KINIGUIDE | Interfaith events: Old rules, new proposal, royal precedents
Summary
In 2005, the National Fatwa Council had, had issued a general guideline for Muslims attending non-Muslim celebrations.
The new proposal being brought to the table seeks to expand the guideline.
Among others, the new proposal requires non-Muslims to seek permission from authorities if the event involves Muslims.
KINIGUIDE | The country is being divided again over proposed new guidelines for Muslims attending non-Muslim events.
This is the second time in two months that such guidelines have become part of heated discourse.
Malaysiakini takes a look at the existing guidelines, the new proposals, and what precedents the Malay rulers - who are the heads of Islam in the country - have set when it comes to interfaith events.
The existing guideline
Presently, the National Fatwa Council had, in 2005, issued a general guideline for Muslims attending non-Muslim celebrations.
In that guideline, there are four main criteria to determine whether or not a Muslim can attend a celebration namely:
No ceremonies that are against the Islamic faith
No actions that are against the Islamic faith
The event does not contain behaviour that is against the morals and culture of Muslim society
The event does not touch on the sensitivities of Muslims.
Among the things that violate these criteria are displaying religious symbols, singing songs or speeches that praise non-Muslim faiths, serving alcohol and non-halal food, immodest dressing and free mingling between the sexes.
New proposal
Based on the written parliamentary reply from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Na’im Mokhtar on Monday, the proposal is to expand the existing guidelines.
Besides festive celebrations, it would also cover funerals, visits to non-Muslim houses of worship and the organising of events at such places.
Examples of prohibitions cited by Na'im include speeches and songs that either exalt other faiths or belittle Islam, as well as displaying religious symbols - similar to the 2005 guidelines.
New to this, is that non-Muslim events that are to have Muslim guests must not clash with the azan call to prayer, as well as congregational and Friday prayers, as well as the Friday sermon.
Also new is the prohibition of events being held near mosques, surau, Muslim cemeteries, or wakaf (endowment) lands.
Further, Na'im states that organisers would be required to get permission from authorities as well as views from Muslim authorities if a non-Muslim celebration is to have Muslim guests.
READ MORE: Fatwa Council guidelines: Muslims can't join events with Christmas trees
This new proposal is set to be finalised by the muzakarah committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs at the end of the month.
The cabinet will also be discussing the matter on Feb 7.
Royal precedents
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong - Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar - who is the head of Islam in the Federal Territories as well as his home state of Johor, had a straightforward view in regard to Muslims attending non-Muslim celebrations.
In March 2023, Sultan Ibrahim said that Muslims can attend non-Muslim celebrations and go to non-Muslim houses of worship as long as they do not take part in non-Islamic rituals or prayers.
"This is very clear and I have complete trust in Muslims because their faith is strong and unshakable," His Majesty said in an interview with The Star.
The monarch is also reported to have attended a 2019 Thaipusam celebration at a Hindu temple in Johor.
Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah shared a similar view.
His Royal Highness had stated that while there are prohibitions on Muslims visiting non-Muslim houses of worship, there is nothing to stop Muslims from visiting other places of worship without taking part in religious rituals or practices.
"There is nothing wrong with attending a wedding or a wake at a church, for example, but Muslims must just observe," the sultan had said.
Sultan Sharafuddin is expected to attend a Chinese New Year celebration at the Fo Guan Shan Dong Zen Temple this Saturday.
