Yesterday, there was a question posed by one of the undergrads at the close door session with the Minister, Dr Yacoob and other MPs at NUS.
He highlighted for a reason why there wasn’t a FATWA for the upcoming Integrated Resort.
The answers by Minister, we cannot reveal here because its a close door session but we want to know your thoughts?
Do we need a FATWA for the IR?
We welcome your comments below and do back up your reason why we should have one or why we shouldn’t.
Do note that your comments will be moderated.
seriously i don’t think it is necessary because Singapore is not an Islamic state
smurni: although we are not an islamic state, we still need the fatwah for the Muslim.
Thanks Smurni and Muhd,
Just to add a point mention yesterday.
“Since the smallest things like hair dye have a Fatwa on it and so why not on a big issue like this? “
I think a Fatwa is unnecessary for the IR. Why should there be an issue for a fatwa in the first place? It’s like whether or not we should allow betting in our S-League, football, a ricebowl for many Malays. Obviously, when we allow betting we are performing subahat, but we’re not promoting betting, we’re promoting football.
Likewise, the IR is not a gambling institution. It is a resort. Like how Sentosa is a resort. Like how Genting is a resort.
Genting is a casino, and it is in Malaysia! Did the Mufti of Malaysia issue a fatwa for it? No.
IR is a matter of national concern. Not a personal concern, not even a Malay-Muslim concern. If you choose not to gamble, then don’t gamble. If you choose not to work in the IR then don’t work in the IR. Religion doesn’t have to be complicated.
When we promote the IR, we’re not promoting a casino. We’re not promoting vice. We’re promoting Singapore to the world.
Having said that, we should revamp our ulama system, and professionalise them. They asatizahs should be exposed to the same scrutiny and criticism as other professions like doctors, lawyers and teachers. If we allow ourselves to let ulama’s decide how we should behave, then we should also allow ourselves the opportunity to make the fatwa process transparent.
I’m still waiting for a fatwa on smoking. It’s still makruh. Do you know that Brunei’s mufti has made smoking haram?
With or without a fatwa,the IR has been earmarked as a landmark to stimulate the country’s economy.So,the issue of gambling,vice,shubhah,halal and haram are at best,just a contextual discussion,if a Malay Muslim plays the “economy,resort and family based themepark” trump card.If a fatwa is issued,will it generate the same amount of fanfare and publicity,enjoyed by fatwa’s issued with regards to things like HOTA?Will the community seriously collaborate to create the needed awareness,in campaigns and ads?Or will the fatwa be issued based on the customary basis of issuing one out just because the issue has been forwarded?Is it needed?I say NO.
What the community needs is mass education,on the relevance/irrelevance and implications of the IR within their social,family and spiritual life.Fatwas should never be issued out of convenience because it will set a precedent.I just hope that a fatwa is issued on more urgent and pressing matters!One that is really plaguing the community.How about a fatwa decreeing that financial planning is important?Because our community is bleeding itself to death in this age old issue.Families are broken up and children are left to feed themselves,because no one cares enough to do financial planning.Just imagine the world of good,if the powers that be just issue out a simple fatwa to state the need for financial planning in this era of financial ignorance.
In a nutshell…let’s call out for fatwas on more important matters!
Just follow what Malaysia did at Genting. they bar Malaysian muslim from entering the casino. IR is not all bad, they have Universal studio – can play-play and great shopping centres. Casino is just part of it.
Even if there IS a fatwa being issued, will it even be decently exercised? Let’s look at the context. We’re looking at cosmopolitan secular Singapore where economic growth triumphs over morality.
Yes, there is a fatwa on dyes but how obvious is its impracticality. Very. The point I’m making is the utility of fatwas. Whether there is a need for fatwa will depend on the judgement of the (practicing) Muslim individual.
From my point of view, needing a fatwa for the IR is like putting it on the same level as the mandatory 5 daily prayers. So, no, we don’t NEED a fatwa. But some still WANT it though.
Ok. Well most of the arguments here mention that there isn’t a need for a Fatwa. For those who insists on it? What’s your reasons?
Some noted that Fatwa also represents Leadership in the Muslim community.
What’s your thought?
