Muslims bound by fatwa council’s advice on ‘Rest in Peace’, says Jamil Khir
Any advisory from the National Fatwa Council is binding on Muslims, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said today, referring to the council's reminder to Muslims not to use the phrase "Rest in Peace" when condoling a non-Muslim's death.
The minister in charge of religious affairs, while refusing to state if the statement was an opinion or a fatwa (edict) from the Council, insisted that it was applicable nonetheless.
"Muslims abide by the views of the National Fatwa Council, because it is their views," Jamil (pic) told reporters today after officiating the excellence award ceremony at the Federal Territories Islamic Affairs Department in Kuala Lumpur.
Former Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin had called on the Council to be more detailed when issuing edicts.
"The recent statement by the council about discouraging Muslims from saying RIP should be explained further so that everyone will have a better understanding," Asri had said.
He said the council's explanation should be based on two categories: whether the deceased understood but rejected Islam outright, or whether he or she has yet to receive the call to accept the religion.
Last December, the Council issued a reminder on its blog, discouraging Muslims from saying RIP over the death of a non-Muslim, saying the term was adopted from a Latin prayer which means "May his soul and the souls of all the departed faithful by God's mercy rest in peace"
"Expressions such as 'I sympathise with what has happened to you' or 'we express our sadness at the loss in your family' are allowed.
"However, a Muslim is definitely not encouraged to wish a non-Muslim person 'Rest in Peace'," it said.
"From an Islamic point of view, a person who has died as a disbeliever will not receive God's forgiveness and blessings," it had said.
Asri said in the hereafter, Allah would evaluate a person's faith based on a clear and actual Islamic message.
"A person will only be declared an unbeliever or infidel if it is clear that they had rejected the true Islamic message.
"If a person does not actually know Islam, we cannot say he belongs in hell because God says 'We do not torment until God sends an apostle'," said Asri. – April 22, 2014.
