ZAKRI ALI: ‘I want to touch a dog’ event an attempt to insult Malaysia’s clerics, says former Johor mufti

Monday, October 20, 2014

‘I want to touch a dog’ event an attempt to insult Malaysia’s clerics, says former Johor mufti

Former Johor mufti Datuk Nooh Gadut said the “I want to touch a dog” programme organised by Muslims in Selangor yesterday was an attempt to insult ulama (clerics) and religious authorities.

The adviser to the Johor Islamic Re‎ligious Council said it was haram (prohibited) for Muslims to deliberately touch dogs as they were dirty (najis mughallazah) according to two Muslim schools of thought, Shafie and Hanbali.

"Don't try to create a culture that goes against Islam and the Shafie school of thought, especially when it has elements of insulting the ulama in this country," he was quoted as saying in Malay-language daily Berita Harian.

"This is forbidden for three reasons, which are religion, health and a culture that contradicts with Islam. It must be remembered that Malaysia adheres to the Shafie school of thought," he said.

According to Berita Harian, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said last October that Muslims were prohibited from touching dogs for no pressing reason.

Pahang mufti Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Othman said the religious authorities must investigate the purpose of the programme which he said was clearly against the beliefs of Muslims in the country.‎

According to Berita Harian, he said Muslims should not take the issue lightly and must refer to the authorities before doing anything that was against the Shafie school of thought.

Yesterday, more than 1,000 people turned up at the event in Bandar Utama, which was aimed at making Malaysians more aware of the furry four-legged creatures and also to educate others on how to practise "sertu" (cleansing).‎

This was to help people overcome their fear of dogs and bring together Malaysians to promote tolerance and understanding that goes beyond culture, race or religion.

The Selangor‎ Islamic Religious Council (Mais) had approved the programme and Ustaz Mohd Iqbal Parjin was present yesterday to give a talk on the touching of dogs in Islam.

"Dogs are also God's creatures. We need to overcome the mentality of seeing the animal as an offensive creature. Teach the young to love others but at the same time know the limit of touching one," said Iqbal. – October 20, 2014.

The Malaysian Insider.

20 October 2014

JAKIM siasat program 'I Want To Touch a Dog'

KUALA TERENGGANU: Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) akan menyiasat penganjuran acara 'I Want To Touch A Dog' (Saya Mahu Sentuh Anjing) yang berlangsung di Central Park, One Utama dekat Petaling Jaya, petang semalam.

Ketua Pengarah JAKIM, Datuk Othman Mustapha berkata program itu tidak sepatutnya berlaku dan pihaknya kesal dengan sikap tidak bertanggungjawab penganjur yang tidak prihatin dengan sensitiviti umat Islam di negara ini.

Katanya, Islam di Malaysia yang berpegang teguh kepada Mazhab Syafie sudah jelas memperincikan bahawa anjing dan babi itu tergolong dalam najis mughallazah (berat).

"Acara itu tidak pernah dianjurkan sebelum ini dan kali pertama didedahkan kepada masyarakat, kita orang Islam dan agama sudah menetapkan dengan jelas hukum berkaitan anjing.

"JAKIM akan segera menyiasat perkara ini dan sebarang tindakan akan dirujuk pada peruntukan yang ada," katanya mengulas penganjuran program itu yang mendapat sambutan luar biasa daripada kalangan umat Islam di sekitar ibu kota, semalam.

Othman ditemui media selepas merasmikan Multaqa Pengetua Sekolah Agama peringkat kebangsaan di sini, malam tadi.

Beliau turut menasihatkan umat Islam agar melihat semula dan mendapatkan pandangan ulama mahupun ustaz sama ada apa yang dilakukan mereka dengan menyentuh, memeluk dan mendukung anjing itu betul dari segi agama dan selaras dengan tuntutan Islam.

Penganjuran program 'Saya Mahu Sentuh Anjing' oleh Syed Azmi Alhabshi dikatakan bertujuan membantu orang ramai terutama masyarakat Islam untuk mengatasi rasa takut mereka terhadap anjing.

Program itu selama dua jam bermula 8 pagi hingga 10 pagi dibanjiri ratusan umat Islam bagi memberi peluang kepada mereka untuk menyentuh anjing sambil diperhatikan oleh pemilik haiwan.

Sementara itu, ketika ditanya mengenai kehadiran seorang ustaz di samping dua individu lain dalam forum mini bagi menjawab pertanyaan dan kemusykilan berkaitan anjing dalam acara itu, Othman berkata pihaknya akan turut menyiasat kelayakan agama lelaki berkenaan.

"Buat masa ini, kita tidak dapat maklumat lengkap sama ada betul atau tidak individu itu ustaz, sekarang ini siapa-siapa yang pakai songkok (penampilan alim) pun sudah boleh jadi ustaz," katanya. - BERNAMA