Minister cautions preachers who give views on Islamic laws

 

Muslim preachers in Malaysia were advised to be careful when conveying their views and to check with authorised reference sources.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said preachers should be honest and have the courage to say they do not know when asked on certain matters.

“It is not wrong to say you don’t know because even Imam Malik, Imam Syafie when asked by a student, they said they don’t know when they do not know.

“The problem with us is that sometimes, when there are questions, we want to answer them all. We should say that we don’t know what we don’t know.

“This is what used to be taught by scholars but, in today’s society, whatever comes out from the mouth of preachers will be accepted because of the thirst for religious knowledge,” Mohd Na’im (above) said.

He said this when commenting on the apology by celebrity preacher Don Daniyal Don Biyajid following his sharing on a radio station where he said one of the times one cannot fast is on the first day of either Aidilfitri or Aidiladha.

Don Daniyal Don Biyajid (middle)

The answer was allegedly misleading because Muslims cannot fast on Tasyrik days which are the 11th, 12th, and 13th of the Zulhijah month.

Following various criticisms, Don Daniyal, known as Ustaz Don, 40, apologised on social media, admitting that the answer given on a radio station had caused a misunderstanding.

Commenting further, Mohd Na’im said he was upset that such an issue persisted even though he previously instructed the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) to meet with Ustaz Don.

“My advice is, if you want to share knowledge, let it be based on sources and references that we believe in and based on our expertise.

“These religious people have specialisation. If in the field of hadith, we have religious people who are experts in hadith,” he said.

Certified speaker list

At the same time, Mohd Na’im also advised media agencies to ensure that the speakers they select have credentials from the respective State Fatwa Committees.

“The media can also refer to Jakim because it has a list of certified speakers. At least this speaker has been checked. That’s my hope. It is always necessary to refer if there is any problem,” he said.

He added that people who have religious and Islamic law problems are advised to refer to the Fatwa Committee and mufti in their respective states.

- Bernama