'Pas responsible for Hadi's controversial message'

The council's chairman, Prof Emiritus Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husin said this was because PAS was the party that issued the message and it should be held responsible for all disputes arising from the issuance of the message.

He said the matter was decided during the council's special muzakarah (conference) on Jan 8 which aimed at stressing and reminding all quarters, including the government, about several decisions made to curb fractionalisation of Muslims due to this issue.

He said further discussions or a new fatwa (edict) on the matter was not necessary and that the fatwa issued on Nov 21, 1984 should be adhered to, besides the fatwa issued on Feb 15, 2001 about fractionalisation of Muslims, which were approved by the Council of Rulers.

"The muzakarah agreed that any discussion between the National Fatwa Council with Pas or any quarters pertaining to the issue is not needed as the fatwa on the issue has been made and approved by the Council of Rulers and should be adhered to by all quarters," he said.

Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had recently challenged the council to issue an official letter to him about the Hadi's Message to state that it was contradictory to the interests of Muslims, the holiness of Islam and Islamic teachings.

The message pertains to a speech he (Abdul Hadi) made in 1981 where he had branded umno members as 'kafirs' (infidels).

According to the fatwa issued on Nov 21, 1984, any accusation or description made by PAS members or supporters that Umno members, leaders or government officials were kafir (infidel), vice versa, was not true and void.

This was because Umno members or anyone professing Islam were deemed as Muslims as long as they were not convicted for apostasy by the Islamic religious authorities in the country.

The fatwa also stated that to accuse a Muslim as infidel was a sinful act that should be stopped immediately and that the accuser should repent.

Accordingly, Abdul Shukor said the muzakarah also decided that all Muslims should not poke fun at religious issues to gain political support.