lheir respecLive ways o lie in order Lo
bring abouL a cumulaLive resulL saLisying Lhe requiremenLs o naLional solidariLy and social
jusLice,
NOW, 1HFRFFORF, l, FFRDlNAND F. MARCOS, PresidenL o Lhe Republic o Lhe Philippines,
by virLue o Lhe powers vesLed in me by Lhe ConsLiLuLion o Lhe Philippines, do hereby ordain
and promulgaLe Lhe "Code o Muslim Personal Laws o Lhe Philippines" as parL o Lhe law o
Lhe land hereby decree.
BOOK ON
GNRAL PROVl5lON5
TlTL l
TlTL AND PURPO55 Ol COD
ArticIe l. 1itle. 1his decree shall be known as Lhe "Code o Muslim Personal Laws o Lhe
Philippines."
ArticIe 2. !:7548e 41 C4/e. PursuanL Lo SecLion o ArLicle Xv o Lhe ConsLiLuLion o Lhe
Philippines, which provides LhaL "1he SLaLe shall consider Lhe cusLoms, LradiLions, belies and
inLeresLs o naLional culLural communiLies in Lhe ormulaLion and implemenLaLion o sLaLe
policies," Lhis Code.
(a) Recognizes Lhe legal sysLem o Lhe Muslims in Lhe Philippines as parL o Lhe law o
Lhe land and seeks Lo make lslamic insLiLuLions more eecLive,
(b) Codiies Muslim personal laws, and
(c) Provides or an eecLive adminisLraLion and enorcemenL o Muslim personal laws
among Muslims.
TlTL ll.
CON5TRUCTlON Ol COD AND DllNlTlON Ol TRM5
ArticIe 3. C431lict 41 574;i8i438.
() ln case o conlicL beLween any provision o Lhis Code and laws o general
applicaLion, Lhe ormer shall prevail.
(2) Should Lhe conlicL be beLween any provision o Lhis Code and special laws or laws
o local applicaLion, Lhe laLLer shall be liberally consLrued in order Lo carry ouL Lhe
ormer.
(3) 1he provisions o Lhis Code shall be applicable only Lo Muslims and noLhing
herein shall be consLrued Lo operaLe Lo Lhe prejudice o a non-Muslim.
ArticIe 4. C438t7:cti43 c3/ i3te757etcti43.
() ln Lhe consLrucLion and inLerpreLaLion o Lhis Code and oLher Muslim laws, Lhe
courL shall Lake inLo consideraLion Lhe primary sources o Muslim law.
(2) SLandard LreaLises and works on Muslim law and jurisprudence shall be given
persuasive weighL in Lhe inLerpreLaLion o Muslim law.
ArticIe 5. !7441 41 M:8lim lcw c3/ 'c/c. Muslim law and 'ada noL embodied in Lhis Code shall
be proven in evidence as a acL. No 'ada which is conLrary Lo Lhe ConsLiLuLion o Lhe
Philippines, Lhis Code, Muslim law, public order, public policy or public inLeresL shall be given
any legal eecL.
ArticIe 6. C431lict i3 l8lcmic 8ch44l8 41 lcw.
() Should Lhere be any conlicL among Lhe orLhodox (Sunni) Muslim schools o law
(Madhahib), LhaL which is in consonance wiLh Lhe ConsLiLuLion o Lhe Philippines, Lhis
Code, public order, public policy and public inLeresL shall be given eecL.
(2) 1he Muslim schools o law shall, or purposes o Lhis Code, be Lhe Hani, Lhe
Hanbali, Lhe Maliki and Lhe Shai'i.
ArticIe 7. e1i3iti43 41 te7m8. Unless Lhe conLexL oLherwise provides.
(a) "Agama ArbiLraLion Council" means a body composed o Lhe Chairman and a
represenLaLive o each o Lhe parLies Lo consLiLuLe a council Lo Lake all necessary sLeps
or resolving conlicLs beLween Lhem.
(b) "Ada" means cusLomary law.
(c) "Ceneral RegisLer" means Lhe Ceneral RegisLer o marriages, divorces, revocaLion
o divorces, conversion and such oLher deeds or insLrumenLs kepL by Lhe RegisLrar
under Lhis Code.
(d) "lhram" signiies Lhe sLaLe o riLual consecraLion o a person while on pilgrimage
Lo Mecca.
(e) "Madhhab" (plural, Madhahib) means any o Lhe our orLhodox (Sunni) schools o
Muslim law.
() "MonLh" means a period o LhirLy days.
(g) "Muslim" is a person who LesLiies Lo Lhe oneness o Cod and Lhe PropheLhood o
Muhammad and proesses lslam.
(h) "Muslim Law" (Shari'a) reers Lo all Lhe ordinances and regulaLions governing
Muslims as ound principally in Lhe Qur'an and Lhe HadiLh.
(i) "Muslim Personal Law" includes all laws relaLing Lo personal sLaLus, marriage and
divorce, maLrimonial and amily relaLions, succession and inheriLance, and properLy
relaLions beLween spouses as provided or in Lhis Code.
BOOK TwO
PR5ON5 AND lAMlLY RLATlON5
TlTL l
ClVlL PR5ONALlTY (5HAKH5lYAH MADANlYA)
ArticIe 8. ecl cc5ccity. Juridical capaciLy, which is Lhe iLness Lo be Lhe subjecL o legal
relaLions, is inherenL in every naLural person and is losL only Lhrough deaLh. CapaciLy Lo acL,
which is Lhe power Lo do acLs wiLh legal eecL, is acquired and may be losL.
ArticIe 9. #e8t7icti438 43 cc5ccity. 1he ollowing circumsLances, among oLhers, modiy or
limiL capaciLy Lo acL. age, insaniLy, imbeciliLy, Lhe sLaLe o being dea-muLe, Lhe condiLion o
deaLh-illness (marad-ul-mauL), penalLy, prodigaliLy, absence, amily relaLions, alienage,
insolvency, and LrusLeeship. 1he consequences o Lhese circumsLances are governed by Lhis
Code and oLher lslamic laws and, in a suppleLory manner, by oLher laws.
ArticIe l0. !e7843clity, h4w ccq:i7e/. 8irLh deLermines personaliLy, buL Lhe conceived child
shall be considered born or all purposes LhaL are avorable Lo iL, provided iL be born alive,
however, briely, aL Lhe Lime iL is compleLely delivered rom Lhe moLher's womb.
ArticIe ll. ti3cti43 41 5e7843clity.
() Civil personaliLy is exLinguished by deaLh. 1he eecL o deaLh upon Lhe righLs and
obligaLions o a deceased person is deLermined by Lhis Code, by conLracL, and by will.
(2) ALer an absence o seven years, iL being unknown wheLher or noL Lhe absenLee
sLill lives, he shall be presumed dead.
ArticIe l2. Sim:ltc3e4:8 /ecth. l, as beLween Lwo or more persons who are called Lo
succeed each oLher, Lhere is a doubL as Lo which o Lhem died irsL, whoever alleges Lhe
deaLh o one prior Lo Lhe oLher shall prove Lhe same, in Lhe absence o such proo, iL is
presumed LhaL Lhey died aL Lhe same Lime and Lhere shall be no Lransmission o righLs rom
one Lo Lhe oLher. However, Lhe successional righLs o Lheir respecLive heirs shall noL be
aecLed.
TlTL ll
MARRlAG AND DlVORC
Chapter One
APPLlCABlLlTY CLAU5
ArticIe l3. A55liccti43.
() 1he provisions o Lhis 1iLle shall apply Lo marriage and divorce wherein boLh
parLies are Muslims, or wherein only Lhe male parLy is a Muslim and Lhe marriage is
solemnized in accordance wiLh Muslim law or Lhis Code in any parL o Lhe Philippines.
(2) ln case o marriage beLween a Muslim and a non-Muslim, solemnized noL in
accordance wiLh Muslim law or Lhis Code, Lhe Civil Code o Lhe Philippines shall apply.
(3) SubjecL Lo Lhe provisions o Lhe preceding paragraphs, Lhe essenLial requisiLes and
legal impedimenLs Lo marriage, divorce, paLerniLy and iliaLion, guardianship and
cusLody o minors, supporL and mainLenance, claims or cusLomary dower (mahr),
beLroLhal, breach o conLracL Lo marry, solemnizaLion and regisLraLion o marriage
and divorce, righLs and obligaLions beLween husband and wie parenLal auLhoriLy, and
Lhe properly relaLions beLween husband and wie shall be governed by Lhis Code and
oLher applicable Muslim laws.
Chapter Two
MARRlAG (NlKAH)
5ection l. #eq:i8ite8 41 Mc77ice
ArticIe l4. Nct:7e. Marriage is noL only a civil conLracL buL a social insLiLuLion. lLs naLure,
consequences and incidenLs are governed by Lhis Code and Lhe Shari'a and noL subjecL Lo
sLipulaLion, excepL LhaL Lhe marriage seLLlemenLs may Lo a cerLain exLenL ix Lhe properLy
relaLions o Lhe spouses.
ArticIe l5. 88e3ticl 7eq:i8ite8. No marriage conLracL shall be perecLed unless Lhe ollowing
essenLial requisiLes are compiled wiLh.
(a) Legal capaciLy o Lhe conLracLing parLies,
(b) MuLual consenL o Lhe parLies reely given,
(c) Oer (ijab) and accepLance (qabul) duly wiLnessed by aL leasL Lwo compeLenL
persons aLer Lhe proper guardian in marriage (wali) has given his consenL, and
(d) SLipulaLion o cusLomary dower (mahr) duly wiLnessed by Lwo compeLenL persons.
ArticIe l6. Cc5ccity t4 c43t7cct mc77ice.
() Any Muslim male aL leasL iLeen years o age and any Muslim emale o Lhe age o
puberLy or upwards and noL suering rom any impedimenL under Lhe provisions o
Lhis Code may conLracL marriage. A emale is presumed Lo have aLLained puberLy
upon reaching Lhe age o iLeen.
(2) However, Lhe Shari'a DisLricL CourL may, upon peLiLion o a proper wali, order Lhe
solemnizaLion o Lhe marriage o a emale who Lhough less Lhan iLeen buL noL below
Lwelve years o age, has aLLained puberLy.
(3) Marriage Lhrough a wali by a minor below Lhe prescribed ages shall be regarded
as beLroLhal and may be annulled upon Lhe peLiLion o eiLher parLy wiLhin our years
aLer aLLaining Lhe age o puberLy, provided no volunLary cohabiLaLion has Laken
place and Lhe wali who conLracLed Lhe marriage was oLher Lhan Lhe aLher or paLernal
grandaLher.
ArticIe l7. Mc77ice ce7em43y. No parLicular orm o marriage ceremony is required buL Lhe
ijab and Lhe gabul in marriage shall be declared publicly in Lhe presence o Lhe person
solemnizing Lhe marriage and Lwo compeLenL wiLnesses. 1his declaraLion shall be seL orLh in
an insLrumenL in LriplicaLe, signed or marked by Lhe conLracLing parLies and said wiLnesses,
and aLLesLed by Lhe person solemnizing Lhe marriage. One copy shall be given Lo Lhe
conLracLing parLies and anoLher senL Lo Lhe CircuiL RegisLrar by Lhe solemnizing oicer who
shall keep Lhe Lhird.
ArticIe l8. A:th47ity t4 84lem3ize mc77ice. Marriage may be solemnized.
(a) 8y Lhe proper wali o Lhe woman Lo be wedded,
(b) Upon auLhoriLy o Lhe proper wali, by any person who is compeLenL under Muslim
law Lo solemnize marriage, or
(c) 8y Lhe judge o Lhe Shari'a DisLricL CourL o Shari'a CircuiL CourL or any person
designaLed by Lhe judge, should Lhe proper wali reuse wiLhouL jusLiiable reason, Lo
auLhorize Lhe solemnizaLion.
ArticIe l9. !lcce 41 84lem3izcti43. Marriage shall be solemnized publicly in any mosque,
oice o Lhe Shari'a judge, oice o Lhe DisLricL or CircuiL RegisLrar, residence o Lhe bride or
her wali, or aL any oLher suiLable place agreed upon by Lhe parLies.
