Johor Muslims can’t observe Thaipusam processions, take part in Pongal celebrations

 

Rituals that involve worshipping of gods, such as Thaipusam, are included in the fatwa, says Johor mufti Yahya Ahmad.

PETALING JAYA: Muslims in Johor are barred from observing Thaipusam processions and taking part in Pongal celebrations under a new fatwa issued by the Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ), state mufti Yahya Ahmad said.

He explained that these celebrations are defined as religious rituals under the fatwa as they are “exclusive” to Hindus.

“If these rituals take place in a house of worship, then they are included in the fatwa,” he told FMT.

“But for functions done outside a house of worship for non-ritual purposes such as open houses and dinner events, they are allowed as long as they follow the guidelines issued by MAINJ.”

On attending the funerals of non-Muslims, the state mufti said Islam has “zero issues” with that. “However, what is not allowed is participation in religious rituals for the dead,” he said.

Yahya said the fatwa was issued by the religious authority to clarify to Muslims what is permissible and forbidden in Islam

However, he said the fatwa does not touch on non-Muslim rituals that do not involve any form of idol worshipping.

“In Islam, we call rituals ‘ibadah’, while in religions other than Islam, rituals mean the act of worshipping gods. This fatwa does not concern rituals that do not involve worshipping,” he said.

Yesterday, MAINJ issued the fatwa which prohibits Muslims from attending and taking part in religious rituals of other faiths in the state.

State Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Fared Khalid said Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had consented to the fatwa, effective immediately, Bernama reported.

He said the ulama from the four schools of Islamic thought – Shafie, Hanafi, Maliki and Hanbali – had agreed that Muslims were prohibited from attending and taking part in the religious rituals of other faiths.

However, Farid told the press that according to a number of scholars, Muslims are allowed to accept invitations to a ceremony in conjunction with a celebration of other faiths without a religious ritual ceremony. - FMT