Welcome Guest   |  Login   |   Signup
JG Logo
Sat, May 26, 2012
Archive Search

Islamic Group Tells Muslims: ‘Don’t Attend Rituals of Other Religions’
Carolyn Hong - Straits Times Indonesia | February 14, 2012

Share This Page
3
16
0
11
Share with google+ :


Post a comment
Please login to post comment

Comments

muffinman
9:41am Feb 17, 2012

After reading the comment from justpasserby (that may or may not throw a rock through your window as he passes, should he find it 'threatening' to his belief) I think Indoensia could use a few more psychiatrists.


jusdogin
11:54am Feb 16, 2012

just dude that is the weakest arguemnt I have ever heard - you are losing the plot dude

My god says be a god man, dont do bad stuff, if there is tempation then be strong and avouid it -

Yours says remove anything that tempts you and attack thiose who disagree - man you area sick puppy

justapasserby
11:16am Feb 16, 2012

hey, if you people choose to be easy going with your religion, then so be it. just dont expect us to follow. we dont take chances with reliious matters. you say muslims should not be worrying about temptation (open restaurant) in ramadhan if our faith is strong? well from our point of view, we do think our faith is strong, but we still think it would be better if we remove such unnecessary temptations. specifically, muslims are told to both "promote the good and forbid the evil". christians tends to focus only on the 1st part, only promoting good (theoretically, at least), but muslims must also actively forbid evil/vice.. so this is why muslims everywhere want to close vice dens such as bars or massage parlors, or porno maazines, or illegal religious buildings.

so I hope this explains to you that all these things have nothing to do with weak faith or not, we are simply forbidding evil.

roosplace
10:28am Feb 16, 2012

AlexBrehm 'as it says in the al quran'... hahaha you have to be kidding! I've read your book and there's no surprise why stories like this one are a constant from islam

nobody.in.particular
9:42am Feb 16, 2012

Hi jchay, I agree. They are so paranoid, so afraid, which can only mean their faith is so weak, that a mere gust of wind can shake the pillars of their religion. That would explain the violent backlash from extremist. They are weak-minded and afraid. That's why they try to cling to the dark ages with all their might.

"The Islamic authorities had also banned Muslims from doing yoga, saying it may involve elements of the Hindu religion." This is really sad to hear. And what might the punishment be for Muslims who get caught doing yoga? Fifty lashes? Stoning? Beheading?

Kuala Lumpur. The Ulama Association of Malaysia has urged Muslims to avoid participating in non-Muslim religious festivities, in a call seen by some as aimed at Prime Minister Najib Razak’s recent attendance at a Thaipusam celebration.

The association’s secretary-general Mohd Roslan Mohd Nor said Muslims should be more careful about this matter because it had a bearing on their faith. A guideline set in 2005 and approved by the National Fatwa Council, he said, was clear about Muslims attending the religious celebrations of non-Muslims.

“Among the criteria set is that the event must not include rituals that are against the Islamic faith,” he said in a statement, adding that Muslims should not participate in such rituals as it may jeopardise their faith.

The association is a non-government group that promotes Islamic values.

The statement did not name any specific incident of infringement, but it came soon after Datuk Seri Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor made a much-publicized visit to the Batu Caves Hindu temple during the Thaipusam festival on Feb 7.

Last week, the conservative Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria told a news Web site that the visit showed Najib had “sacrificed” his faith. He said he had repeatedly advised the Prime Minister not to take part in such events. “It’s an idolatrous act. I don’t know why this happened... when we don’t join in the celebrations of other races in their houses of worship.”

The Perak Mufti added that Muslims may attend festive open houses but not enter houses of worship where religious ceremonies are carried out.

Najib has not responded to the criticism. This is the first time his visit to the Batu Caves has stirred criticism, although he had previously gone there four times in three years, as part of efforts to consolidate crucial Indian support.

When he visited Batu Caves during Thaipusam for the first time in 2010, he was the first prime minister to do so in more than 30 years. Najib had also sought to meet the Christian community the same year, but his first such meeting was marred by overzealous aides who instructed church officials to remove crucifixes and to avoid singing hymns.

Yesterday, the Ulama Association of Malaysia urged all the religious authorities to give the right advice to the country’s leaders.

“At the same time, all leaders who are Muslims are advised to comply with the views of the religious leaders,” said Mohd Roslan.

He said non-Muslims should also understand and respect the Islamic values of their Muslim friends.

The Islamic authorities had also banned Muslims from doing yoga, saying it may involve elements of the Hindu religion.

Observers have warned that such conservative views, if repeated by the clerics and played up by the media, could deepen religious divides in Malaysia and also damage Najib’s efforts to reach out to minority communities.

“It will ignite a certain kind of sentiment on both sides,” said the director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies, Ng Yeen Seen.

Reprinted courtesy of Straits Times Indonesia. To subscribe to Straits Times Indonesia and/or the Jakarta Globe call 021 2553 5055.