The Relevance of the Palembang Kingdom’s Laws to Indonesian Legislation: A Case Study on Theft

Abstract

Islam Nusantara established its first political institution in the 13th century. However, some regions did not have the same political system. In total, there were 113 Islamic kingdoms that ruled over the Nusantara region: 32 in Sumatra, 28 in Sulawesi, 24 in Kalimantan, 10 in Java, 8 in East and West Nusa Tenggara, 7 in Maluku, and 4 in Papua. The majority of these kingdoms can be categorized as Islamic governments, while Hinduism was only present in small and remote areas. In Sumatra, some of these Islamic communities settled and expanded their influence as early as the 14th or 15th century. On the other hand, some kingdoms (such as Mataram) still adhered to conventional systems. This study is a literature review utilizing a descriptive analysis method. The research focuses on the political and legal dynamics of Islam in the Palembang Darussalam kingdom, aiming to reveal how the legal system was implemented based on the Simbur Cahaya Law Code and national legislation concerning theft cases, the existence of customary law, and its relevance to Indonesia’s legal framework.