ArticIe 20. S5eci1iccti43 41 /4we7. 1he amounL or value o dower may be ixed by Lhe
conLracLing parLies (marh-musamma) beore, during, or aLer Lhe celebraLion o Lhe marriage.
l Lhe amounL or Lhe value Lhereo has noL been so ixed, a proper dower (mahr-miLhl) shall,
upon peLiLion o Lhe wie, be deLermined by Lhe courL according Lo Lhe social sLanding o Lhe
parLies.
ArticIe 2l. !cyme3t 41 /4we7. SubjecL Lo Lhe sLipulaLion o Lhe parLies, Lhe dower may be
ully or parLially paid beore, during, or aLer Lhe marriage. 1he properLy or esLaLe o Lhe
husband shall be liable or Lhe unpaid dower, or any parL Lhereo.
ArticIe 22. 37ecch 41 c43t7cct. Any person who has enLered inLo a conLracL Lo marry buL
subsequenLly reuses wiLhouL reasonable ground Lo marry Lhe oLher parLy who is willing Lo
perorm Lhe same shall pay Lhe laLLer Lhe expenses incurred or Lhe preparaLion o Lhe
marriage and such damages as may be granLed by Lhe courL.
5ection 2. !74hibite/ Mc77ice8
ArticIe 23. 3c8e8 41 574hibiti43. No marriage may be conLracLed by parLies wiLhin Lhe
prohibiLed degrees.
(a) O consanguiniLy,
(b) O ainiLy, and
(c) O osLerage.
ArticIe 24. !74hibiti43 by c438c3:i3ity (tch7imjbi33c8cb). No marriage shall be conLracLed
beLween.
(a) AscendanLs and descendanLs o any degree,
(b) 8roLhers and sisLers, wheLher germane, consanguine or uLerine, and
(c) 8roLhers or sisLers and Lheir descendanLs wiLhin Lhe Lhird civil degree.
ArticIe 25. !74hibiti43 by c11i3ity (tch7imbillm:8chc7c). () No marriage shall be conLracLed
beLween.
(a) Any o Lhe spouses and Lheir respecLive ainal relaLives in Lhe ascending
line and in Lhe collaLeral line wiLhin Lhe Lhird degree,
(b) SLepaLher and sLepdaughLer when Lhe marriage beLween Lhe ormer and
Lhe moLher o Lhe laLLer has been consummaLed,
(c) SLepmoLher and sLepson when Lhe marriage beLween Lhe ormer and Lhe
aLher o Lhe laLLer has been consummaLed, and
(d) SLepson or sLepdaughLer and Lhe widow, widower or divorcee o Lheir
respecLive ascendanLs.
(2) 1he prohibiLion under Lhis arLicle applies even aLer Lhe dissoluLion o Lhe
marriage creaLing Lhe ainal relaLionship.
ArticIe 26. !74hibiti43 /:e t4 148te7ce (tch7imbi77c/c'c).
() No person may validly conLracL marriage wiLh any woman who breasLed him or
aL leasL ive Limes wiLhin Lwo years aLer his birLh.
(2) 1he prohibiLion on marriage by reason o consanguiniLy shall likewise apply Lo
persons relaLed by osLerage wiLhin Lhe same degrees, subjecL Lo excepLion
recognized by Muslim law.
5ection 3. S:b8eq:e3t Mc77ice8
ArticIe 27. 3y c h:8bc3/. NoLwiLhsLanding Lhe rule o lslamic law permiLLing a Muslim Lo
have more Lhan one wie buL one wie unless he can deal wiLh Lhem wiLh equal
companionship and jusL LreaLmenL as enjoined by lslamic law and only in excepLional cases.
ArticIe 28. 3y wi/4w. No widow shall conLracL a subsequenL marriage unless she has
observed an 'idda o our monLhs and Len days counLed rom Lhe daLe o Lhe deaLh o her
husband. l aL LhaL Lime Lhe widow is pregnanL, she may remarry wiLhin a reasonable Lime
aLer delivery. ln such case, she shall produce Lhe corresponding deaLh cerLiicaLe.
ArticIe 29. 3y /i;47cee.
() No woman shall conLracL a subsequenL marriage unless she has observed an 'idda
o Lhree monLhly courses counLed rom Lhe daLe o divorce. However, i she is
pregnanL aL Lhe Lime o Lhe divorce, she may remarry only aLer delivery.
(2) Should a repudiaLed woman and her husband reconcile during her 'idda, he shall
have a beLLer righL Lo Lake her back wiLhouL need o a new marriage conLracL.
(3) Where iL is indubiLable LhaL Lhe marriage has noL been consummaLed when Lhe
divorce was aecLed, no 'idda shall be required.
ArticIe 30. Mc77ice c1te7 th7ee tclcq.
() Where a wie has been Lhrice repudiaLed (Lalaq bain lubra) on Lhree dierenL
occasions by her husband, he cannoL remarry her unless she shall have married
anoLher person who divorces her aLer consummaLion o Lhe inLervening marriage
and Lhe expiraLion o Lhe 'idda.
(2) No solemnizing oicer shall perorm Lhe subsequenL marriage menLioned in Lhe
preceding paragraph unless he has ascerLained LhaL Lhere was no collusion among
Lhe parLies.
5ection 4. 3ctil c3/ lc8i Mc77ice8
ArticIe 3l. 3ctil mc77ice8. 1he ollowing marriages shall be void (baLil) rom Lhe beginning.
(a) 1hose conLracLed conLrary Lo ArLicles 23, 24, 25 and 26,
(b) 1hose conLracLed in conLravenLion o Lhe prohibiLion againsL unlawul conjuncLion,
and
(c) 1hose conLracLed by parLies one or boLh o whom have been ound guilLy o
having killed Lhe spouse o eiLher o Lhem.
ArticIe 32. lc8i/ mc77ice8. 1he ollowing marriages shall be irregular (asid) rom Lheir
perormance.
(a) 1hose conLracLed wiLh a emale observing 'idda,
(b) 1hose conLracLed conLrary Lo ArLicle 30,
(c) 1hose wherein Lhe consenL o eiLher parLy is viLiaLed by violence, inLimidaLion,
raud, deceiL or misrepresenLaLion,
(d) 1hose conLracLed by a parLy in a condiLion o deaLh-illness (marad-ul-maulL)
wiLhouL Lhe same being consummaLed,
(e) 1hose conLracLed by a parLy in a sLaLe o ihram, and
() Mixed marriages noL allowed under lslamic law.
ArticIe 33. vcli/cti43 41 i77e:lc7 mc77ice8. () lrregular marriages may be made regular by
a new marriage conLracL in Lhe ollowing cases.
(a) 1hose reerred Lo in ArLicle 32(a), aLer Lhe impedimenL has been removed,
(b) 1hose reerred Lo in ArLicle 32(b), upon compliance wiLh Lhe requiremenL
o ArLicle 30,
(c) 1hose reerred Lo in ArLicle 32(c), aLer Lhe causes viLiaLing consenL have
ceased,
(d) 1hose reerred Lo in ArLicle 32(d), in case Lhe parLy recovers.
(e) 1hose reerred Lo in ArLicle 32(e), when Lhe parLy is no longer in a sLaLe o
ihram, and
() 1hose reerred Lo in ArLicle 32(), aLer conversion Lo a aiLh LhaL could have
made Lhe marriage valid.
(2) 1he eecLs o Lhe new marriage under Lhe irsL paragraph shall reLroacL Lo Lhe
daLe o Lhe celebraLion o Lhe irregular marriage.
5ection 5. #iht8 c3/ Oblicti438 3etwee3 S54:8e8
ArticIe 34. M:t:cl 7iht8 c3/ 4blicti438.
() 1he husband and Lhe wie are obliged Lo live LogeLher, observe muLual respecL
and ideliLy, and render muLual help and supporL in accordance wiLh Lhis Code.
(2) When one o Lhe spouses neglecLs his or her duLies Lo Lhe conjugal union or
brings danger, dishonor or maLerial injury upon Lhe oLher, Lhe injured parLy may
peLiLion Lhe courL or relie. 1he courL may counsel Lhe oender Lo comply wiLh his or
her duLies, and Lake such measures as may be proper.
(3) 1he husband and Lhe wie shall inheriL rom each oLher in accordance wiLh Lhis
Code.
(4) 1he husband and Lhe wie shall have Lhe righL Lo divorce in accordance wiLh Lhis
Code.
ArticIe 35. #iht8 c3/ 4blicti438 41 the h:8bc3/. 1he husband shall ix Lhe residence o Lhe
amily. 1he courL may exempL Lhe wie rom living wiLh her husband on any o Lhe ollowing
grounds.
(a) Her dower is noL saLisied in accordance wiLh Lhe sLipulaLions, or
(b) 1he conjugal dwelling is noL in keeping wiLh her social sLanding or is, or any
reason, noL sae or Lhe members o Lhe amily or her properLy.
ArticIe 36. #iht8 c3/ 4blicti438 41 the wi1e.
() 1he wie shall duLiully manage Lhe aairs o Lhe household. She may purchase
Lhings necessary or Lhe mainLenance o Lhe amily, and Lhe husband shall be bound
Lo reimburse Lhe expenses, i he has noL delivered Lhe proper sum.
(2) 1he wie cannoL, wiLhouL Lhe husband's consenL, acquire any properLy by
graLuiLous LiLle, excepL rom her relaLives who are wiLhin Lhe prohibiLed degrees in
marriage.
(3) 1he wie may, wiLh her husband's consenL, exercise any proession or occupaLion
or engage in lawul business which is in keeping wiLh lslamic modesLy and virLue.
However, i Lhe husband reuses Lo give his consenL on Lhe ground LhaL his income is
suicienL or Lhe amily according Lo iLs social sLanding or his opposiLion is based on
serious and valid grounds, Lhe maLLer shall be reerred Lo Lhe Agama ArbiLraLion
Council.
(4) 1he wie shall have Lhe righL Lo demand Lhe saLisacLion o her mahr.
(5) Unless oLherwise sLipulaLed in Lhe marriage seLLlemenLs, Lhe wie reLain ownership
and adminisLraLion o her exclusive properLy.
(6) 1he wie shall be enLiLled Lo an equal and jusL LreaLmenL by Lhe husband.
5ection 6. !745e7ty #elcti438 3etwee3 S54:8e8
ArticIe 37. H4w 4;e73e/. 1he properLy relaLions beLween husband and wie shall be
governed in Lhe ollowing order.
(a) 8y conLracL beore or aL Lhe Lime o Lhe celebraLion o marriage,
(b) 8y Lhe provisions o Lhis Code, and
(c) 8y cusLom.
ArticIe 38. #eime 41 5745e7ty 7elcti438. 1he properLy relaLions beLween Lhe spouses, in Lhe
absence o any sLipulaLion Lo Lhe conLrary in Lhe marriage seLLlemenLs or any oLher conLracL,
shall be governed by Lhe regime o compleLe separaLion o properLy in accordance wiLh Lhis
Code and, in a suppleLory manner, by Lhe general principles o lslamic law and Lhe Civil Code
o Lhe Philippines.
ArticIe 39. Sti5:lcti43 i3 the mc77ice 8ettleme3t8. Fvery sLipulaLion in Lhe marriage
seLLlemenLs or conLracL reerred Lo in Lhe preceding arLicle shall be void and wiLhouL eecL
whaLsoever, should Lhe marriage no Lake place. However, sLipulaLions LhaL do noL depend
upon Lhe conLracL o marriage shall be valid.
ArticIe 40. A3te3:5ticl 5745e7ty. 1he wie shall noL lose ownership and adminisLraLion o all
properLies broughL by her Lo Lhe marriage in Lhe absence o any wriLLen agreemenL Lo Lhe
conLrary, and she may dispose o Lhe same by deed or oLherwise even wiLhouL Lhe consenL
o her husband.
ArticIe 4l. cl:8i;e 5745e7ty 41 ecch 854:8e. 1he ollowing shall be Lhe exclusive properLy o
eiLher spouse.
