Wednesday, October 22, 2014

animals and religion

‘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.
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. –

 A Muslim woman reacts as she holds a dog during the 'I want to touch a dog' event at a park in Petaling Jaya on October 19, 2014. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 20, 2014.

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