Studies in Moro History, Law, and Religion

Chapter 19

90. What is borrowed shall be returned in kind.

91. The will of a free adult shall be legitimate whether he be an immoral person or an infidel. The will of the insane, the intoxicated, the child, and the slave shall not be legitimate.

92. A will is null if the legatee dies before the testator; otherwise it is legitimate, and [the property] may be transmitted to the heirs of the legatee.

93. A will can not exclude legitimate heirs in the interest of one heir alone, except with the consent of the excluded heirs.

94. A person may recover his property directly if that can be done peaceably; otherwise he shall submit the case to the judge.

95. To be legal and binding the instructions and the trust of a princ.i.p.al must be authentic.

96. The agent must be capable of independent action and must be of age and sane. The agent shall not be a minor or insane.

97. In case of involuntary collision attended with the death of both parties, the respective heirs shall pay a light fine. (This is intended to secure aid for funeral expenses.)

98. If the collision is intentional, the fine shall be heavy. If only one party intended the collision, such party shall be punished on the merits of the case.

99. Minors and insane persons shall be judged like sane adult people. (This has reference to conditions similar to those of the two preceding cases.)

100. Male children, whether single or multiple, shall inherit all the estate of the parents.

101. A daughter shall inherit one-half.

102. Two or more daughters shall inherit two-thirds.

103. In case of multiplicity of children, males and females, the male child shall receive twice as much as the female child. The word of G.o.d said: "This command G.o.d gives you concerning your children, the male shall have the shares of two females."

104. G.o.d said: "Each man shall have half of the inheritance of his wife if she have neither a child nor a grandchild born of a son."

105. G.o.d said: "If a man"s wife dies and leaves a child or a grandchild born of a son, he shall have a quarter of her inheritance."

106. G.o.d said: "If a husband dies without a child or a grandchild born of a son, the wife shall inherit a quarter of his estate."

107. G.o.d said: "If a husband dies and leaves a child or a grandchild born of a son, the wife shall inherit an eighth part of his estate."

108. The father, the son, and the husband can not be disinherited.

TRANSLITERATION OF ARTICLES I-VIII OF THE LUWARAN

Bismi-l-Lahi-r-Rakmani-r-Rahim. Alhamdu lillahi-l-lazi hadana lil iman wal islam, wa salla-l-Lahu ala sayyidina Muhammad wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.

Article I. Nini isa a huk.u.m. Amayka adun uttuntuta a duwa a taw atawa i ya tigu sakataw tamukku inin ya manum tigu sakataw tamukku inin, i ya bunarun su uppakakamal kanu tamuk sarta ussapanin. Amayka silandun a duwa kataw uppakakamal kanu tamuk sapan silan a duwa kataw; amayka ussapa silan a duwa kataw badun sakanilan su tamuk sapapagissanun.

Amayka ya bu ussapa su sakataw ya bu makakwa kanu tamuk su ussapa salkanin su tamuk. Hatta wal-Lahu alam.

Article II. Nini isa a huk.u.m. Anunu sumu"mbay su isa a taw kanu pudin unggu dun madadag su sinumbayan, baliwanan dun kanu haraganin. p.i.s.san rinampas su sinu"mbayan u kanu sinumu"mbay baliwanan dun kanu haraganin unggu umanan sa undawi (ndawi) kapatuta kaumanun kanu tamuk u nadadag. Hatta tamat al-Lahu alam.

Article III. Nini isa a huk.u.m. Anunu sumu"mbay su isa ataw kanu pudin saparati patuk atawa tambuku unggu dun matupud su patukatawa magbang atawa madagag su tambuku, amayka ya katupudu patuk atawa ya, kakbangu patuk atawa ya kadadagu tambuku su atagu kina-su"mbayninun unggu dikna taksir su sinumu"mbay dili kabaliwanan su sinumbayan. Amayka sin itimbas su Patuk sa ataga ig atawa sin itimbas kanu sapun a tamlang undu dili iktan su patuk unggu dun madadag disadili baliwanan dunu sinumumbay su sinumbaynin. Tamat wal-Lahu alam.

