Don't create unnecessary issues, says Perlis Mufti after hotel logo referred to him

KANGAR: Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has cautioned the public not to create unnecessary issues after a hotel named "All In" was referred to him because its name allegedly looked like the word "Allah" in Arabic script.

"In Perlis, there is a hotel named 'All In'. There are those who were not satisfied because they believed it looked like the word 'Allah' in Arabic script and the owner is non-Muslim.

"The case was then referred to me as the state mufti," he said in a post on Facebook on Monday (April 8).

Mohd Asri said the owner of the hotel began to worry because many items had been printed using that name.

"I asked the complainant about what was written and their response was that it was 'All In'.

"When I then asked what the problem was, they said it looked like the word 'Allah'.

"My response is that they did not write 'Allah', it is the complainant that decided it looked like the word 'Allah'.

"The alphabets clearly indicate the words 'All In' and not 'Allah'.

"We must give value to what is in writing in front of us, not what plays in the mind," he said.

Mohd Asri said, however, that if they find that someone has purposely ridiculed Islam then appropriate action will be taken.

"If there is no ill intention then do not cause problems," he cautioned.

His comments come at a time when there is a probe into a shoe logo that appeared to resemble the word "Allah" in Arabic script.

It was reported that the issue of the shoes arose following a three-minute video that went viral on social media in which a man claimed that the shoes he purchased displayed a logo believed to resemble the word "Allah”.

Following this, Vern’s Holding apologised in a statement on Sunday (April 7) evening for offending any sensitivities, clarifying that the graphic is actually a stylised high-heeled shoe with straps.

According to the company, it has taken immediate steps to cease the sales of the shoes affected and will offer refunds to customers who have purchased the shoes.

As of 7pm on Sunday (April 7), eight police reports had been lodged on the matter.

Earlier today (April 8) police seized a total of 1,145 pairs of shoes in Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Kedah.