(a) ProperLies broughL Lo Lhe marriage by Lhe husband or Lhe wie,
(b) All income derived by eiLher spouse rom any employmenL, occupaLion or Lrade,
(c) Any money or properLy acquired by eiLher spouse during marriage by lucraLive
LiLle,
(d) 1he dower (mahr) o Lhe wie and nupLial giLs Lo each spouse,
(e) ProperLies acquired by righL o redempLion, purchase or exchange o Lhe exclusive
properLy o eiLher, and
() All ruiLs o properLies in Lhe oregoing paragraphs.
ArticIe 42. Ow3e78hi5 c3/ c/mi3i8t7cti43. Fach spouse shall own, possess, adminisLer, enjoy
and dispose o his or her own exclusive esLaLe even wiLhouL Lhe consenL o Lhe oLher.
However, Lhe courL may, upon peLiLion o eiLher spouse, granL Lo Lhe oLher Lhe
adminisLraLion o such properLy.
ArticIe 43. H4:8eh4l/ 5745e7ty. Household properLy which cusLomarily perLains Lo or is used
by eiLher spouse shall be prima acie presumed Lo be Lhe properLy o said spouse.
ArticIe 44. #iht t4 8:e c3/ be 8:e/. 1he wie may, independenLly o Lhe husband, sue or be
sued in Lhe ollowing cases.
(a) When Lhe liLigaLion is beLween husband and wie,
(b) l Lhe suiL concerns her exclusive properLy,
(c) l Lhe liLigaLion is incidenLal Lo her proession, occupaLion or business,
(d) l Lhe liLigaLion concerns Lhe exclusive properLy o Lhe husband, Lhe adminisLraLion
o which has been Lranserred Lo her, or
(e) Such oLher appropriaLe cases as may be ollowed by Lhe general principles o
lslamic law and oLher laws.
Chapter Three
DlVORC (TALAQ)
5ection l. NaLure and Form
ArticIe 45. e1i3iti43 c3/ 147m8. Divorce is Lhe ormal dissoluLion o Lhe marriage bond in
accordance wiLh Lhis Code Lo be granLed only aLer Lhe exhausLion o all possible means o
reconciliaLion beLween Lhe spouses. lL may be eecLed by.
(a) RepudiaLion o Lhe wie by Lhe husband (Lalaq),
(b) vow o conLinence by Lhe husband (ila),
(c) lnjurious assanilaLion o Lhe wie by Lhe husband (zihar),
(d) AcLs o imprecaLion (li'an),
(e) RedempLion by Lhe wie (khul'),
() Fxercise by Lhe wie o Lhe delegaLed righL Lo repudiaLe (Lawld), or
(g) Judicial decree (askh).
ArticIe 46. i;47ce by tclcq.
() A divorce by Lalaq may be aecLed by Lhe husband in a single repudiaLion o his
wie during her non-mensLrual period (Luhr) wiLhin which he has LoLally absLained
rom carnal relaLion wiLh her. Any number o repudiaLions made during one Luhr shall
consLiLuLe only one repudiaLion and shall become irrevocable aLer Lhe expiraLion o
Lhe prescribed 'idda.
(2) A husband who repudiaLes his wie, eiLher or Lhe irsL or second Lime, shall have
Lhe righL Lo Lake her back (ruju) wiLhin Lhe prescribed 'idda by resumpLion o
cohabiLaLion wiLhouL need o a new conLracL o marriage. Should he ail Lo do so, Lhe
repudiaLion shall become irrevocable (1alaq bain sugra).
ArticIe 47. i;47ce by llc. Where a husband makes a vow Lo absLain rom any carnal relaLions
(ila) wiLh his wie and keeps such ila or a period o noL less Lhan our monLhs, she may be
granLed a decree o divorce by Lhe courL aLer due noLice and hearing.
ArticIe 48. i;47ce by zihc7. Where Lhe husband has injuriously assimilaLed (zihar) his wie Lo
any o his relaLives wiLhin Lhe prohibiLed degrees o marriage, Lhey shall muLually rerain
rom having carnal relaLion unLil he shall have perormed Lhe prescribed expiaLion. 1he wie
may ask Lhe courL Lo require her husband Lo perorm Lhe expiaLionor Lo pronounce Lhe a
regular Lalaq should he ail or reuse Lo do so, wiLhouL prejudice Lo her righL o seeking oLher
appropriaLe remedies.
ArticIe 49. i;47ce by li'c3. Where Lhe husband accuses his wie in courL o adulLery, a
decree o perpeLual divorce may be granLed by Lhe courL aLer due hearing and aLer Lhe
parLies shall have perormed Lhe prescribed acLs o imprecaLion (li'an).
ArticIe 50. i;47ce by lh:l'. 1he wie may, aLer having oered Lo reLurn or renounce her
dower or Lo pay any oLher lawul consideraLion or her release (khul') rom Lhe marriage
bond, peLiLion Lhe courL or divorce. 1he courL shall, in meriLorious cases and aLer ixing Lhe
consideraLion, issue Lhe corresponding decree.
ArticIe 5l. i;47ce by tc1wi/. l Lhe husband has delegaLed (Lawid) Lo Lhe wie Lhe righL Lo
eecL a Lalaq aL Lhe Lime o Lhe celebraLion o Lhe marriage or LhereaLer, she may repudiaLe
Lhe marriage and Lhe repudiaLion would have Lhe same eecL as i iL were pronounced by Lhe
husband himsel.
ArticIe 52. i;47ce by 1c8lh. 1he courL may, upon peLiLion o Lhe wie, decree a divorce by
askh on any o Lhe ollowing grounds .
(a) NeglecL or ailure o Lhe husband Lo provide supporL or Lhe amily or aL leasL six
consecuLive monLhs,
(b) ConvicLion o Lhe husband by inal judgmenL senLencing him Lo imprisonmenL or
aL leasL one year,
(c) Failure o Lhe husband Lo perorm or six monLhs wiLhouL reasonable cause his
mariLal obligaLion in accordance wiLh Lhis code,
(d) lmpoLency o Lhe husband,
(e) lnsaniLy or alicLion o Lhe husband wiLh an incurable disease which would make
Lhe conLinuance o Lhe marriage relaLionship injurious Lo Lhe amily,
() Unusual cruelLy o Lhe husband as deined under Lhe nexL succeeding arLicle, or
(g) Any oLher cause recognized under Muslim law or Lhe dissoluLion o marriage by
askh eiLher aL Lhe insLance o Lhe wie or Lhe proper wali.
ArticIe 53. lc8lh 43 the 74:3/ 41 :3:8:cl c7:elty. A decree o askh on Lhe ground o
unusual cruelLy may be granLed by Lhe courL upon peLiLion o Lhe wie i Lhe husband.
(a)HabiLually assaulLs her or makes her lie miserable by cruel conducL even i Lhis
does noL resulL in physical injury,
(b) AssociaLes wiLh persons o ill-repuLe or leads an inamous lie or aLLempLs Lo orce
Lhe wie Lo live an immoral lie,
(c) Compels her Lo dispose o her exclusive properLy or prevenLs her rom exercising
her legal righLs over iL,
(d) ObsLrucLs her in Lhe observance o her religious pracLices, or
(e) Does noL LreaL her jusLly and equiLably as enjoined by lslamic law.
ArticIe 54. 11ect8 41 i77e;4ccble tclcq 47 1c8lh. A Lalaq or askh, as soon as iL becomes
irrevocable, shall have Lhe ollowing eecLs.
(a) 1he marriage bond shall be severed and Lhe spouses may conLracL anoLher
marriage in accordance wiLh Lhis Code,
(b) 1he spouses shall lose Lheir muLual righLs o inheriLance,
(c) 1he cusLody o children shall be deLermined in accordance wiLh ArLicle 78 o Lhis
code,
(d) 1he wie shall be enLiLled Lo recover rom Lhe husband her whole dower in case
Lhe Lalaq has been aecLed aLer Lhe consummaLion o Lhe marriage, or one-hal
Lhereo i eecLed beore iLs consummaLion,
(e) 1he husband shall noL be discharged rom his obligaLion Lo give supporL in
accordance wiLh ArLicle 67, and
() 1he conjugal parLnership, i sLipulaLed in Lhe marriage seLLlemenLs, shall be
dissolved and liquidaLed.
ArticIe 55. 11ect8 41 4the7 li3/8 41 /i;47ce. 1he provisions o Lhe arLicle immediaLely
preceding shall apply Lo Lhe dissoluLion, o marriage by ila, zihar, li'an and khul', subjecL Lo
Lhe eecLs o compliance wiLh Lhe requiremenLs o Lhe lslamic law relaLive Lo such divorces.
5ection 2. 'ldda
ArticIe 56. 'l//c /e1i3e/. 'ldda is Lhe period o waiLing prescribed or a woman whose
marriage has been dissolved by deaLh or by divorce Lhe compleLion o which shall enable her
Lo conLracL a new marriage.
ArticIe 57. !e7i4/.
() Fvery wie shall be obliged Lo observe 'idda as ollows.
(a) ln case o dissoluLion o marriage by deaLh, our monLhs and Len days
counLed rom Lhe deaLh o her husband,
(b) ln case o LerminaLion o marriage by divorce, or Lhree monLhly courses,
or
(c) ln case o a pregnanL women, or a period exLending unLil her delivery.
(2) Should Lhe husband die while Lhe wie is observing 'idda or divorce, anoLher 'idda
or deaLh shall be observed in accordance wiLh paragraph (a).
TlTL lll
PATRNlTY AND llLlATlON
ArticIe 58. eitimccy, h4w e8tcbli8he/. LegiLimacy o iliaLion is esLablished by evidence o
valid marriage beLween Lhe aLher and Lhe moLher aL Lhe Lime o Lhe concepLion o Lhe child.
ArticIe 59. eitimcte chil/7e3.
() Children conceived in lawul wedlock shall be presumed Lo be legiLimaLe. Whoever
claims illegiLimacy o or impugns such iliaLion musL prove his allegaLion.
(2) Children born aLer six monLhs ollowing Lhe consummaLion o marriage or wiLh
Lwo years aLer Lhe dissoluLion o Lhe marriage shall be presumed Lo be legiLimaLe.
AgainsL Lhis presumpLion no evidence shall be admiLLed oLher Lhan LhaL o Lhe
physical impossibiliLy o access beLween Lhe parenLs aL or abouL Lhe Lime o Lhe
concepLion o Lhe child.
ArticIe 60. Chil/7e3 41 8:b8eq:e3t mc77ice. Should Lhe marriage be dissolved and Lhe wie
conLracLs anoLher marriage aLer Lhe expiraLion o her 'lDDA, Lhe child born wiLhin six monLhs
rom Lhe dissoluLion o Lhe prior marriage shall be presumed Lo have been conceived during
Lhe ormer marriage, and i born LhereaLer, during Lhe laLer.
ArticIe 6l. !7e3c3cy c1te7 /i884l:ti43. l, aLer Lhe dissoluLion o marriage, Lhe wie believes
LhaL she is pregnanL by her ormer husband, she shall, wiLhin LhirLy days rom Lhe Lime she
became aware o her pregnancy, noLiy Lhe ormer husband or his heirs o LhaL acL. 1he
husband or his heirs may ask Lhe courL Lo Lake measures Lo prevenL a simulaLion o birLh.
ArticIe 62. #iht8 41 leitimcte chil/. A legiLimaLe child shall have Lhe righL.
(a) 1o bear Lhe surnames o Lhe aLher and o Lhe moLher,
(b) 1o receive supporL rom Lhe aLher or, in his deaulL, rom his heirs in accordance
wiLh ArLicles 65 and 68, and
(c) 1o share in Lhe legiLimaLe (urud) and oLher successional righLs which Lhis Code
recognizes in his avor.
ArticIe 63. Acl34wle/me3t by 1cthe7. AcknowledgmenL (igra) o a child by Lhe aLher shall
esLablish paLerniLy and coner upon each Lhe righL inheriL rom Lhe oLher exclusively in
accordance wiLh ArLicle 94, provided Lhe ollowing condiLions are complied wiLh.
(a) 1he acknowledgmenL is maniesLed by Lhe aLher's accepLance in public LhaL he is
Lhe aLher o Lhe child who does noL impugn iL, and
(b) 1he relaLions does noL appear impossible by reason o dispariLy in age.
