Adat Perpatih

After 42 years, one who was born in Negri Sembilan pretty much knows about the intrinsic custom.

One of the steadfast belief that the male, in a divorce or death of the wife, the husband is to leave the house with whatever on his back when he moves in.

After I met with my second cousin Abang Long Mohd Noh, then only I understand the position of Adat Perpatih in relation to Islamic Law. It is also believed that the Adat is against Islamic Law as it favors the women instead of the men, when the men is supposed to take care of the family.

This is what my cousin told me.

1. The Tanah Adat is reserved only for the women, to be shared by the women so that if anything happens, the women can still have the Tanah Adat to construct a house or to cultivate the land for food.
2. The land cannot be sold, therefore it is worthless. But, the worth is from the produce cultivated from the land.
3. The land remains constant.
4. Tanah Beli is the land that we understand of. It is transferable, bought and sold and be divided to the sons and daughters after ones death.
5. Therefore, on top of the normal type of land, the Adat Perpatih reserves some land for the women to protect their interest, almost similar to Rezab Melayu only it is handed over fro mother to daughter, and cannot be sold. I do believe that this custom is not against Islamic principles.

It is interesting to know that I know a relative who resides in Rembau but until his death, this concept is not made known to him.