THE JURISPRUDENCE OF HALAL DEFAMATION: PROTECTING MUSLIM ENTREPRENEURS FROM FALSE ACCUSATIONS – A COMMENTARY ON RAHMAN SHEIKH ABDULLAH V. ABD ZARIN MOHD YASIN

Abstract

Malaysia's determination to be an international halal hub depends A lot on consumer trust and a strong regulatory structure. Yet, the 2020 meat cartel scandal opened up deep fears in society, which led to the Malaysian Muslim community's heightened sensitivity to halal-related issues. This concern is usually taken advantage of online, where false claims go viral within seconds and cause quite a lot of financial and reputational damage to trustworthy businesses. This paper reviews the High Court's judgement in Rahman Sheikh Abdullah v. Abd Zarin Mohd Yasin, in which the Court dealt with a blogger's defamatory false allegations against an innocent Muslim-owned company. Through the angle of civil defamation law and Islamic law in particular the moral duty of Tabayyun (verification), this piece shows how reckless digital vigilantism results in a loss of market confidence and Maqasid al-Shari'ah undermining as well. The court decision reveals the importance of the judge's function in punishing misinformation while reminding that the enforcement of halal regulations should not lead to the destruction of innocent lives. The essay, in the end, recommends a combined method of not only ensuring updated and strict laws that protect businesses but also the society's awareness of and adherence to responsible verification-based communication for a sustainable Malaysian halal market.