ArticIe 64. A/45ti43. No adopLion in any orm shall coner upon any person Lhe sLaLus and
righLs o a legiLimaLe child under Muslim law, excepL LhaL said person may receive a giL
(hiba).
TlTL lV
5UPPORT (NAlAQA)
ArticIe 65. S:5547t /e1i3e/. SupporL (naaqa) includes everyLhing LhaL is indispensable or
susLenance, dwelling, cloLhing and medical aLLendance according Lo Lhe social sLanding o
Lhe person obliged Lo give iL, and Lhe educaLion o Lhe person enLiLled Lo Lhe supporL unLil
he compleLes his educaLion, Lraining, or vocaLion even beyond Lhe age o majoriLy.
ArticIe 66. Am4:3t. 1he amounL o supporL shall be in proporLion Lo Lhe resources o Lhe
giver and Lo Lhe needs o Lhe recipienL.
ArticIe 67. S:5547t 147 wi1e c3/ i31c3t.
() 1he wie shall be enLiLled Lo supporL during Lhe marriage. ln cases o divorce,
(Lalaq), her righL shall be exLended up Lo Lhe expiraLion o Lhe 'idda. However, in case
Lhe wie is pregnanL aL Lhe Lime o Lhe separaLion, she shall be enLiLled Lo supporL
unLil delivery.
(2) Any divorced nursing moLher who conLinues Lo breasLeed her child or Lwo years
shall be enLiLled Lo supporL unLil Lhe Lime o weaning.
ArticIe 68. S:5547t betwee3 c8ce3/c3t8 c3/ /e8ce3/c3t8. 1he ascendanLs and descendanLs
shall be obliged Lo supporL each oLher in Lhe order in which Lhey are called Lo succeed by
inLesLacy Lhe person who has a righL Lo claim supporL.
ArticIe 69. !cyme3t.
() 1he obligaLion Lo supporL shall be demandable rom Lhe Lime Lhe recipienL needs
iL or mainLenance, buL iL shall noL be paid excepL rom Lhe daLe iL is exLrajudicially
demanded.
(2) PaymenL shall be made daily, weekly or monLhly in advance, and when Lhe
recipienL dies, his heirs shall noL be obliged Lo reLurn whaL he had received in
advance.
(3) l Lhe recipienL is Lhe wie, Lhe rule esLablished in Lhe oregoing paragraph shall
apply even Lhough Lhe marriage is dissolved.
ArticIe 70. ti3:i8hme3t 41 8:5547t. 1he obligaLion Lo supporL shall cease.
(a) Upon Lhe deaLh o Lhe recipienL,
(b) When Lhe resources o Lhe obligor have been so reduced LhaL he cannoL give Lhe
supporL wiLhouL neglecLing his own need and Lhose o his amily, excepL LhaL in Lhe
case o Lhe spouses, Lhe husband, Lhough needy, is obliged Lo supporL Lhe wie, or
(c) When Lhe recipienL commiLs any acL which would give rise Lo disqualiicaLion Lo
inheriL or denial o supporL under Muslim law.
TlTL V
PARNTAL AUTHORlTY
Chapter One
NATUR AND llCT5
ArticIe 7l. Wh4 ee7ci8e8.
() 1he aLher and Lhe moLher shall joinLly exercise jusL and reasonable parenLal
auLhoriLy and ulill Lheir responsibiliLy over Lheir legiLimaLe and acknowledged
children. ln case o disagreemenL, Lhe aLher's decision shall prevail unless Lhere is a
judicial order Lo Lhe conLrary.
(2) 1he moLher shall exercise parenLal auLhoriLy over her children born ouL o
wedlock, buL Lhe courL may, when Lhe besL inLeresLs o Lhe children so require,
appoinL a general guardian.
ArticIe 72. :ty t4 5c7e3t8.
() Children shall respecL, revere, and obey Lheir parenLs always unless Lhe laLLer casL
Lhem inLo disbelie.
(2) CrandparenLs are likewise enLiLled Lo respecL and reverence, and shall be
consulLed whenever pracLicable by all members o Lhe amily on all imporLanL
quesLions.
ArticIe 73. :ty t4 chil/7e3. Fvery parenL and every person exercising parenLal auLhoriLy shall
see Lo iL LhaL Lhe righLs o Lhe children are respecLed, and Lheir duLies complied wiLh, and
shall parLicularly by precepL and example, imbue Lhem wiLh religious and civic aLLachmenL Lo
Lhe ideal o permanenL world peace.
ArticIe 74. 11ect8 :543 5e7843 41 chil/7e3. 1he parenLs have, wiLh respecL Lo Lheir
unemancipaLed children.
(a) 1he duLy Lo supporL Lhem, have Lhem in Lheir company, educaLe and insLrucL Lhem
in keeping wiLh Lheir means and represenL Lhem in all acLions which shall redound Lo
Lheir beneiLs, and
(b) 1he power Lo correcL, discipline, and punish Lhem moderaLely.
ArticIe 75. 11ect8 :543 5745e7ty 41 chil/7e3.
() 1he aLher, or in his absence Lhe moLher, shall be Lhe legal adminisLraLor o Lhe
properLy o Lhe child under parenLal auLhoriLy. l Lhe properLy is worLh more Lhan ive
Lhousand pesos, Lhe aLher or Lhe moLher shall give a bond Lo be approved by Lhe
courL.
(2) 1he courL may appoinL a guardian (wasi) in Lhe absence o one who is naLural or
LesLamenLary.
ArticIe 76. !c7e3tcl c:th47ity 343t7c381e7cble. ParenLal auLhoriLy can neiLher be renounced
nor Lranserred excepL as oLherwise provided in Lhis Code and Lhe general principles o
lslamic law.
ArticIe 77. ti3:i8hme3t 41 5c7e3tcl c:th47ity.
() ParenLal auLhoriLy LerminaLes upon Lhe deaLh o Lhe parenLs or Lhe child, or upon
emancipaLion.
(2) SubjecL Lo ArLicle 78, Lhe widowed moLher who conLracLs a subsequenL marriage
shall lose parenLal auLhoriLy and cusLody over all children by Lhe deceased husband,
unless Lhe second husband is relaLed Lo Lhem wiLhin Lhe prohibiLed degrees o
consanguiniLy.
(3) 1he courL may deprive a person o parenLal auLhoriLy or suspend Lhe exercise
Lhereo i he LreaLs his children wiLh excessive harshness, gives Lhen corrupLing or
immoral orders and counsel, or abandons Lhem.
Chapter Two
CU5TODY AND GUARDlAN5HlP
ArticIe 78. Cc7e c3/ c:8t4/y.
() 1he care and cusLody o children below seven years o age whose parenLs are
divorced shall belong Lo Lhe moLher or, in her absence, Lo Lhe maLernal grandmoLher,
Lhe paLernal grandmoLher, Lhe sisLer and aunLs. ln Lheir deaulL, iL shall devolve upon
Lhe aLher and Lhe nearesL paLernal relaLives. 1he minor above seven years o age buL
below Lhe age o puberLy may choose Lhe parenL wiLh whom he wanLs Lo sLay.
(2) 1he unmarried daughLer who has reached Lhe age o puberLy shall sLay wiLh Lhe
aLher, Lhe son, under Lhe same circumsLances, shall sLay wiLh Lhe moLher.
ArticIe 79. C:c7/ic3 147 mc77ice (wcli). 1he ollowing persons shall have auLhoriLy Lo acL as
guardian or marriage (wali) in Lhe order o precedence.
(a) FaLher
(b) PaLernal grandaLher,
(c) 8roLher and oLher paLernal relaLives,
(d) PaLernal grandaLher's execuLor or nominee, or
(e) 1he courL.
ArticIe 80. C:c7/ic3 41 mi347'8 5745e7ty. 1he ollowing persons shall exercise guardianship
over Lhe properLy o minors in Lhe order o precedence.
(a) FaLher,
(b) FaLher's execuLor or nominee,
(c) PaLernal grandaLher,
(d) PaLernal grandaLher's nominee, or
(e) 1he courL.
TlTL Vl
ClVlL RGl5TRY
Chapter One
RGl5TRY Ol MARRlAG, DlVORC AND CONVR5lON5
ArticIe 8l. i8t7ict #ei8t7c7. 1he Clerk o CourL o Lhe Shari' a DisLricL CourL shall, in addiLion
Lo his regular uncLions, acL as DisLricL RegisLrar o Muslim Marriages, Divorces, RevocaLions
o Divorces, and Conversions wiLhin Lhe LerriLorial jurisdicLion o said courL. 1he Clerk o
CourL o Lhe Shari'a CircuiL CourL shall acL as CircuiL RegisLrar o Muslim Marriages, Divorces,
RevocaLions o Divorces, and Conversions wiLhin his jurisdicLion.
ArticIe 82. :tie8 41 i8t7ict #ei8t7c7. Fvery DisLricL RegisLrar shall exercise supervision over
CircuiL RegisLrars in every Shari'a DisLricL. He shall, in addiLion Lo an enLry book, keep and
bind copies o cerLiicaLes o Marriage, Divorce, RevocaLion o Divorce, and Conversion senL
Lo him by Lhe CircuiL RegisLrars in separaLe general regisLers. He shall send copies in
accordance wiLh AcL. No. 3753, as amended, Lo Lhe oice o Lhe Civil RegisLrar-Ceneral.
ArticIe 83. :tie8 41 Ci7c:it #ei8t7c7. Fvery CircuiL RegisLrar shall.
(a) File every cerLiicaLe o marriage (which shall speciy Lhe naLure and amounL o Lhe
dower agreed upon,) divorce or revocaLion o divorce and conversion and such oLher
documenLs presenLed Lo him or regisLraLion,
(b) Compile said cerLiicaLes monLhly, prepare and send any inormaLion required o
him by Lhe DisLricL RegisLrar,
(c) RegisLer conversions involving lslam,
(d) lssue cerLiied LranscripLs or copies o any cerLiicaLe or documenL regisLered upon
paymenL o Lhe required ees,
(e) Send Lo Lhe DisLricL RegisLrar during Lhe irsL Len days o each monLh a copy o Lhe
enLries made during Lhe previous monLh,
() lndex Lhe same or easy reerence and idenLiicaLion in case any inormaLion is
required, and
(g) AdminisLer oaLhs, ree o charge, or civil regisLry purposes.
ArticIe 84. Cc3cellcti43 47 C477ecti43 41 3t7y. Any enLry in Lhe DisLricL or CircuiL RegisLer
may, upon veriied peLiLion o any inLeresLed parLy, be correcLed upon order o Lhe Shari'a
DisLricL CourL, subjecL Lo Lhe provisions o Lhe Rules o CourL. Fvery RegisLrar shall be civilly
responsible or any unauLhorized alLeraLion made in Lhe regisLry Lo any person suering
damage Lhereby. However, Lhe RegisLrar may exempL himsel rom such liabiliLy i he proves
LhaL he has Laken every reasonable precauLion Lo prevenL Lhe unlawul alLeraLion.
ArticIe 85. #ei8t7cti43 41 7e;4ccti43 41 /i;47ce. WiLhin seven days aLer Lhe revocaLion o a
divorce by ruju', Lhe husband shall, wiLh Lhe wie's wriLLen consenL, ile a sLaLemenL Lhereo
wiLh Lhe CircuiL RegisLrar in whose records LhaL divorce was previously enLered.
ArticIe 86. ecl e11ect8 41 7ei8t7cti43. 1he books making up Lhe regisLry o marriage,
divorce, revocaLion o divorce, conversion, and all oLher documenLs relaLing LhereLo shall be
considered public documenLs and shall be prima acie evidence o Lhe acLs Lherein
conLained. However, noLhing herein provided shall aecL Lhe inLrinsic validiLy or invalidiLy o
Lhe acLs regisLered.
ArticIe 87. A55liccbility 41 4the7 ci;il 7ei8t7y lcw. 1o Lhe exLenL noL inconsisLenL wiLh Lhe
provisions o Lhis Code, Lhe provisions o oLher regisLry laws governing oLher civil regisLrars
shall be observed by disLricL or circuiL regisLrars.
