Shia expert tells how local Muslim authorities tolerated non-Sunnis in the past

Academic and author Faisal Tehrani.

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian academic appointed by Harvard University to research the Shia diaspora has welcomed remarks by a state mufti that a fatwa branding followers of the second largest Islamic branch as deviant should be reviewed in consultation with authoritative Muslim scholars.

Faisal Tehrani, who was recently appointed as an associate for a project on Shiism commissioned by Harvard’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, said state Islamic authorities in Malaysia had in the past acted with more wisdom in according the rights of minority Muslim groups who do not subscribe to the officially followed Sunni doctrine.

He said this includes a 1983 recognition for the Bohra community by then-director of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais), Abdul Samad Abdul Rahman.

“He recognised the Bohras as ‘non-Sunni Muslims’. And this recognition was renewed in 2000 by Abdul Malek Ramli from Jais,” Faisal told FMT.

Bohras refer to followers of a non-mainstream Shia sect, concentrated in the Indian subcontinent.

Shia Islam has a substantial following in Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon and several parts of Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Pakistan.

But Islamic authorities in Malaysia have declared its teachings “deviant”, with sermons in Selangor frequently condemning its followers as heretics.

On Tuesday, Penang mufti Wan Salim Mohd Noor said the National Fatwa Council’s declaration that Shia teachings are deviant is subject to revision, as such pronouncements are not sacrosanct in Islam.

Saying some local Muslim scholars do not have accurate knowledge about Shia Islam, Wan Salim spoke of a need for a study on the differences between Shia and Sunni practices, which should also include references to authoritative Shia scholars.

Faisal, a novelist whose seven books remain banned for their Shia themes, said Malaysian Muslim scholars should emulate their counterparts in Singapore.

He said Muis, the republic’s Islamic Religious Council which is in charge of Muslim affairs, had also given similar recognition to non-Sunni Muslims by shunning the “deviant” label.

“What’s so great about our Islamic departments and councils compared to Singapore’s? The scholars there were also educated at Al Azhar,” said Faisal, referring to the centre of Sunni Islamic scholarship in Egypt.

Faisal said as minorities, Shia Muslims, whom he estimates number about 250,000 in Malaysia, should be protected.

“A function of democracy is to protect minorities, including religious minorities. If we consider Shia followers as fools, well, democracy is also for the fools, it’s not only for intelligent people.

“If Rahmatan lil Alamin covers animals and aliens, why not fellow humans from among the minorities?” he asked, referring to the government’s Islamic slogan pledging mercy for all.

Faisal said mainstream Islamic scholars in Malaysia are spoilt for choice when it comes to consulting authoritative Shia sources.

“There are many associations that can act as moderators, whether in Indonesia, Singapore, the UK or the US. They will tell you who these authoritative Shia scholars are.” - FMT