'Haram for Muslims to sever family ties over politics'

It is forbidden (haram) for Muslims to sever family ties over partisan politics, said Umno Ulama Council executive secretary Khairudin Aman Razali.

He said Islam never taught its followers to cut off "biological ties" over differences in political ideologies.

"It is haram to sever family ties particularly those such as fathers, mothers, siblings, uncle, aunties, nieces and nephews, even if they are of different religion.

"What more if it was because of differences in political parties," he said," in a Facebook post today.

The former PAS Ulama Council secretary's statement was issued several days before the start of state election campaigns this weekend.

It is believed to be a reminder for politicians and their supporters not to be overzealous to the point of destroying family ties.

Any such behaviour, Khairudin said, would be a sign of extremist actions in politics.

"Politics should unite, not divide.

"Only the Khawarij (an early Islamic sect) had in history divided the ummah by labelling as infidels those who did not share their political beliefs...," he said. - Mkini