Don’t criticise fatwas: Sultan

SHAH ALAM: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has advised Muslims not to be hasty in criticising fatwas, or edicts, without fully understanding their contexts.
"The Muslim community must be confident and united in their thoughts in understanding all the principles of Islam; this must include overcoming the ideologies and political interests (of certain quarters)," the Ruler said in his opening remarks at the Syariah Criminal Code Seminar here yesterday.
"As a religion which is complete and whole, Islam practices moderation in all aspects which encapsulate akidah (faith), syariah or even akhlak (one's behaviour). This form of moderation is the main principle which differentiates Islam from other religions," the Sultan said.
"The moderation concept is stated clearly (in the Quran), which is practised in Islam in all aspects of our daily lives."
The Sultan said that he did not wish to see the nation's peace, unity or development destroyed by certain parties "which have been influenced by outside extremist elements".
The Sultan also reminded that a fatwa is not determined by a mufti only, but is decided by the National Fatwa Council, which consists of scholars and also professionals who are experts in each of their specialised fields, including jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, two PAS leaders joined Global Movement of Moderates Foundation chief executive Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah yesterday to lend their support to Sisters in Islam (SIS) for filing a judicial review on a gazetted fatwa in Selangor, which declared it as subscribing to "liberalism and religious pluralism".
The fatwa meant that the NGO had deviated from the teachings of Islam.
SIS came across the edict by chance on Jakim's e-fatwa website on Oct 20, which resulted in it filing the review on Oct 31.
The decision of PAS' Parit Buntar MP Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa and Khalid Samad (Shah Alam MP) and Saifuddin was revealed at a press conference here after they met SIS founder Zainah Anwar, executive director Ratna Osman and board member Datuk Paduka Marina Mahathir.
Khalid expressed disappointment on the fatwa because the judgment is unfair.
Saifuddin said SIS did not have any intention to challenge any authority, including the royal institution.