Chapter Two
OTHR ACT5 AllCTlNG ClVlL 5TATU5
ArticIe 88. Whe7e 7ei8te7e/. All oLher acLs, evenLs, or judicial decrees aecLing civil sLaLus
noL menLioned in ChapLer One o Lhis 1iLle shall be recorded in Lhe exisLing civil regisLry o
Lhe ciLy or municipaliLy in accordance wiLh special laws.
BOOK THR
5UCC55lON
TlTL l
GNRAL PROVl5lON5
ArticIe 89. S:cce88i43 /e1i3e/. Succession is a mode o acquisiLion by virLue o which Lhe
esLaLe o a person is LransmiLLed Lo his heirs or oLhers in accordance wiLh Lhis code.
ArticIe 90. S:cce88i43cl 7iht8, whe3 ;e8te/. 1he righLs Lo succession are LransmiLLed rom
Lhe momenL o Lhe deaLh o Lhe decedenL. 1he righL Lo succession o any heir who
predeceases Lhe decedenL shall noL be LransmiLLed by righL o represenLaLion Lo his own
heirs.
ArticIe 9l. #eq:i8ite8 41 8:cce88i43. No seLLlemenL o Lhe esLaLe o a deceased person shall
be eecLed unless.
(a) 1he deaLh o Lhe decedenL is ascerLained,
(b) 1he successor is alive aL Lhe Lime o Lhe deaLh o Lhe decedenL, and
(c) 1he successor is noL disqualiied Lo inheriL.
ArticIe 92. l3he7itc3ce (Mi7cth). 1he inheriLance o a person includes all properLies o any
kind, movable or immovable, wheLher ancesLral or acquired eiLher by onerous or graLuiLous
LiLle, as well as all Lransmissible righLs and obligaLions aL Lhe Lime o his deaLh and Lhose LhaL
accrue LhereLo beore parLiLion.
ArticIe 93. i8q:cli1iccti438 t4 8:cce88i43. 1he ollowing shall be disqualiied Lo succeed.
(a) 1hose who have inLenLionally caused direcLly or indirecLly Lhe deaLh o Lhe
decedenL,
(b) 1hose who have commiLLed any oLher acL which consLiLuLes a ground
disqualiicaLion Lo inherenL under lslamic law, and
(c) 1hose who are so siLuaLed LhaL Lhey cannoL inheriL under lslamic law.
ArticIe 94. S:cce88i43 174m ccl34wle/i3 5e7843. WiLhouL prejudice Lo Lhe order o
succession o heirs, muLual righLs o inheriLance shall obLain.
(a) 8eLween Lhe acknowledging aLher and Lhe acknowledged child, and
(b) 8eLween Lhe kinsman acknowledged Lhrough anoLher person and Lhe
acknowledger.
ArticIe 95. S:cce88i43 by illeitimcte chil/. A child who was Lhe cause o Lhe moLher's having
been divorced by li'an shall have muLual righLs o succession only wiLh Lhe moLher and her
relaLives.
ArticIe 96. S:cce88i43 betwee3 /i;47ce/ 5e78438.
() 1he husband who divorces his wie shall have muLual righLs o inheriLance wiLh her
while she is observing her 'idda. ALer Lhe expiraLion o Lhe 'idda, Lhere shall be no
muLual righLs o succession beLween Lhem.
(2) 1he husband who, while in a condiLion o deaLh-illness, divorces his wie shall noL
inheriL rom her, buL she shall have Lhe righL Lo succeed him even aLer Lhe expiraLion
o her 'idda.
ArticIe 97. S:cce88i43 by c43cei;e/ chil/. A child conceived aL Lhe Lime o Lhe deaLh o Lhe
decedenL shall be considered an heir provided iL be born laLer in accordance wiLh ArLicle 0,
iLs corresponding share shall be reserved beore Lhe esLaLe is disLribuLed.
ArticIe 98. S:cce88i43 by cb8e3tee. 1he share o an heir who is missing or oLherwise absenL
aL Lhe Lime o Lhe deaLh o Lhe decedenL shall be reserved.
(a) UnLil he reappears and claims iL,
(b) UnLil he is proven dead, or
(c) UnLil Lhe lapse o Len years aLer which he shall be resumed dead by decree o Lhe
courL.
ArticIe 99. O7/e7 41 8:cce88i43. 1he heirs o a decedenL shall inheriL in Lhe ollowing order.
(a) Sharers (ashab-ul-urud) shall be enLiLled Lo ixed shares,
(b) Residuaries (ashab-ul-miraLh) shall be enLiLled Lo Lhe residue,
(c) ln Lhe absence o Lhe oregoing, Lhe disLanL kindred (dhaw-ul-arham) who are
blood relaLives buL are neiLher sharers nor residuaries, and
(d) ln deaulL o Lhe above, Lhe acknowledged kinsman, universal legaLee, or Lhe
public Lreasury (baiL-ul-mal), in LhaL order.
ArticIe l00. M4/e8 41 S:cce88i43. Succession my be.
(a) 8y will (wasiya),
(b) 8y operaLion o Lhis Code, or
(c) 8y combinaLion o boLh.
TlTL ll
T5TAMNTARY 5UCC55lON
Chapter One
wlLL5
ArticIe l0l. Will /e1i3e/. A will (wasiya) is a declaraLion whereby a person is permiLLed, wiLh
Lhe ormaliLies prescribed by law, Lo conLrol Lhe disposiLion aLer his deaLh o noL more Lhan
one-Lhird o his esLaLe, i Lhere are heirs, or Lhe whole o iL, i Lhere are no heirs or disLanL
kindred.
ArticIe l02. l47mclitie8.
() 1he making o a will is sLricLly a personal acL, iL cannoL be leL in whole or in parL Lo
Lhe discreLion o a Lhird person or accomplished Lhrough Lhe insLrumenLaliLy o an
agenL.
(2) A will may be declared orally or in wriLing in a manner LhaL shows clearly Lhe
inLenLion o Lhe LesLaLor Lo execuLe iL in Lhe presence o a leasL Lwo compeLenL,
credible and disinLeresLed wiLnesses.
ArticIe l03. !7441 41 will.
() No nuncupaLive will shall pass any properLy o Lhe decedenL unless iL is proved
and allowed in accordance wiLh a solemn oaLh or airmaLion o all Lhe wiLnesses who
aLLesLed Lo iLs declaraLion.
(2) No will o any oLher kind, holographic or ormal, shall pass any properLy unless iL
is proved and allowed in accordance wiLh Lhis Code.
ArticIe l04. 1e8tcme3tc7y wc1. An endowmenL or lslamic purposes Lo Lake eecL aLer Lhe
deaLh o Lhe donor (wag-bill-wasiya) parLakes o Lhe naLure o a LesLamenLary disposiLion.
ArticIe l05. Cc5ccity t4 mcle c will. Any person o sound and disposing mind and who is
noL expressly prohibiLed by lslamic law may make a will. Persons o eiLher sex under Lhe age
o puberLy cannoL make a will.
ArticIe l06. i8548cble thi7/.
() 1he LesLaLor, in his will, cannoL dispose o more Lhan one-Lhird o his esLaLe. Any
bequesL in excess Lhereo shall noL be given eecL unless raLiied by Lhe heirs. ln any
case, Lhe bequesL musL be accepLed by Lhe legaLee.
(2) A bequesL Lo any sharer or residuary shall noL be valid unless raLiied by Lhe
LesLaLor's heirs exisLing aL Lhe Lime o his deaLh.
ArticIe l07. 3eq:e8t by 45e7cti43 41 lcw. Should Lhe LesLaLor die wiLhouL having made a
bequesL in avor o any child o his son who predeceased him, or who simulLaneously dies
wiLh him, such child shall be enLiLled Lo one-Lhird o Lhe share LhaL would have perLained Lo
Lhe aLher i he were alive. 1he parenL or spouse, who is oLherwise disqualiied Lo inheriL in
view o ArLicle 93 (c), shall be enLiLled Lo one-Lhird o whaL he or she would have received
wiLhouL such qualiicaLion.
ArticIe l08. #e;4ccti43 41 will. Will may be expressly or impliedly revoked by Lhe LesLaLor aL
any Lime beore his deaLh. Any waiver or resLricLion o Lhis righL shall be void.
ArticIe l09. !c7ticl i3;cli/ity 41 will. 1he invalidiLy o one o several provisions o a will shall
noL resulL in Lhe invalidiLy o Lhe oLhers, unless iL is Lo be presumed LhaL Lhe LesLaLor would
noL have made such oLher provisions i Lhe irsL invalid provision had noL been made.
TlTL lll
LGAL 5UCC55lON
Chapter One
5HAR5
ArticIe ll0. Wh4 c7e 8hc7e78. 1he ollowing persons shall be enLiLled Lo Lhe inheriLance as
sharers Lo Lhe exLenL seL orLh in Lhe succeeding arLicles.
(a) 1he husband, Lhe wie,
(b) 1he aLher, Lhe moLher, Lhe grandaLher, Lhe grandmoLher,
(c) 1he daughLer and Lhe son's daughLer in Lhe direcL line,
(d) 1he ull sisLer, Lhe consanguine sisLer, Lhe uLerine sisLer and Lhe uLerine broLher.
ArticIe lll. Shc7e 41 8:7;i;i3 h:8bc3/. 1he husband surviving LogeLher wiLh a legiLimaLe
child or a child o Lhe decedenL's son shall be enLiLled Lo one-ourLh o Lhe herediLary esLaLe,
should Lhere be no such descendanLs, he shall inheriL one-hal o Lhe esLaLe.
ArticIe ll2. Shc7e 41 8:7;i;i3 wi1e. 1he wie surviving LogeLher wiLh a legiLimaLe child or a
child o Lhe decedenL's son shall be enLiLled Lo one-eighL o Lhe herediLary esLaLe, in Lhe
absence o such descendanLs, she shall inheriL one-ourLh o Lhe esLaLe.
ArticIe ll3. Shc7e 41 8:7;i;i3 1cthe7. 1he aLher succeeding LogeLher wiLh Lhe legiLimaLe son
o Lhe decedenL or a son o Lhe decedenL's son shall be enLiLled, as sharer, Lo one-sixLh o Lhe
herediLary esLaLe. 1he aLher who succeeds LogeLher wiLh a legiLimaLe daughLer o Lhe
decedenL or a daughLer o Lhe decedenL's son shall inheriL, as sharer, one-sixLh o Lhe
inheriLance wiLhouL prejudice Lo his share as residuary.
ArticIe ll4. Shc7e 41 8:7;i;i3 m4the7. 1he moLher succeeding as sharer LogeLher wiLh a
child or a child o Lhe decedenL's son, or wiLh Lwo or more broLhers or sisLers o Lhe
decedenL, shall be enLiLled Lo one-sixLh o Lhe herediLary esLaLe. Should she survive wiLhouL
any such descendanL or wiLh only one broLher or sisLer, she shall inheriL one-Lhird o Lhe
esLaLe.
ArticIe ll5. Shc7e 41 5cte73cl 7c3/1cthe7. 1he paLernal grandaLher succeeding LogeLher
wiLh Lhe child o Lhe decedenL or, in deaulL Lhereo, wiLh his descendanLs in Lhe direcL male
line however, disLanL, shall be enLiLled Lo one-sixLh o Lhe herediLary esLaLe. Should he survive
wiLh any sharer oLher Lhan Lhe broLhers or sisLers o Lhe decedenL, he shall be enLiLled Lo
one-sixLh wiLhouL prejudice Lo his righL as a residuary.
ArticIe ll6. Shc7e 41 5cte73cl 7c3/m4the7. 1he paLernal grandmoLher succeeding in deaulL
o Lhe moLher, aLher, or inLermediaLe grandaLher o Lhe decedenL shall be enLiLled, as
sharer, Lo one-sixLh o Lhe herediLary esLaLe.
ArticIe ll7. Shc7e 41 8:7;i;i3 /c:hte7.
() l Lhe decedenL leaves no son buL one daughLer, Lhe laLLer shall be enLiLled Lo
inheriL, as sharer , one-hal o Lhe herediLary esLaLe. 1wo or more daughLers shall
share equally Lwo-Lhirds Lhereo. Should one or more daughLers survive wiLh one or
more sons o Lhe decedenL, Lhe laLLer shall be enLiLled Lo double Lhe share o Lhe
ormer.
