KANGAR – Islam does not eliminate custom and culture simply because there are elements that are banned by “hukum syarak” (sharak law), but instead provides room for purification through adaptation to religious demands, said Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.
He said customs and culture that contain elements prohibited by shariah should not necessarily be eliminated but improved (iṣlāḥ) by removing the “haram” elements.
He cited the action of Prophet Muhammad who corrected the lyrics of Ansar women’s songs in wedding ceremonies.
“In a hadith, the prophet told them to leave inappropriate expressions but allow songs that mention noble values,” he told Bernama.
Asri said the matter was among the 13 resolutions reached in a discussion at the second conference of the Majlis Ilmuwan Nusantara held last November 14 and 15 which took place at the State Legislative Assembly Complex here on November 14 and November 15.
Other resolutions included that custom, culture and art that do not conflict with shariah can be used as “wasilah dakwah”, like incorporating good elements into works of art, while those that do not have religious elements such as preaching or worship are allowed as long as they are not against the teachings of Islam, he added.
He said while it is good to Islamise customs, culture and arts, care should be taken so that they do not become special acts of worship in religion.
“Another resolution is that respecting the customs, culture and art of a race is a teaching of Islam. The rigid opposition to all customs, culture, and art of a particular community without valid religious justification is not the teaching of the prophet,” he said.
The conference, themed “Balance Between Religion and Culture” involved the participation of 30 scholars from several countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia and Vietnam. – November 16, 2024