The move taken by a number of Malaysian citizens to join the terror organisation, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), is inappropriate and haram (forbidden) to be pursued.
Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria said this in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's concerns over the conflict in Iraq and Syria, as well as the involvement of militant activities which had affected the stability of those countries.
"They (ISIS followers) are not categorised as martyrs because the organisation fights against and kills their fellow Muslim brothers. It is a domestic rebel movement.
"As such, Malaysian citizens who join the organisation with the intention to fulfill the obligation of jihad will find that it is a vain effort as ISIS' principles contravene the principles of Islam, hence making it haram in Islam," Harussani told Bernama when contacted.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Mufti Datuk Muhammad Shukri said Muslims in Malaysia should first try to gain better understanding on the meaning of jihad.
"Is it jihad if we simply fight each other, with strong determination and serious intention?
"Yes, we are required to fulfil our obligations of jihad, but the question now is whether we are joining the right organisation?" he said.
Muhammad said the decision to fulfil the obligation of jihad must be made based on the principles of Islam.
"As Muslims, we cannot simply fight and kill each other, but if the fight is not a contravention of the Islamic law and principles, then the intention to participate in such a fight is right.
"As such, I would like to advise those who want to join such a fight to study and monitor the organisation first and be extra careful not to participate in any organisations that contravene Islamic principles," he said.
The Dean of the Faculty of Law, Government and International Studies of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Assoc Prof Ahmad Marthada Mohamed said there was no need for Malaysian citizens to join the fight bandied about by ISIS as it was purely geopolitical.
"ISIS is not actually upholding the true Islamic principles, they are fighting to establish a government or the Islamic state in Iraq and Syria, hence making it more of a political agenda than a religious agenda," he said.
As such, he said it was hoped that the government could give more explanation to the people on ISIS, especially about its fight, causes and objectives that contravened the principles of Islam, so that the participation of Malaysian citizens in the organisation, directly or indirectly, could be reduced.
Besides, he said, the government should also combat all movements that were trying to recruit Malaysians as terrorists because Isis had also been detected to have expanded their activities to the people at the grassroots.
"Stern action must be taken against those who organise the recruitment, we can do this because we have law on this and because the problem has been deemed threatening," he said.
Dean of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Prof Emeritus Datuk Mahmood Zuhdi Abdul Majid, on the other hand, stressed that the obligation of jihad differed from one country or province to another.
Hence, he proposed for Malaysia to have an Islamic jurisprudence as the fatwa (edict) issued by the international ulama might be apt for one country, but not in the context of other countries.
As such, he said the edict issued by the middle eastern ulama might be suitable to be implemented in certain middle eastern countries, but not in Malaysia as Malaysia had different sets of approach in solving problems.
Prior to this, a news portal had reported that a family of four, comprising the parents, their 18-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son, became the first Malaysian family to join ISIS, along with 30 other Malaysian citizens.
Last Saturday, Najib, in a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart, Tony Abbott, had said Malaysia would work together with the international community to combat the militant organisation and its influence.
This is because ISIS does not represent Islam, is a misnomer and does not do justice to Islam, he said.
Bernama
Fri Sep 12 2014
A filepic of Islamic State fighters raising their weapons as they stand on a vehicle mounted with the trademark Jihadists flag at an undisclosed location. - AFP Photo/HO/Al-Furqan Media
Kertas kabinet wujud sektor sukan dibentang dalam tempoh sebulan - Hannah
Hannah berkata dengan data yang lebih menyeluruh melibatkan sektor industri sukan nanti, pihaknya akan mampu merangsang pertumbuhan sukan di negara ini dengan lebih baik.
Tiga Syarikat Semikonduktor umum melabur di Pulau Pinang - Kon Yeow
Tiga syarikat semikonduktor dari China menyatakan komitmen untuk membuat pelaburan baharu di Pulau Pinang.
Pindaan garis panduan lawatan: Sekolah diharap susun semula program - Fadhlina
Semua sekolah diharap dapat menyusun semula program lawatan masing-masing berikutan pindaan Garis Panduan Lawatan Murid Sekolah pada tahun lepas bagi mengukuhkan pembelajaran di luar kelas, kata Menteri Pendidikan, Fadhlina Sidek.
Kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak dijaga sehingga tamat sekolah - KPM
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia akan memastikan kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak 10 pegawai dan anggota Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia yang terkorban dalam nahas helikopter di Lumut, Perak, terus dijaga sehingga mereka tamat persekolahan.
Chegubard ditahan polis berkaitan hantaran mengenai kasino di Forest City
Chegubard ditahan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Dang Wangi di sini berkaitan hantaran mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City pada Sabtu.
Zahid minta pihak dalam BN buka "buku baharu"
Ahmad Zahid menegaskan senario politik tanah air sudah berubah dan terdapat banyak video lama dari parti lawan yang meminta pengundi menyokong DAP.
Malaysia kongsi pengalaman dalam usaha berterusan mempertahan Palestin
Delegasi negara akan berkongsikan peranan Malaysia dalam usaha berterusan mempertahankan nasib Palestin dalam Persidangan Liga Parlimen Al-Quds kelima yang berlangsung di Istanbul, Turki pada Sabtu.
Universiti Malaya mohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia
Jabatan Pengajian Antarabangsa dan Strategik, Universiti Malaya memohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia berhubung kenytaaan tidak bertanggungjawab Profesor Dr Bruce Gilley pada 24 April lalu.
Genting Malaysia nafi terbabit perbincangan
Selepas Berjaya Corporation Bhd dan Kerajaan Negeri Johor, kini Genting Malaysia Bhd pula menafikan sebarang penglibatan dalam perbincangan mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City, Johor.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Sabtu, 27 April 2024.
PAU2020: UMNO perlu 'kawan' untuk kembali jadi kerajaan
Di sebalik keyakinan untuk kembali menguasai Putrajaya, pemerhati politik melihat BN memerlukan 'kawan' untuk kembali menjadi kerajaan serta mentadbir negara.
Belanjawan 2021: Dr Mahathir mahu kerajaan lebih empati situasi rakyat - Penganalisis
Pendirian Dr Mahathir buktikan beliau mahukan kerajaan mempamerkan lebih empati dan keprihatinan terhadap situasi semasa rakyat.
Darurat: Kabinet masih berfungsi, tertakluk keputusan Yang di-Pertuan Agong - Penganalisis
Tidak timbul isu di mana Kabinet perlu ditukar atau ahlinya perlu meletak jawatan kerana semuanya bergantung kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Negara cukup undang-undang tangani isu kehilangan secara paksa - Penganalisis
Prof Dr Ahmad Marthada Mohamed menegaskan, belum timbul keperluan untuk meratifikasi Konvensyen Antarabangsa mengenai isu tersebut.
Guling Tun M: Gimik politik alihkan isu melanda Pas
Ahmad Marthada berpendapat, ia bagi mengalihkan isu yang melanda Pas ketika ini terutama dalam kes dana RM90 juta dan hubungan Pas dengan UMNO di Semenyih.
Pemuda UMNO bukan lagi 'yes man' - Penganalisis
Penganalisis politik, Prof Madya Dr Ahmad Marthada Mohamed berkata, tindakan Pemuda UMNO juga tidak seharusnya dikritik memandangkan ia langkah perlu dalam usaha mentransformasikan parti Melayu itu.
Kerjasama Pas-UMNO kini formal - Penganalisis politik
Kehadiran beberapa pimpinan UMNO jelas tanda sokongan kepada calon Pas, Dr Halimah Ali dan ia menunjukkan kebersamaan dalam konteks pembangkang.