After understanding what is a fatwa, historically, a fatwa was never a tool to dictate the rule of law. A fatwa is essentially an opinion of an ulama. In the early years of tarbiyah, the community would seek the opinions of these learned men, all of them who never took cent for providing religious guidance. they never called themselves ulama (people who are learnt), but the title was bestowed upon by the muslim community.
When seeked for an opinion, the ulama would issue a fatwa. That fatwa represents the opinion of the ulama and is not legally binding. It is only an opinion and many of which are positioned after ijtihad.
So if a Muslim were to agree with the fatwa, he may comply, and if he doesn’t then there is no issue whatsoever.
If we were to consider this manner in what a fatwa’s objective really is, then its merely an opinion of an ulama. There is no need for the Mufti to issue a fatwa because he is free not to issue one. Perhaps his opinion is that if he issues a fatwa against the IR, it would fragment the community and would pull the community backwards, not forward. And progressing the community is more important than calling for a cease on vice in the IR which can never be exercised.
Thanks for putting up this forum, especially since I was the one who raised this issue.
“If we were to consider this manner in what a fatwa’s objective really is, then its merely an opinion of an ulama.”
The word ‘merely’ should not be used. It seems to belittle the rigorous thought processes that the fatwa commitee undergoes in their ijtihad. Not forgetting, the enormous burden that they shoulder on behalf of the masses should they issue an erroneous one.
“There is no need for the Mufti to issue a fatwa because he is free not to issue one.”
Being the Mufti, isn’t it his job to issue fatwas and perform ijtihad for the locality in which he is appointed in? If that is not his job, then what is?
“Perhaps his opinion is that if he issues a fatwa against the IR, it would fragment the community and would pull the community backwards, not forward.”
That depends on how you define as ‘forward’ or ‘backward. Backwordness, from an Islamic perspective, is the loss of God-consciousness.
“And progressing the community is more important than calling for a cease on vice in the IR which can never be exercised.”
That depends on what you define as ‘progress’, as mentioned above.
We may not be able to prevent vice in totality. But we can discourage ppl from being involved in it.
The word “merely” is used to compare the fatwa as an “opinion” against what its regarded to be, “a matter of legality”. Between an opinion and a law, obviously an opinion is smaller in comparison. I do not belittle the thought process. Thinking obviously takes up much energy. But I disagree about the matter of the burden that is placed on their shoulders. As I’ve said, if we understand a fatwa’s function for what it is, a person who does not comply with it has no legal implications. The matter is between him and God, not the ulamas.
If backwards is a loss of God-conciousness, then we must be going forwards. Never has there been more practising Muslims in Singapore and a desire to find meaning in life. But do not be confused by installing elements of syariah as a form of progress. The Singapre Muslim community will not be moving forward with a regime like Iran.
A mufti is a man-made title. Surely, he also has man-made responsibilities to serve spiritual guidance. Nothing in the qur’an demands a mufti to issue a fatwa for anything and everything. Therefore, he is free whether or not to give an opinion (fatwa) on a matter. An opinion cannot be forced. If he wishes not to opine, then that is his right. We did not choose the mufti in the first place and he is not accountable to us. But surely, he is accountable to God as is everyone else. In this matter, for a person in the public view, and a person who has the interest of the Muslim community at heart, surely, a matter of unity is more important than a matter of vice. The community cannot move forward if it were to fragment along the opinions of one man who everyone regards as a supreme authority of Islam in the country.
As it is important for him to ensure that MUIS is supported by all Muslims, not some, it is more wiser to refrain from issuing any kind of fatwa that only serves to add fuel to the fire.
Haven’t we learnt from the absurdity of the yoga fatwa and how it fragmented the Malaysian community?
I agree with most of the points brought up. I think being muslims in this modern cosmopolitan society, we need to adhere to some changes which are obviously not in sync with our religion. Its a matter of how wise we perceive these differences and carry out our duties individually as muslims to the best we can. I believe Muslims nowadays are wiser and smarter than what we used to be 20 years ago. We are better educated and can comprehend these matters. Lets not ask for things that will only backfire on us in future, we have to be tactful when living in a multi religious and racial society such as Singapore.
A fatwa is not needed because the law was already set in the time of the Prophet (P) and dictated by God in the Quran, that gambling is haram.