(2) Should a lone daughLer o Lhe decedenL survive LogeLher wiLh his son's daughLer,
Lhe Lwo-Lhirds share shall be divided beLween Lhem, one-hal Lhereo Lo perLain Lo
Lhe ormer and one-sixLh o Lhe laLLer.
ArticIe ll8. Shc7e 41 843'8 /c:hte7. 1he son's daughLer shall, in Lhe absence o any child o
Lhe decedenL, be enLiLled Lo one-hal o Lhe herediLary esLaLe. 1wo or more daughLers o Lhe
decedenL's son shall share Lhe Lwo-Lhirds o Lhe esLaLe per capiLa.
ArticIe ll9. Shc7e 41 1:ll 8i8te7. Should Lhe decedenL leave neiLher descendanL, aLher, nor ull
broLher, Lhe ull sisLer, shall be enLiLled as sharer Lo Lhe exLenL o one-hal o Lhe herediLary
esLaLe. 1wo or more ull sisLers shall inheriL Lwo-Lhirds o Lhe esLaLe per capiLa.
ArticIe l20. Shc7e 41 c438c3:i3e 8i8te7. Should Lhe decedenL leave neiLher descendenL, ull
broLher, nor ull sisLer, Lhe consanguine sisLer shall be enLiLled Lo one-hal o Lhe herediLary
esLaLe. 1wo or more consanguine sisLers shall inheriL Lwo-Lhirds o Lhe esLaLe per capiLa.
ArticIe l2l. Shc7e 41 :te7i3e b74the7 47 8i8te7. 1he share o a uLerine broLher or sisLer shall be
one-sixLh o Lhe herediLary esLaLe should Lhere be no surviving descendanL, aLher, paLernal
grandaLher, or ull broLher and sisLer o Lhe decedenL. 1wo or more uLerine broLhers or
sisLers shall inheriL one-Lhird o Lhe esLaLe per capiLa.
ArticIe l22. !c7tici5cti43 41 1:ll b74the7.
() One or more ull broLhers and sisLers surviving LogeLher, or one or more
consanguine broLhers or sisLers surviving LogeLher, shall parLicipaLe in Lhe herediLary
esLaLe, a broLher Lo inheriL double Lhe share o a sisLer.
(2) 1he provision o Lhe nexL succeeding arLicle noLwiLhsLanding, Lhe ull broLher shall,
i noLhing is leL or him aLer Lhe disLribuLion o shares and he survives wiLh uLerine
broLhers, parLicipaLe wiLh Lhe laLLer in Lhe one-Lhird o Lhe herediLary esLaLe per
capiLa.
ArticIe l23. cl:8i43 cm43 hei78. 1he exclusion o heirs rom Lhe inheriLance shall be
governed by Lhe ollowing rules.
(a) ln Lhe same line, Lhe relaLive nearesL in degree excludes Lhe more remoLe.
(b) Full-blood relaLives exclude Lhe consanguine and Lhe uLerine.
(c) Whoever is relaLed Lo Lhe decedenL Lhrough any person shall noL inheriL while Lhe
laLLer is living, excepL in Lhe case o a moLher concurring wiLh her children.
(d) Heirs who, in a parLicular case, do noL succeed by reason o disqualiicaLion on any
ground shall noL exclude oLhers.
Chapter Two
R5lDUARY HlR5
ArticIe l24. #e8i/:c7ie8. Any residue leL aLer Lhe disLribuLion o Lhe shares shall be
parLiLioned among Lhe residuaries in accordance wiLh Lhe ollowing arLicles. An heir may
succeed as residuary in his own righL (asaba-bin-nas), in anoLher's righL (asaba-bil-ghair), or
LogeLher wiLh anoLher (asaba-ma'al-ghair).
ArticIe l25. #e8i/:c7ie8 i3 thei7 4w3 7iht. 1he ollowing persons are residuaries in Lheir own
righL.
(a) Male descendanLs o Lhe decedenL in Lhe direcL line, however, disLanL in degree,
(b) Male ascendanLs o Lhe decedenL in Lhe direcL line, however disLanL in degree,
(c) Full-blood or consanguine broLhers o Lhe decedenL and Lheir male descendanLs,
however, disLanL in degree, and
(d) Full-blood or consanguine paLernal uncles o Lhe decedenL and Lheir male
descendanLs, however disLanL in degree.
ArticIe l26. #e8i/:c7ie8 i3 c34the7'8 7iht. 1he ollowing persons shall succeed as residuaries
in anoLher's righL.
(a) DaughLers surviving wiLh Lhe son o Lhe decedenL,
(b) Son's daughLers surviving wiLh Lheir own broLhers,
(c) Full sisLers surviving wiLh Lheir ull broLhers, and
(d) Consanguine sisLers surviving wiLh Lheir consanguine broLhers.
ArticIe l27. #e8i/:c7ie8 t4ethe7 with c34the7. Full-blood or consanguine sisLers, surviving
wiLh daughLers o Lhe decedenL or wiLh Lhe son's daughLers, however, disLanL in degree rom
Lhe decedenL, are residuaries LogeLher wiLh anoLher.
ArticIe l28. !7e1e7e3ce cm43 7e8i/:c7ie8. Preerence among residuaries shall be governed
by Lhe ollowing rules.
(a) 1he residuary nearer in degree shall be preerred Lo Lhe more remoLe o Lhe same
class.
(b) 1he residuary wiLh ull-blood relaLionship shall be preerred Lo Lhose o Lhe hal-
blood o Lhe same degree o relaLionship in Lhe same class.
(c) 1he residuaries o Lhe same class, degree and blood relaLionship shall share
equally, subjecL Lo Lhe rule o Lhe male having a share double LhaL o Lhe emale in
proper cases.
ArticIe l29. #e/:cti43 41 8hc7e8. l Lhe LoLaliLy o all Lhe shares assigned Lo each o Lhe
sharers exceeds Lhe whole inheriLance, Lhe shares shall be reduced proporLionaLely.
ArticIe l30. #e;e78i43 41 7e8i/:e. l, aLer disLribuLing Lhe porLions o Lhe sharers, a residue is
leL in Lhe inheriLance and Lhere is no surviving residuary heir, Lhe same shall reverL in iLs
enLireLy Lo Lhe lone sharer or Lo all Lhe sharers in proporLion Lo Lheir respecLive shares.
However, Lhe husband or Lhe wie shall noL be enLiLled Lo any parL o Lhe reverLed porLion as
long as Lhere are oLher sharers or disLanL kindred.
Chapter Three
Dl5TANT KlNDRD (DHAw-UL-ARHAM)
ArticIe l3l. #elcti;e8 i3cl:/e/. DisLanL kindred includes Lhe ollowing .
(a) 1he daughLer's children and Lhe children o Lhe son's daughLer and Lheir
descendanLs,
(b) 1he excluded grandaLher and Lhe excluded grandmoLher,
(c) 1he sisLer's children, Lhe broLher's daughLers, Lhe sons o Lhe uLerine broLher, and
Lheir descendanLs, and
(d) 1he paLernal aunLs, Lhe uLerine uncles and Lhe maLernal aunLs and uncles.
ArticIe l32. FxLenL and disLribuLion o shares. ln deaulL o all sharers and residuaries, Lhe
disLanL kindred shall inheriL Lhe enLire herediLary esLaLe, Lhe same Lo be disLribuLed among
Lhem in accordance wiLh ArLicles 23 and 28.
TlTL lV
5TTLMNT AND PARTlTlON Ol 5TAT
ArticIe l33. A/mi3i8t7cti43. 1he adminisLraLion o Lhe esLaLe o a decedenL shall, or
purposes o seLLlemenL, vesL aL Lhe Lime o his deaLh in Lhe execuLor appoinLed in Lhe will or,
in Lhe absence Lhereo, in his heir or adminisLraLor Lo whom Lhe courL has granLed leLLers o
adminisLraLion.
ArticIe l34. C4;e73i3 8ch44l 41 lcw.
() ln every peLiLion or probaLe o will or or Lhe seLLlemenL o Lhe esLaLe o a
descendenL, all maLLers relaLing Lo Lhe appoinLmenL o adminisLraLor, powers and
duLies o adminisLraLor or execuLor, Lhe courL shall Lake inLo consideraLion Lhe school
o law (madhhab) o Lhe decedenL.
(2) l Lhe decedenL's madhhab is noL known, Lhe Shai'i school o law may be given
preerence LogeLher wiLh Lhe special rules o procedure adopLed pursuanL Lo Lhis
Code.
ArticIe l35. O7/e7 41 57e1e7e3ce 41 clcim8. 1he esLaLe o a decedenL shall be applied Lo claims
and charges in Lhe ollowing order.
(a) unpaid Laxes,
(b)reasonable uneral expenses,
(c) Lhe expenses or probaLe, adminisLraLion and oLher judicial expenses,
(d) Lhe debLs o Lhe decedenL,
(e) Lhe legacies Lo Lhe exLenL o Lhe disposable one-Lhird,
() Lhe disLribuLion o shares among heirs, and
(g) unpaid dower.
ArticIe l36. icbility 41 hei78. 1he liabiliLy o Lhe heirs o a decedenL or Lhe paymenL o Lhe
maLLer's debLs shall noL exceed Lhe herediLary esLaLe. Fach heir shall be liable only or Lhe
paymenL o Lhe decedenL's debL in proporLion Lo his share.
BOOK lOUR
ADJUDlCATlON AND 5TTLMNT Ol Dl5PUT5 AND RNDlTlON Ol LGAL
OPlNlON5
TlTL l
TH 5AHRl'A COURT5
ArticIe l37. C7ecti43. 1here are hereby creaLed as parL o Lhe judicial sysLem, courLs o
limiLed jurisdicLion, Lo be known respecLively as Shari'a DisLricL CourLs and Shari'a CircuiL
CourLs, which shall exercise powers and uncLions in accordance wiLh Lhis 1iLle.
Shari'a courLs and Lhe personnel Lhereo shall be subjecL Lo Lhe adminisLraLive supervision o
Lhe Supreme CourL.
Chapter One
5HARl'A Dl5TRlCT COURT5
ArticIe l38. Shc7i'c j:/icicl /i8t7ict8. Five special judicial disLricLs, each Lo have one Shari'a
DisLricL CourL presided over by one judge, are consLiLuLed as ollows.
(a) 1he FirsL Shari'a DisLricL shall comprise Lhe Province o Sulu,
(b) 1he Second Shari'a DisLricL, Lhe Province o 1awi-1awi,
(c) 1he 1hird Shari'a DisLricL, Lhe Province o 8asilan, Zamboanga del NorLe and
Zamboanga del Sur, and Lhe CiLies o Dipolog, Pagadian and Zamboanga,
(d) 1he FourLh Shari'a DisLricL, Lhe provinces o Lanao del NorLe and Lanao del Sur,
and Lhe CiLies o lligan and Marawi, and
(e) 1he FiLh Shari'a DisLricL, Lhe Provinces o Maguindanao, NorLh CoLabaLo and
SulLan KudaraL, and Lhe CiLy o CoLabaLo,
ArticIe l39. A554i3tme3t 41 j:/e8. 1he judicial uncLion in Lhe Shari'a DisLricL CourLs shall be
vesLed in Shari'a DisLricL judges Lo be appoinLed by Lhe PresidenL o Lhe Philippines.
ArticIe l40. Q:cli1iccti438. No person shall be appoinLed Shari'a DisLricL judge unless, in
addiLion Lo Lhe qualiicaLions or judges o CourLs o FirsL lnsLance ixed in Lhe Judiciary Law,
he is learned in lslamic law and jurisprudence.
ArticIe l4l. 1e3:7e. Shari'a DisLricL judges shall be appoinLed Lo serve during good behavior
unLil Lhey reach Lhe age o sixLy-ive years, or become incapaciLaLed Lo discharge Lhe duLies
o Lheir oice, unless sooner removed or Lhe same causes and in Lhe same manner provided
by law or judges o CourLs o FirsL lnsLance.
