Is buying an Android TV box haram? What does the Mufti office think about the trends on TikTok? Is it forbidden in Islam to open loot boxes in video games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) Mobile? Is the “buy now, pay later” scheme condoned by Islam?
They are just a sample of questions on the use of technology that have been directed at the Mufti of the Federal Territories office (FT Mufti).
Typically, the FT Mufti office receives between 50 and 80 tech-related questions per month from its official social media platform, says its research officer, Abd Hakim Abd Rasid, during an interview at the Kuala Lumpur branch.
When faced with doubts over hukum or Islamic rulings, Muslims in Malaysia turn to authoritative figures like the mufti for clarification, Abd Hakim says, adding that an Irsyad Al-Fatwa will be issued to address the queries.
“An Irsyad Al-Fatwa offers explanations for mostly contemporary issues using the Quran, hadith and writings by Islamic scholars as references,” Abd Hakim says.
The process of preparing an Irsyad Al-Fatwa begins with researching the technology, be it a product, application or service. This may require hands-on testing or consultation with experts and authorities such as Bank Negara in the case of fintech utilised by banks and financial institutions to enhance their services.
Once the research is complete, a draft will be submitted for approval to the head of the research unit and it has to be endorsed by a mufti before it’s published.
“There are a number of layers to go through. If the topic is complex, then it will require more time. But we can expedite the process for issues that require immediate attention,” Abd Hakim says.
Taking a deep dive
Prior to the popularity of tech platforms, people used to submit their questions through letters or call the FT Mufti office. Others chose a more direct route – approaching an ustaz for answers following a sermon.
“In 2017, we started accepting questions through the FT Mufti page on Facebook. That’s when we noticed the questions about technology becoming more interesting, requiring us to conduct research to understand the mechanisms and tech jargon,” he says.
In the case of loot box purchases in PUBG Mobile, Abd Hakim says, an officer had to download the game and learn to play it as part of the research.
“When readers go through the statement, they will know that the writer who prepared the explanation is well-versed in the game,” Abd Hakim says.
Due to gambling elements, the FT Mufti issued an Irsyad Al-Fatwa in 2021, explaining that buying loot boxes in the game is not permissible in Islam.
Players have to use Unknown Cash (UC), the game’s currency, which has to be purchased with real money, to acquire loot boxes that may contain rare items that cannot be bought directly from the game. However, it’s a gamble as players may not succeed, even after many attempts and spending thousands of UC. In the Irsyad Al-Fatwa, players who had purchased the boxes were urged to repent.
Abd Hakim says some explanations get a lot of attention and tend to go viral, particularly when they involve something popular, such as online games with a large following.
One of the popular issues addressed recently by the FT Mufti office was about Android TV boxes, specifically whether they could be used to stream paid shows without signing up for a subscription.
The Irsyad Al-Fatwa concluded that people can buy and use an Android TV box, but they can’t use it to stream illegal content, which violates the intellectual property rights of the companies that own the content.
No question is too trivial, says Abd Hakim, because asking shows that a person is careful not to participate in an activity before ensuring that it’s condoned by Islam.
Earlier this year, the TikTok trend “unboxing by husband”, in which brides shared videos of their spouse removing hair accessories on their wedding night, caused a furore online.
The trend caught the attention of the Perak state religious department, which issued a statement urging Muslims not to participate in the trend. It was followed up with an Irsyad Al-Fatwa from the FT Mufti office, which declared the trend “strictly prohibited for Muslims” as a spouse is not supposed to parade a wife’s aurat or imply that he is about to engage in intimacy.
“We are guided by the Quran to not degrade ourselves or participate in activities deemed immoral,” he adds.
Seeking guidance
Assoc Prof Dr Rafeah Saidon, the head of postgraduate studies at the Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam, Selangor, emphasises that the use of modern technology that’s beneficial is encouraged in Islam.
“Islam is not only a religion, it’s a way of life. Verses in the Quran and Sunnah make it compulsory to seek knowledge,” she says.
Throughout the history of Islam, she says, Muslim scientists have been revered for their knowledge of various subjects, including mathematics, medicine, biology, chemistry and astronomy.
“The development of knowledge has led to the fourth technological revolution known as Industry 4.0, which relies on Big Data, Cloud computing, machine learning and Internet of Things.
“If we are against technology, we will be left behind,” she says.