Article IV. Nini isa a huk.u.m. Anunu malidu duwa kataw i ya, tigu sakataw su utangku nabayadangku dun, i ya manum tigu sakataw dalaka makabayad, amayka dala saksi nu duwa kataw bunarun su panuntut sarta ussapanin; amayka dili ussapa, i ya bunarun su pudtuntutan. Tamat wal-Lahu alam.

Article V. Nini isa a huk.u.m. Anunu itagunu isa ataw su tamukin kanu pudin, mawli nggu dun kuwanu (kwanu) tinumagu su tamukin, i ya tigu tinagwan kinwanungka dun atawa ya nin tig nadadag, amayka dala saksi nilan a duwa kataw ya bunar su tinagwan sarta ussapanin. Tamat wal-Lahu alam.

Article VI. Nini isa a huk.u.m. Anunu su tamuku taw a nadagag sabap sa natagakin nggu dun matunu isa a taw nggu nin dun itabun, mawli nggu dun maylaynu ugkwan kanu tamuk i ya nin tig tamuku inin a natagakku, i ya tigu nakatun dikna nungka tamuk dan dun a tamuku; amayka adun saksi kanu tamuk a natun a dikna tamuk a dan dun sabap sa tamuk a natun, yuli su tamuk sarta umanan su undawi kapatutin, isa a dudan atawa duwa a dudan. Tamat wal-Lahu alam.

Article VII. Nini isa a huk.u.m. Anunu rinampas su tamuku taw wajib i yulinu rinumampas sarta umanan sa kiira kiranu gunanin kanu kinarampasun. Tamat wal-Lahu alam.

Article VIII. Nini isa a huk.u.m. Anunu manik su taw kanu walaynu salakaw salkanin a dikna kiyugu ugkwan kanu walay unggu dun malipungu"t su gkwan kanu walay, amayka magabi masala su minanik sa pata dudan. Tamat wal-Lahu alam.

SULU CODES

THE PRINc.i.p.aL SULU CODE

This code was prepared by Sultan Jamalu-l-A"lam and was used without any modification by Sultan Harun. The present sultan"s minister, Hajji Butu Abdul-Baqi, has made a new code which has just been proclaimed, but which has not yet met with general approval.

This copy of the old Sulu Code is the original which was used by the Sultan Jamalu-l-A"lam himself, and also by Sultan Harun. It was written by Asmawil, the chief clerk and minister of Jamalu-l-A"lam. The ma.n.u.script was secured from Sheikh Mustafa, former minister to Sultan Harun.

This code differs considerably from the former one used by Sultan Pulalun, the father of Jamalu-l-A"lam, which was more in conformity with the letter of the Quran, much more severe in its sentences; hence the change was welcomed.

INTRODUCTION

This book is a guide for the proper execution of the duties of office in accordance with the law and rules of the country. It is concurred in by all, and is promulgated with the general consent of all the datus, panglima, and subordinate officers of state.

This on Sunday, the fourth day of the month Rabi" Akir, in the year Dal Akir, which corresponds to the year 1295 A. H.

May it enhance the good and the prosperity of our country; and may G.o.d give blessing and peace to its author.

THE CODE

Article I

Section 1. Whoever shall abduct the child of a free man, and be found out, shall be fined twenty rolls or pieces (gajahilaw) of calico (siddip) or its value. [15] The abductor shall return the child. A bail also is required which shall be equal in character and value to the abducted child.

Sec. 2. If the abductor of a free person is a slave, the master of the slave shall be examined to find out whether or not the abduction was committed with his knowledge and consent. In case he says that it was done without his knowledge and consent he must be sworn on the Quran. But, though he swears to that effect, he shall be held responsible for the return of the abducted person. Then if the actual abductor or abductors do not return the person or persons abducted, he or they shall be taken in payment thereof.

But if the master of the slave does not swear to that effect, he shall be held responsible personally for the abduction, and the case shall be treated as a case of abduction by a free man. The condition of the slave, whether privileged to live independently or not, does not affect this decision.

Article II

Section 1. (a) If property of any kind of the sultan is stolen, the thief shall be fined fifty pieces (gajahilaw) of calico.