Following the death of Karpal Singh and the outpouring of grief, Muslims were reminded by the National Fatwa Council today that they were not encouraged to use the phrase “Rest in Peace" (RIP) to a non-Muslim because the term had Christian connotations.
In a statement issued on its website, www.e-fatwa.gov.my, the National Fatwa Council said Muslims could express their condolences to non-Muslim families.
"Condolences can be expressed to a non-Muslim family as long as there are no religious implications," it said.
"Wishes such as 'I sympathise with what has happened to you' or 'we express our sadness at the loss in your family' are allowed.
"However, a Muslim is definitely not encouraged to wish a non-Muslim person 'Rest in Peace'," the council said.
The council said RIP was an assumption that the non-Muslim person would receive God's blessings.
"It is similar to the Latin prayer of 'May his soul and the souls of all the departed faithful by God's mercy rest in peace’."
The council said this sentence was a form of prayer regularly used by Christians, especially during the 18th century and regularly engraved on tombstones.
"From an Islamic point of view, a person who has died in blasphemy will not receive God's forgiveness and blessings," it said.
The council's statement also said the wish also depended on the intentions of the individual saying “RIP”.
Early today, Karpal, the MP for Bukit Gelugor, died in an accident when the car he was travelling in collided with a five-tonne lorry near Gua Tempurung on the North-South Expressway.
Karpal, who would have turned 74 on June 28, was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang to attend a court hearing scheduled for this morning.
The impact of the crash which took place about 1.10am killed the prominent lawyer and his personal assistant, Michael Cornelious Selvam Vellu, 39, on the spot.
Karpal's son, Ramkarpal, and the car's driver, C. Selvam, were injured. Karpal's Indonesian domestic helper was also injured and is in critical condition at Ipoh Hospital. –TMI
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