ArticIe l42. C4m5e38cti43. Shari'a DisLricL judges shall receive Lhe same compensaLion and
enjoy Lhe same privileges as Lhe judges o CourLs o FirsL lnsLance.
ArticIe l43. O7ii3cl j:7i8/icti43.
() 1he Shari'a DisLricL CourL shall have exclusive original jurisdicLion over.
(a) All cases involving cusLody, guardianship, legiLimacy, paLerniLy and iliaLion
arising under Lhis Code,
(c) PeLiLions or Lhe declaraLion o absence and deaLh and or Lhe cancellaLion
or correcLion o enLries in Lhe Muslim RegisLries menLioned in 1iLle vl o 8ook
1wo o Lhis Code,
(d) All acLions arising rom cusLomary conLracLs in which Lhe parLies are
Muslims, i Lhey have noL speciied which law shall govern Lheir relaLions, and
(e) All peLiLions or mandamus, prohibiLion, injuncLion, cerLiorari, habeas
corpus, and all oLher auxiliary wriLs and processes in aid o iLs appellaLe
jurisdicLion.
(2) ConcurrenLly wiLh exisLing civil courLs, Lhe Shari'a DisLricL CourL shall have original
jurisdicLion over.
(a) PeLiLions by Muslims or Lhe consLiLuLion o a amily home, change o
name and commiLmenL o an insane person Lo an asylum,
(b) All oLher personal and real acLions noL menLioned in paragraph (d)
wherein Lhe parLies involved are Muslims excepL Lhose or orcible enLry and
unlawul deLainer, which shall all under Lhe exclusive original jurisdicLion o
Lhe Municipal CircuiL CourL, and
(c) All special civil acLions or inLerpleader or declaraLory relie wherein Lhe
parLies are Muslims or Lhe properLy involved belongs exclusively Lo Muslims.
ArticIe l44. A55ellcte j:7i8/icti43.
() Shari'a DisLricL CourLs shall have appellaLe jurisdicLion over all cases Lried in Lhe
Shari'a CircuiL CourLs wiLhin Lheir LerriLorial jurisdicLion.
(2) 1he Shari'a DisLricL CourL shall decide every case appealed Lo iL on Lhe basis o Lhe
evidence and records LransmiLLed as well as such memoranda, bries or oral
argumenLs as Lhe parLies may submiL.
ArticIe l45. li3clity 41 /eci8i43. 1he decisions o Lhe Shari'a DisLricL CourLs wheLher on
appeal rom Lhe Shari'a CircuiL CourL or noL shall be inal. NoLhing herein conLained shall
aecL Lhe original and appellaLe jurisdicLion o Lhe Supreme CourL as provided in Lhe
ConsLiLuLion.
ArticIe l46. Cle7l8 c3/ 4the7 8:b47/i3cte em5l4yee8. Shari'a DisLricL CourLs shall have Lhe
same oicers and oLher personnel as Lhose provided by law or CourLs o FirsL lnsLance.
1he perLinenL provisions o Lhe Judiciary Law regarding Lhe number, qualiicaLions,
appoinLmenL, compensaLion, uncLions, duLies and oLher maLLers relaLive Lo Lhe personnel o
Lhe CourLs o FirsL lnsLance shall apply Lo Lhose o Lhe Shari'a DisLricL CourLs.
ArticIe l47. !e7mc3e3t 8tcti438 411ice8.
() 1he Shari'a DisLricL CourLs shall have Lheir respecLive permanenL sLaLions in Lhe
ollowing places.
(a) FirsL Shari'a DisLricL, Jolo, Sulu,
(b) Second Shari'a DisLricL, 8ongao, 1awi-1awi,
(c) 1hird Shari'a DisLricL, Zamboanga CiLy,
(d) FourLh Shari'a DisLricL, Marawi CiLy,
(e) FiLh Shari'a DisLricL, CoLabaLo CiLy,
(2) 1he Shari'a DisLricL CourLs may hold sessions anywhere wiLhin Lheir respecLive
disLricLs.
(3) 1he provinces, ciLies or municipaliLies concerned shall provide such courLs wiLh
adequaLe courL oice, supplies and equipmenL in accordance wiLh Lhe provisions o
Lhe Judiciary Law.
ArticIe l48. S5ecicl 574ce/:7e. 1he Shari'a DisLricL CourLs shall be governed by such special
rules o procedure as Lhe Supreme CourL may promulgaLe.
ArticIe l49. A55liccbility 41 4the7 lcw8. 1he provisions o all laws relaLive Lo Lhe CourLs o
FirsL lnsLance shall, insoar as Lhey are noL inconsisLenL wiLh Lhis Code, be applicable Lo
Shari'a DisLricL CourLs.
Chapter Two
5HARl'A ClRCUlT COURT5
ArticIe l50. Whe7e e8tcbli8he/.
() Shari'a CircuiL CourLs shall be esLablished as ollows.
(a) Six such courLs in Lhe Province o Sulu,
(b) FighL in Lhe Province o 1awi-1awi,
(c) 1en in and or Lhe Provinces o 8asilan, Zamboanga del NorLe and
Zamboanga del Sur, and Lhe CiLies o Dipolog, Pagadian, and Zamboanga,
(d) 1welve in and or Lhe Provinces o Lanao del NorLe and Lanao del Sur and
Lhe CiLies o lligan and Marawi,
(e) FiLeen in and or Lhe Province o Maguindanao, NorLh CoLabaLo and
SulLan KudaraL and Lhe CiLy o CoLabaLo.
(2) 1he LerriLorial jurisdicLion o each o Lhe 'Shari'a CircuiL CourLs shall be ixed by Lhe
Supreme CourL on Lhe basis o geographical conLiguiLy o Lhe municipaliLies and
ciLies concerned and Lheir Muslim populaLion.
ArticIe l5l. A554i3tme3t 41 j:/e8. Fach Shari'a CircuiL CourL shall be presided over by a
Shari'a CircuiL Judge Lo be appoinLed by Lhe PresidenL o Lhe Philippines.
ArticIe l52. Q:cli1iccti438. No person shall be appoinLed judge o Lhe Shari'a CircuiL CourL
unless he is a naLural-born ciLizen o Lhe Philippines, aL leasL LwenLy-ive years o age, and
has passed an examinaLion in Lhe Shari'a and lslamic jurisprudence (iqh) Lo be given by Lhe
Supreme CourL or admission Lo special membership in Lhe Philippine 8ar Lo pracLice in Lhe
Shari'a CourLs.
ArticIe l53. 1e3:7e. Shari'a CircuiL judges shall be appoinLed Lo serve during good behavior
unLil Lhey reach Lhe age o sixLy-ive years or become incapaciLaLed Lo discharge Lhe duLies
o Lheir oice, unless sooner removed or Lhe same causes and in Lhe same manner provided
by law or judges o Municipal CircuiL CourLs.
ArticIe l54. C4m5e38cti43. Shari'a CircuiL judges shall receive Lhe same compensaLion and
enjoy Lhe same privileges as judges o Municipal CircuiL CourLs.
ArticIe l55. I:7i8/icti43. 1he Shari'a CircuiL CourLs shall have exclusive original jurisdicLion
over,
() All cases involving oenses deined and punished under Lhis Code.
(2) All civil acLions and proceedings beLween parLies who are Muslims or have been
married in accordance wiLh ArLicle 3 involving dispuLes relaLing Lo.
(a) Marriage,
(b) Divorce recognized under Lhis Code,
(c) 8eLroLhal or breach o conLracL Lo marry,
(d) CusLomary dower (mahr),
(e) DisposiLion and disLribuLion o properLy upon divorce,
() MainLenance and supporL, and consolaLory giLs, (muL'a), and
(g) ResLiLuLion o mariLal righLs.
(3) All cases involving dispuLes relaLive Lo communal properLies.
ArticIe l56. Cle7l8 c3/ 4the7 8:b47/i3cte em5l4yee8.
() Shari'a CircuiL CourLs shall have Lhe same oicers and oLher personnel as Lhose
provided by law or Municipal CircuiL CourLs.
(2) 1he perLinenL provisions o Lhe Judiciary Law regarding Lhe number, qualiicaLions,
appoinLmenL, compensaLion, uncLions, duLies and oLher maLLers relaLive Lo Lhe
personnel o Lhe Municipal CircuiL CourLs shall apply Lo Lhose o Lhe Shari'a CircuiL
CourLs.
ArticIe l57. !lcce 41 8e88i438 8tcti438. Shari'a CircuiL CourL may hold session anywhere
wiLhin Lheir respecLive circuiLs, buL each shall have a principal sLaLion Lo be ixed by Lhe
Supreme CourL.
ArticIe l58. S5ecicl 574ce/:7e. 1he Shari'a CircuiL CourLs shall be governed by such special
rules o procedure as Lhe Supreme CourL may promulgaLe.
ArticIe l59. A55liccbility 41 4the7 lcw8. 1he provisions o all laws relaLive Lo Municipal CircuiL
CourLs shall, Lo Lhe exLenL LhaL Lhey are noL inconsisLenL wiLh Lhis Code, be applicable Lo Lhe
Shari'a CircuiL CourLs.
TlTL ll
TH AGAMA ARBlTRATlON COUNClL
ArticIe l60. C438tit:ti43. 1he Shari'a DisLricL CourL or Lhe Shari'a CircuiL CourL may, in
appropriaLe cases, consLiLuLe an Agama ArbiLraLion Council in Lhe manner speciied in Lhis
1iLle.
ArticIe l6l. i;47ce by tclc c3/ tc1wi/.
() Any Muslim male who has pronounced a Lalag shall, wiLhouL delay, ile wiLh Lhe
Clerk o CourL o Lhe Shari'a CircuiL CourL o Lhe place where his amily resides a
wriLLen noLice o such acL and Lhe circumsLances aLLended LhereLo, aLer having
served a copy Lhereo Lo Lhe wie concerned. 1he Lalag pronounced shall noL become
irrevocable unLil aLer Lhe expiraLion o Lhe prescribed 'idda. 1he noLice iled shall be
conclusive evidence LhaL Lalag has been pronounced.
(2) WiLhin seven days rom receipL o noLice, Lhe Clerk o CourL shall require each o
Lhe parLies Lo nominaLe a represenLaLive. 1he represenLaLives shall be appoinLed by
Lhe CourL Lo consLiLuLe, LogeLher wiLh Lhe Clerk o CourL as Chairman, an Agama
ArbiLraLion Council. 1he Agama ArbiLraLion Council shall submiL Lo Lhe CourL a reporL
on Lhe resulL o Lhe arbiLraLion, on Lhe basis o which and such oLher evidence as may
be allowed, Lhe CourL shall issue Lhe corresponding order.
(3) 1he provisions o Lhis arLicle shall be observed should Lhe wie exercise Lawid.
ArticIe l62. S:b8eq:e3t mc77ice8. Any Muslim husband desiring Lo conLracL a subsequenL
marriage shall, beore so doing, ile a wriLLen noLice Lhereo wiLh Lhe Clerk o CourL o Lhe
Shari'a CircuiL CourL o Lhe place where his amily resides. Upon receipL o said noLice, Lhe
Clerk shall serve a copy Lhereo Lo Lhe wie or wives. Should any o Lhem objecL, an Agama
ArbiLraLion Council shall be consLiLuLed in accordance wiLh Lhe provisions o paragraph (2) o
Lhe preceding arLicle. l Lhe Agama ArbiLraLion Council ails Lo obLain Lhe wie's consenL Lo
Lhe proposed marriage, Lhe CourL shall, subjecL Lo ArLicle 27, decided wheLher or noL Lo
susLain her objecLion.
ArticIe l63. O11e38e8 cci38t c:8t4mc7y lcw. 1he Shari'a CircuiL CourL, in cases involving
oenses againsL cusLomary law which can be seLLled wiLhouL ormal Lrial, may, aL iLs
discreLion, direcL Lhe Shari'a Clerk o CourL Lo consLiLuLe a council o noL less Lhan Lwo nor
more Lhan our members, wiLh him as chairman, Lo seLLle Lhe case amicably.
