Syiah teachings deviate from true Islamic faith, says JAKIM

The Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has stressed that all branches of Syiah teachings deviate from the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah Islamic faith (Sunni Islam) practised in this country, and violate Islamic law.

With this, its director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha today also categorically refuted claims that there were branches of the Syiah doctrine in this country having similarities with Sunni Islam.

He said according to studies done by Jakim, the active propagation of the Ithna-'ashariyyah branch of Syiah teachings or The Twelve Imams started in Malaysia after the success of the 1979 Islamic Revolution of Iran.

"As such, the Syiah teachings practised by the followers in Malaysia until today is The Twelve Imams stream which deviate from true Islamic teachings. Othman said among the deviations of The Twelve Imams Syiah were as follows:

* Believing that the imam is infallable, that is, free from any sin.

* Regarding the companions of Prophet Muhammad as infidels.

* No Friday prayers.

* Allowing the combining of the obligatory daily prayers in all situations

without any reason.

* Allowing nikah muta'ah (short-term contract marriage, also called pleasure

marriage).

* rejecting the views of ulamas.

* over-revering of Ali the caliph to the extent of putting him at par with

Prophet Muhammad.

* Adding Saidina Ali's name in the syahadah after the Prophet's name.

On nikah muta'ah, Othman said it was a Jahiliah (the age of ignorance, before the arrival of Islam) practice that went against Quranic teachings and ulama thinking, and prohibited by the Prophet through his sayings.

He noted that the National Fatwa Muzakarah Committee had on May 2-3, 1996 met and agreed that Islamic teachings other than the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah were against Islamic law and its propagation prohibited.

"On July 24 this year, the Home Ministry declared the Pertubuhan Syiah Malaysia (Syiah Association Malaysia) as illegal.

"Spreading Syiah teachings is not just about violating the fatwa (edict), but the issue of national security is also taken into consideration by the Home Ministry in banning the Syiah movement in this country," he said.

Othman said The Twelve Imams religious doctrine could have been spread to this country through the availability of reading materials and by individuals who visited Iran or Shiites who came from that country.

He did not dismiss the possibility of some local university lecturers having played a role in spreading Syiah teachings to the students.