I REFER to June HL Wong’s column "Can we just enjoy all our M&Ms?” (So Aunty, So What, The Star, Feb 8; online here). I would like to comment on some of her views.
About Thaipusam, she writes, “Take, for example, Johor’s Islamic Religious Council that issued a fatwa just before Thaipusam stating that Muslims in the state are prohibited from observing, attending and taking part in religious rituals of other faiths – like Thaipusam processions or Pongal celebrations, I assume.” But the fatwa only said Muslims cannot participate in the religious rituals of other faiths, it said nothing about "observing and attending” festivals.
The fatwa was actually supported by the Council of Churches of Malaysia ("Fatwa on religious rituals offers good guidance, says Council of Churches Malaysia", The Star, Feb 5; online here) and Johor exco member Ling Tian Soon. The article that quotes Ling on this matter is about the Sultan of Johor attending a state-level Thaipusam event at a temple and being garlanded by the temple committee ("Johor Sultan attends Thaipusam event, The Star, Feb 6; online here).
Hence, the fatwa is acceptable to Muslims. A Muslim cannot be chanting "vel, vel, Muraga arogara" at Thaipusam. A Christian would not do it either, because the Abrahamic faiths believe in one God. I assume the writer herself, being a Christian, would not pray to the "Kitchen god" or "god of Fortune" or the "Jade Emperor" during Chinese New Year because these Chinese deities are not a part of Christianity.
On PAS and its policies: PAS is a religion-based political party. In democratic Muslim nations, such parties do exist, just as Hindu parties exist in India. Such parties use religion in their agenda to win votes. In Malaysia, PAS cannot form the Federal Government without other political parties. Because of that, until today, Islamic hudud laws have not become federal laws as most Muslim MPs do not support it. If PAS proposes any “extreme" policies, we have our Malay Rulers to "checkmate" the party! Also, Sabah and Sarawak will never agree to hudud laws.
On the ban on 4D and lottery outlets in Kedah: The PAS state government did not renew the licences of gambling companies in the state this year. But why has nobody sued the PAS government in the courts? Where are the NGOs? Even the "Allah" issue ruling was taken to court.
On the Bon Odori festival: As the columnist notes, when the religious minister in the previous administration told Muslims not to attend this Japanese festival because it supposedly has elements of Buddhism, the Sultan of Selangor overruled him, saying it’s mainly a cultural event, and many Muslim did attend the festival.
On giving Christmas greetings: As per the writer, the Mufti of Federal Territory’s Office website permits Muslims to wish Christians and even provides guidelines. As the writer says, "all this is quite positive”, so no issue here, I think. Besides, for Muslims, Jesus (Isa) was a prophet who preached God's message. Christians consider Jesus a Messiah, son of God and/or God. We Muslims understand the difference.
A brief explanation on fatwas for non-Muslims: These are decrees by mufti that guide Muslims on matters considered relevant to Islamic doctrine. A Muslim layman, myself included, would not be well-versed in Islamic jurisprudence ("fiqh"). The mufti guide us because Islam is a way of life, it’s not just about going to the mosque every Friday.
When a mufti banned Muslims from doing certain asanas (forms) in yoga, non-Muslims made a lot of noise. But, for example, the "surya asana” in which one stands facing the sun in a worshipful position is unIslamic (for Hindus, of course, the Sun can be worshipped – “surya namashkar”). Only the mufti can advice us on such subtle matters.
There is also the influence of Shia doctrines among Sunni Muslims in Malaysia. Again, only the mufti can advise us. In Catholicism, only the Pope issues new doctrines, for example about the use contraceptives, about abortion, etc. Muslims do not have a global religious leader like the Pope, we depend on the mufti for guidance and also on the Malay Rulers as heads of Islam.
If a non-Muslim finds fault with a fatwa, it would be an encroachment on Islamic matters. The Quran says: "lakum deenakum, walia deen” (your faith is yours, my faith is mine).
MOHD IQBAL
Kuala Lumpur
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