TlTL lll
JURl5CON5ULT lN l5LAMlC LAw
ArticIe l64. C7ecti43 41 411ice c3/ c554i3tme3t.
(a) 1here shall be a JurisconsulL in lslamic law, who shall be appoinLed by Lhe
PresidenL o Lhe Philippines and hold oice or a Lerm o seven years, wiLhouL
prejudice Lo re-appoinLmenL, unless sooner removed or cause or incapaciLaLed Lo
discharge Lhe duLies o his oice.
(b) 1he Oice o Lhe JurisconsulL shall be under Lhe adminisLraLive supervision o Lhe
Supreme CourL o Lhe Philippines which shall also ix iLs permanenL sLaLion, preerably
in Lhe CiLy o Zamboanga.
ArticIe l65. Q:cli1iccti438. No person shall be appoinLed JurisconsulL in lslamic Law unless
he is a ciLizen o Lhe Philippines, aL leasL orLy years o age, o good moral characLer and
proven inLegriLy, and an eminenL scholar in Lhe Qur'an and HadiLh and in lslamic
jurisprudence as well as proicienL in Arabic.
ArticIe l66. l:3cti438.
() 1he JurisconsulL shall, on Lhe wriLLen requesL o any inLeresLed parLy, have Lhe
auLhoriLy Lo render legal opinions, based on recognized auLhoriLies, regarding any
quesLion relaLing Lo Muslim Law. For Lhis purpose, he may, i he deems iL necessary,
consulL or ask or a consensus o Lhe 'ulama.
(2) 1he JurisconsulL shall consider and acL on every such requesL unless, in his opinion
and or good reason, Lhe quesLion need noL be answered.
(3) 1he Oice o Lhe JurisconsulL shall keep a compilaLion and cause Lhe publicaLion
o all his legal opinions.
ArticIe l67. C4m5e38cti43. UnLil oLherwise provided by law, Lhe JurisconsulL shall receive an
annual compensaLion o orLy-eighL Lhousand pesos which shall noL be diminished during his
Lerm o oice.
ArticIe l68. O11ice 5e78433el. 1he JurisconsulL may, in accordance wiLh Lhe Civil Service Law
and subjecL Lo Lhe approval o Lhe Supreme CourL, appoinL and ix Lhe compensaLion o such
personnel as may be necessary or Lhe perormance o his uncLions.
BOOK llV
Ml5CLLANOU5 AND TRAN5lTORY PROVl5lON5
TlTL l
MU5LlM HOLlDAY5
ArticIe l69. O11icicl M:8lim h4li/cy8. 1he ollowing are hereby recognized as legal Muslim
holidays.
(a) 'Amun Jadid (New ear), which alls on Lhe irsL day o Lhe irsL lunar monLh o
Muharram,
(b) Maulid-un-Nabi (8irLhday o Lhe PropheL Muhammad), which alls on Lhe LwelLh
day o Lhe Lhird lunar monLh o Rabi-ul-Awwal,
(c) LailaLul lsra Wal Mi'raj (NocLurnal Journey and Ascension o Lhe PropheL
Muhammad), which alls on Lhe LwenLy-sevenLh day o Lhe sevenLh lunar monLh o
Rajab,
(d) 'ld-ul-FiLr (Hari Raya Pausa), which alls on Lhe irsL day o Lhe LenLh lunar monLh
o Shawwal, commemoraLing Lhe end o Lhe asLing season, and
(e) 'ld-ul-Adha (Hari Raja Haji), which alls on Lhe LenLh day o Lhe LwelLh lunar monLh
o Dhu -Hijja.
ArticIe l70. !74;i3ce8 c3/ citie8 whe7e 411iciclly 4b8e7;e/.
() Muslim holidays shall be oicially observed in Lhe Provinces o 8asilan, Lanao del
NorLe, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, NorLh CoLabaLo, SulLan KudaraL, Sulu, 1awi-1awi,
Zamboanga del NorLe and Zamboanga del Sur, and in Lhe CiLies o CoLabaLo, lligan,
Marawi, Pagadian, and Zamboanga and in such oLher Muslim provinces and ciLies as
may hereaLer be creaLed.
(2) Upon proclamaLion by Lhe PresidenL o Lhe Philippines, Muslim holidays may also
be oicially observed in oLher provinces and ciLies.
ArticIe l7l. cte8 41 4b8e7;c3ce. 1he daLes o Muslim holidays shall be deLermined by Lhe
Oice o Lhe PresidenL o Lhe Philippines in accordance wiLh Lhe Muslim Lunar Calendar
(Hijra).
ArticIe l72. Ob8e7;c3ce 41 M:8lim em5l4yee8.
() All Muslim governmenL oicials and employees in places oLher Lhan Lhose
enumeraLed under ArLicle 70 shall also be excused rom reporLing Lo oice in order
LhaL Lhey may be able Lo observe Muslim holidays.
(2) 1he PresidenL o Lhe Philippines may, by proclamaLion, require privaLe oices,
agencies or esLablishmenLs Lo excuse Lheir Muslim employees rom reporLing or
work during a Muslim holiday wiLhouL reducLion in Lheir usual compensaLion.
TlTL ll
COMMUNAL PROPRTY
ArticIe l73. Whct c438tit:te. 1he ollowing are communal properLies.
(a) CusLomary heirloom, which shall include arLiacLs and ancesLral implemenLs or
Lhings o culLural value handed down rom a common ancesLor,
(b) AncesLral properLy, which shall comprehend hallowed ancesLral ploL, ancesLral
shrine, royal courL, and similar properLies, and
(c) chariLable LrusL properLy.
ArticIe l74. A/mi3i8t7cti43 47 /i8548iti43.
() FxcepL as oLherwise provided in Lhis Code, communal properLy shall be
adminisLered or disposed o in accordance wiLh Muslim law, 'ada, and special
provisions o law.
(2) Any provision o exisLing law Lo Lhe conLrary noLwiLhsLanding, Lhe LrusLee o any
communal properLy shall be Lhe person who is in lawul possession Lhereo, eiLher
personally or Lhrough an agenL.
(3) 1he Shari'a CircuiL CourL may appoinL a LrusLee o a communal properLy when
Lhere is a dispuLe as Lo iLs cusLody, possession, or adminisLraLion.
TlTL lll
CU5TOMARY CONTRACT5
ArticIe l75. H4w c438t7:e/. Any LransacLion whereby one person delivers Lo anoLher any real
esLaLe, planLaLion, orchard or any ruiL-bearing properLy by virLue o sanda, sanla, arindao, or
similar cusLomary conLracL, shall be consLrued as a morLgage (rihan) in accordance wiLh
Muslim law.
TlTL lV
CONVR5lON5
ArticIe l76. 11ect 41 7ei8t7cti43 41 c43;e78i43 t4 l8lcm.
() RegisLraLion o a person's conversion Lo lslam shall consLiLuLe a prima acie proo
LhaL he proesses lslam.
(2) Whoever dispuLes Lhe proession or renunciaLion o lslam by any person shall
have Lhe burden o proving Lhe conLrary.
ArticIe l77. #e:lcti43 43 c43;e78i43. No conversion o a minor below Lhe age o eighLeen
years shall be regisLered by Lhe DisLricL or CircuiL RegisLrar wiLhouL Lhe wriLLen consenL or
permission o Lhe parenLs or guardian, excepL when such minor has been emancipaLed rom
paLernal auLhoriLy in accordance wiLh law.
ArticIe l78. 11ect 41 c43;e78i43 t4 l8lcm 43 mc77ice. 1he conversion o non-Muslim spouses
Lo lslam shall have Lhe legal eecL o raLiying Lheir marriage as i Lhe same had been
perormed in accordance wiLh Lhe provisions o Lhis Code or Muslim law, provided LhaL Lhere
is no legal impedimenL Lo Lhe marriage under Muslim law.
ArticIe l79. 11ect 41 chc3e 41 7elii43. 1he change o religion by a Muslim shall noL have
Lhe eecL o exLinguishing any obligaLion or liabiliLy whaLsoever incurred prior Lo said
change.
TlTL V
PNAL PROVl5lON5
Chapter One
RUL Ol BlGAMY
ArticIe l80. cw c55liccble. 1he provisions o Lhe Revised Penal Code relaLive Lo Lhe crime o
bigamy shall noL apply Lo a person married in accordance wiLh Lhe provisions o Lhis Code or,
beore iLs eecLiviLy, under Muslim law.
Chapter Two
5PClllC OllN55
ArticIe l8l. lllecl 84lem3izcti43 41 mc77ice. Any person who shall, wiLhouL auLhoriLy,
solemnize any marriage purporLedly under Lhis Code, or shall do so in a manner conLrary Lo
Lhe provisions Lhereo, shall be punished by imprisonmenL o noL less Lhan Lwo monLhs buL
noL more Lhan Lwo years, or a ine o noL less Lhan Lwo hundred pesos buL noL more Lhan
Lwo Lhousand pesos, or boLh, in Lhe discreLion o Lhe courL.
ArticIe l82. Mc77ice be147e e5i7cti43 41 'i//c. Any widow or divorced woman who, having
been married under Muslim law or under Lhis code, conLracLs anoLher marriage beore Lhe
expiraLion o Lhe prescribed 'idda shall suer Lhe penalLy o a ine noL exceeding ive
hundred pesos.
ArticIe l83. O11e38e8 7elcti;e t4 8:b8eq:e3t mc77ice, /i;47ce, c3/ 7e;4ccti43 41 /i;47ce. A
person who alls Lo comply wiLh Lhe requiremenLs o ArLicles 85, 6, and 62 o Lhis Code
shall be penalized by arresLo mayor or a ine o noL less Lhan Lwo hundred pesos buL noL
more Lhan Lwo Lhousand pesos, or boLh, in Lhe discreLion o Lhe courL.
ArticIe l84. lcil:7e t4 7e547t 147 7ei8t7cti43. FxcepL as provided in Lhe arLicle immediaLely
preceding, a person who knowingly ails Lo perorm his duLy under Lhis Code Lo reporL or
regisLraLion any acL concerning Lhe civil sLaLus o persons shall be punished by a ine o noL
less Lhan one hundred pesos buL noL more Lhan one Lhousand pesos.
ArticIe l85. Nelect 41 /:ty by 7ei8t7c78. Any disLricL regisLrar or circuiL regisLrar who ails Lo
perorm properly his duLies in accordance wiLh Lhis Code shall be penalized in accordance
wiLh SecLion 8 o AcL 3753.
TlTL Vl
TRAN5lTORY AND llNAL PROVl5lON5
ArticIe l86. 11ect 41 c4/e 43 5c8t cct8. () AcLs execuLed prior Lo Lhe eecLiviLy o Lhis Code
shall be governed by Lhe laws in orce aL Lhe Lime o Lheir execuLion, and noLhing herein
excepL as oLherwise speciically provided, shall aecL Lheir validiLy or legaliLy or operaLe Lo
exLinguish any righL acquired or liabiliLy incurred Lhereby.
(2) A marriage conLracLed by a Muslim male prior Lo Lhe eecLiviLy o Lhis Code in
accordance wiLh non-Muslim law shall be considered as one conLracLed under
Muslim law provided Lhe spouses regisLer Lheir muLual desire Lo Lhis eecL.
ArticIe l87. A55liccbility Clc:8e. 1he Civil Code o Lhe Philippines, Lhe Rules o CourL and
oLher exisLing laws, insoar as Lhey are noL inconsisLenL wiLh Lhe provisions o Lhis Code, shall
be applied suppleLorily.
ArticIe l88. Se5c7cbility clc:8e. l, or any reason, any arLicle or provision o Lhis Code is held
Lo be invalid, Lhe same shall noL aecL Lhe oLher arLicles or provisions hereo.
ArticIe l89. #e5ecli3 clc:8e. All laws, proclamaLions, execuLive orders, rules and
regulaLions, or any parL Lhereo, inconsisLenL wiLh provisions o Lhis Code are hereby
correspondingly modiied or repealed.
ArticIe l90. 11ecti;ity. 1his Code shall Lake eecL immediaLely.
DONF in Lhe CiLy o Manila Lhis 4Lh day o February in Lhe year o Our Lord nineLeen hundred
and sevenLy-seven.