Latest news with #IslamicTeachings
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
Jais denies backing eHati, says organisers told to comply with Islamic teachings after 2022 complaint over ‘self-pleasure' clip
SHAH ALAM, July 19 — The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) has today denied granting approval for the eHati programme following allegations made by the organiser in a recent media statement. Jais said a Clarification Panel met eHati organisers in November 2022 after receiving complaints from participants about activities that allegedly contradicted Islamic teachings. 'The Panel was shown a video used by the organisers, which included a method of self-pleasure for women purportedly aimed at strengthening marital intimacy,' it said in a statement. 'As a result, the Clarification Panel opined that the eHati programme could proceed, subject to the condition that any content or activities that contravene Islamic principles be removed.' It said in response, the company was instructed to regularly consult religious authorities or experts to ensure full compliance with Islamic teachings. 'Additionally, organisers were asked to include a disclaimer stating that the aforementioned video was intended for married couples only,' it added. Jais said its panel's recommendations were meant to prevent violations of Islamic principles, and did not equate to formal approval of the eHati programme or its activities. Jais stated that the organisers failed to submit the complete programme module for review after receiving recommendations in 2022. It added that had the company complied with the panel's stipulations, the incident at IDCC Shah Alam involving eHati recently would not have occurred. Jais director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad had previously confirmed the case is being investigated under Section 7 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995 for alleged false doctrine. Earlier this week, Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan urged members of the public who took part in the eHati 'Queen's Night' marriage motivation programme to give their statements at the Shah Alam District Police Headquarters as soon as possible. He said they have identified around 50 participants, of whom 30 have been interviewed. The remaining individuals have been asked to come forward or face arrest. The case is being investigated under Section 209 (false claims), Section 14 (minor offences), and Section 294 of the Penal Code, which includes offences committed under the guise of religion. Among those arrested are six individuals — four women and two men — believed to be married couples who participated in the so-called Queen's Night session, a four-day, three-night retreat offered under 'Package B' of the eHati programme.
Malay Mail
10-07-2025
- Malay Mail
After recent superstitious mob, Kedah Religious Dept to monitor graves of Sg Korok victims over fears of un-Islamic practices
JERLUN, July 10 — The Kedah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIK) will monitor the graves of the six family members who died in the tragedy at Sungai Korok last Saturday to prevent any activities that are contrary to Islamic teachings. JHEAIK director Datuk Dr Abd Ghani Zainuddin said that although no activities contrary to Islamic teachings had been detected at the cemetery so far, the department was taking precautionary measures. 'The Kubang Pasu district religious office has received a complaint regarding the possibility of suspicious activities at the cemetery,' he said. 'We have mobilised personnel to carry out monitoring, and so far, there has been no need to install barrier ropes to cordon off the site,' he said when contacted today. He added that monitoring would continue from time to time, and appropriate action would be taken if any activities were found to be against Islamic teachings. He also reminded the public not to engage in any superstitious practices that go against religious teachings. Meanwhile, the secretary of the At-Taqwa Mosque, Mhd Shukri Hassan, said many visitors had been seen stopping by and reciting prayers at the graves. 'There were people stopped outside the mosque's fence and offered prayers for the deceased, as the graves of the six family members are located next to the village road,' he said when met today. He added that the mosque committee would continue monitoring the situation. 'We have contacted the police and religious authorities. If we observe any suspicious activities, we will report them for further action,' he said. In last Saturday's tragedy, husband and wife Mohamad Azim Izat Ishak, 32, and Nurul Hidayah Khadijah Razman Efendi, 31, along with their four children, died after the Proton Iswara car they were travelling in is believed to have skidded and plunged into Sungai Korok in Kampung Kemboja near here. — Bernama
Malay Mail
06-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Visitors warned against superstitious acts at UPSI student's grave in Terengganu, told to respect family and Islam