Rafeah commends the efforts of the FT Mufti in clarifying the many aspects of technological use, as there are numerous alarming trends that people should be aware of.
“For example, the troubling trend of spreading fake news without verification, which is made worse by algorithms on social media that push such content to a wider audience,” she says.
Her other concerns include deviant groups spreading their beliefs online, deepfake technology being used to mislead people and the effects of cyberbullying.
“Also, being overly dependent on technology can lead to addiction, which can cause people to neglect their duties to God, family and society.
“Technology also has an impact on the environment, as evidenced by the large carbon footprint of data storage facilities,” she says, adding that religious authorities such as the FT Mufti can offer guidance in people’s daily lives.
Complex challenges
Maintaining the balance between faith and modernity can be tough, says Abd Hakim, noting that there have been instances when people didn’t agree with the FT Mufti’s stand.
“One worrying aspect is how society finds it hard to separate Islamic rulings from what they have already become accustomed to, such as the use of Android boxes,” he says, as some had criticised FT Mufti’s ruling.
The post on the Irsyad Al-Fatwa for Android boxes received more than 1,000 comments, with some readers accusing the FT Mufti of siding with a local pay-TV operator.
“Maybe they don’t understand why respecting intellectual property is important. We also believe that some only saw the title of the post and did not read the article fully,” he says.
Dr Mohd Hasrul Shuhari, who is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Islamic Contemporary Studies at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) in Terengganu, says plenty of factors could lead to people questioning explanations provided by religious authorities.
He believes that some may have been influenced by teachings with conflicting beliefs, as even academics and professionals have been known to disregard the proper process of seeking knowledge based on the Ahlus Sunnah Wal-Jamaah ideology, the accepted Islamic principle in Malaysia.
Abd Hakim adds that some also assume that when products or applications are mentioned in the Irsyad Al-Fatwa, they have been declared haram.
This is not the case, he says, citing PUBG Mobile, as only the loot boxes were forbidden.
Misunderstandings also exist between Irsyad Al-Fatwa and fatwa that has been gazetted into law and may have legal implications.
“Fatwa focuses on bigger issues on a national or international level. It has to be discussed by the Fatwa Committee of The National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia and studied based on the law,” he says.
Though Irsyad Al-Fatwa focuses on contemporary issues and is not legally-binding, Muslims are encouraged to adhere to the rulings provided in the explanation, urges Abd Hakim.
Issues may also be revisited, he continues, and a new ruling may be issued when the need arises.
However, keeping up with technology is not without challenges, he reveals, highlighting emerging innovations such as the metaverse and non-fungible tokens (NFT).
Abd Hakim is concerned that there may not be a local expert or a means to test out the technologies before making a decision.
“The metaverse is an interesting concept because it could improve our online interaction with one another.
“I don’t see any issues for Muslims in terms of usage, but certain aspects could be problematic, such as how it could be used to explore pornography,” he says.
Tech for good
There is a need to demonstrate how various technologies can be employed for good without violating religious convictions, says Mohd Hasrul.
He shares that he was involved in the development of an online teaching tool using an automated bot in Telegram known as Mukjam MyShakhsiyyah.
“The tool makes it easier for users to access definitions for various teachings in Islam.
“They can type their query into the chat box and users will be provided with references as well as videos. It is being updated from time to time so it can be utilised by more people,” he says.
Mukjam MyShakhsiyyah is free to use, he says, adding that the university has also developed apps such as Kembara Alam Hartawan Falak, which lets users learn astronomy through a Saidina-inspired game. Saidina is a locally developed property buying game based on Monopoly.
Apps are a good example of how technology may be used for the greater good, he says, citing zakat apps that make payment easier.
But some misuse apps and services online to make a quick profit and technology cannot be blamed for people’s conduct, he warns.
“For instance, when you’re selling a product online, you shouldn’t manipulate a person’s feelings by saying, ‘You are overweight and nobody likes you so you need to buy this product.’ That is unethical.
“Misusing technology for online piracy is another example. Being ethical is important when using technology,” he adds.
Lastly, Abd Hakim stresses that people should not be afraid to ask questions or feel that they will be judged, adding that non-Muslims too have sought clarification from the FT Mufti office.
He says: “On our part, we have to be ‘beradab’ (civilised) and remember our responsibility to provide guidance to people.
“We welcome all questions without prejudice and are here to help. People should not be reluctant to reach out to us.”
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