Conscientious Muslims should know to refrain from having any involvement with the gambling activities of the IR, and they don’t need a fatwa for that.
Granted there are already some so-called Muslims who engage in various gambling activities right now, whether or not there is a fatwa.
Salam.
We need more Daáwah in the community,not Fatwas.Fatwas as mentioned,is still,at the end of it all a deduced conclusion from an intense session of ijtihad.Which means that,it is still debatable and non compliable.
Gambling is Haram.That’s a no brainer.
Consuming alcohol is Haram.Another no brainer.
What if I open the door,as a guest relations officer at the casino?
What if I serve finger food,at a joint in the IR which also serves alcohol?
Now,this will be some of the issues that will have people clamoring for a Fatwa,because they’ll cite the context of employment.
But,were we not advised by the Prophet(p.b.u.h),to avoid all things that are syubahah,which in the above cases are.A Fatwa is not needed in such “contemporary” issues.
Asatizahs can do well to start their Daáwah materials engines up and running on this issue.Start diversifying into intimate sharing on the implications of IR existing in the fabrics of the Malay Muslim community.Start highlighting the intricate details on the ills of gambling,excessive enjoyment or just plain ignorance on the developments.The Daáwah messages should never always be confined,to family,marriages,teenagers,sexuality,terrorism and other commonly found themes.If the thought of a Fatwa needing to be issued,that means,there is an opportunity for Daáwah there.
Salam.
in my opinion, the singapore goverment have to bar the muslim from entering the casino at IR.
Salaam brothers and sisters … there is a need to to have a guideline as to which part/section of the IR muslims are permissible to play or work in a religious context. Since this is the first time that our country is having a casino it’ll be very helpful if the mufti comes out with some sort of fatwa on this. Lets just take the fatwa as a form of knowledge. Whether you adhere to it or not its up to you but the knowledge (fatwa) has already been given. Wassalam
Assalamu ‘alaikum
I also think that muslims should not enter casino at all. I agree with brother Muhammad Lateef opinion. The law is clear.
Assalamu ‘alaikum
I believe a Fatwah is not required but I recommend either a reminder or the passing of one.
1) Fatwah is merely an opinion without legal binding
True that a fatwah is the opinion of the ulama (scholars who are much better versed in islam) thus it carries much greater weight than a regular muslim’s opinion. Although I agree that the discussions etc should be more transparent so that we can better understand how the fatwah came to be. Much like how there are parliament discussions broadcasted.
2) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has already said to avoid all things harmful or prohibited.
If memory serves right, jobs with alcoholic sales or in any direct relation to anything haram are very much advised against. I believe if that is the only job available through rigorous search then it is allowed. But one should continue to rigorously search for another job which does not have any relation anything haram.
3) Gambling etc is prohibited as pointed out, a no brainer. Those who still do will get what they deserve.
4) Muslims now are more educated?
If it is the secular education it is true, we are much better educated but what about religious education?
There is no proper statistics to make the comparison between past and current muslims being better religiously educated.
Also, the quality of religious education is difficult to properly ascertain. Some muslims are home taught (by parents) or even self taught due to parents’ neglect in religious matters, others by ustaz/ustazahs either as a group at the ustaz/ustazah’s home and the remaining learn either at mosques or religious centres. Unless all muslims were to go through a standardized religious education system similar to our secular education system, we cannot truly make this comparison.
Food for thought, why has this not been implemented?
Many ‘modern muslims’ do not possess sufficient basic knowledge and make their judgements on secular or worse, kafir, logic. Worse yet, with their high positions and great pay, many think they are smart enough to make the right judgement and are too proud to listen to the wisdom of others.
Conclusion:
Given my limited 22 years of which only about 10+ years dedicated somewhat to religious studies (i admit i have been lazy in this field and hope to correct it in the near future) this is what I have thought of.
On a side note, the Quran has been proven time and again to be the most modern book known to man, any laws etc from it are written in stone and unchanging, to follow what is stated should be a given and to follow it will only lead to Progress to God. Secular progress is a plus which usually follows but is not the main point. Anyway, we will Never Regress secularly if we did follow the Quran.
Reminder:
This forum is to discuss as to the need of a fatwah for the IR. Please refrain from nit-picking with another’s comments too much.