Don't criticise fatwa issued - Selangor Sultan

The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah today advised Muslims not to be too hasty to criticise the fatwa (edicts) issued by relevant religious authority without fully understanding the fatwa.

The Sultan said Muslims must be united and think as one on religious teachings, and this should be above political ideology and interest.

"I am saying this because I don't want to see conflicts and quarrels among Muslims in managing and implementing Islamic matters to the point of undermining the religion, causing it to be mocked and questioned by irresponsible parties."

The ruler said this when opening the Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Conference and Syariah Criminal Code Seminar at the State Secretariat building here.

Also present was Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The Sultan said a fatwa was not determined by the mufti alone but through a fatwa committee comprising religious scholars and professionals who were experts in their respective fields and Islamic law.

"They will discuss before deciding on a fatwa, taking into consideration the rulings in the Quran, the hadith (sayings and practices of the Prophet) and related Islamic scriptures.

"A fatwa made in the state of Selangor will only become valid with my agreement and consent to it," he said.

The Sultan said he did not want the peace, unity and development enjoyed all this while to be destroyed by extreme elements due to their ignorance, uncontrolled emotions or extremist influence from outside.

He also reminded Muslims not to be easily influenced by deviant teachings which could undermine their Islamic faith.

Recently, Sisters In Islam (SIS) was reported to be wanting to seek judicial review on a Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) fatwa which declared the NGO of carrying deviant ideologies of liberalism and pluralism.