JERTIH, July 6 — Visitors to the family home and grave of the late Nurly Sahirah Azman, one of the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students who died in a tragic accident along the East-West Highway (JRTB) in Gerik, Perak, last month, have been reminded to observe proper conduct and avoid actions contrary to Islamic teachings. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar, said that while he, too, was moved by the various stories surrounding the 23-year-old student, including reports that she passed away while clutching the Quran, the public must remain mindful of the family's feelings and refrain from straying into superstitious practices. 'Of course, Nurly Sahirah's parents are very hopeful about this. They do not want the kindness shown by their late daughter to cause our society to engage in superstitious things. 'I urged the public to behave respectfully, act in accordance with religious teachings and pray for the deceased. Superstition is not the way to honour the memory of the departed,' he told reporters after visiting Nurly Sahirah's family at Kampung Gong Pasir in Kerandang near here yesterday. Mohd Na'im also advised the public to seek guidance from those with religious authority, such as state muftis, before undertaking any actions related to such matters. Following reports of superstitious and shirk-related activities at the grave of the late Nurly in Kampung Gong Pasir Muslim Cemetery, Kerandang, the family installed a rope barrier to prevent further misuse. The action was taken after some individuals were observed taking soil from the grave and applying it to their faces, which is considered an act of superstition and disrespect. The family also decided not to receive guests from last Wednesday (July 2) to give them space, especially for Nurly's parents, Azman Mohamad, 63, and Kamariah Abdul Latif, 60, to rest. Meanwhile, Kamariah, when met by reporters today, urged members of the public who wish to visit their home to view the handwritten Quran manuscript by her late daughter, once the visiting session reopens tomorrow, to observe the designated visiting hours, which are from 9 am to 6 pm. 'We are truly grateful and welcome the presence of visitors. To us, they are not coming by our invitation, but by the will and invitation of Allah,' she said. — Bernama
Malay Mail
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Selangor exco sees SIS ruling as opening door to liberal and plural Islamic views, warns fatwa on ‘deviant' individuals still enforced
KLANG, June 20 – The Selangor government has claimed today that yesterday's landmark decision in favour of Muslim women's rights group Sisters in Islam (SIS) may open the door to the spread of liberal and pluralistic views of Islam. State Islamic affairs and innovation committee chairman Mohammad Fahmi Ngah said he agrees with the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) that the decision could be exploited by some organisations or institutions to disseminate alternative interpretations of Islam. 'The state government will continue efforts to scrutinise, detect and enforce [the law] on any individuals who practise liberal and pluralistic religious ideologies,' he was quoted saying by The Star. 'This is to ensure that the sanctity of Islam continues to be protected in Selangor.' Fahmi said existing fatwa or religious edicts still deem individuals who promote liberal and pluralistic interpretations of Islam as 'deviants'. 'These individuals cannot be allowed to freely continue practising and spreading such ideologies directly or indirectly using the Islamic label to obtain legitimacy,' he reportedly said. He urged the public to report any deviant religious teachings to the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais). Yesterday, civil society SIS won its nearly 11-year-long court challenge against a Selangor fatwa, which means that its company — SIS Forum (Malaysia) — is no longer labelled 'sesat' or 'deviant' from Islamic teachings. Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who chaired the Federal Court's five-judge panel, read out the majority judgment which quashed parts of the Selangor fatwa. In other words, the Selangor fatwa will now only apply to individuals — labelling those who hold liberalism and religious pluralism beliefs as 'deviants' from Islamic teachings and requiring them to repent. In response, Mais had cited the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, expressing his disappointment and sadness over the Federal Court's decision. The sultan also urged SIS to cease using the term 'Sisters in Islam' in any publication or platform associated with the organisation.
Malay Mail
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Federal Court sets June 19 decision date for SIS Forum's appeal against ‘deviant' fatwa
KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 — The Federal Court will deliver its ruling on June 19 in the appeal filed by SIS Forum (Malaysia) against a fatwa issued by the Selangor religious authorities, which declared the organisation deviant and contrary to Islamic teachings. The matter was confirmed by Datuk Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, counsel for the Selangor Fatwa Committee, when contacted today. 'The court informed the parties of the decision date via email on May 20,' he said. In addition to the Selangor Fatwa Committee, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) and the Selangor government are also named as respondents in the appeal. On Aug 21, 2023, the Federal Court granted leave to SIS Forum and its founder, Zainah Mahfoozah Anwar, to appeal against the Court of Appeal's earlier decision dismissing their bid to annul the fatwa. In a 2-1 majority decision, the Court of Appeal held that the fatwa issued by the Selangor Fatwa Committee did not constitute a final decision and, therefore, could not be challenged by way of judicial review. SIS Forum and Zainah had appealed to the Court of Appeal after the High Court dismissed their application for a judicial review on Aug 27, 2019. The fatwa, gazetted by the Selangor State Government on July 31, 2014, declared SIS Forum, as well as any individual or group subscribing to liberalism and pluralism, as deviant and contrary to Islamic teachings. The fatwa further directed that any publication espousing liberal or pluralist views be banned and seized, and urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to censor social media content deemed contrary to Islamic teachings and syariah law. — Bernama
