ONLY muftis appointed by sultans of the respective states have the authority to produce fatwas (edicts), said Senator Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, following the controversy surrounding a Muslim-only launderette in Johor and a religious teacher’s comment that it was haram for Muslims to get haircuts from non-Muslims.

The deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department advised people to only refer to those authorised to produce fatwas, and said any statement issued by either an ulama or a preacher remained the individual’s religious opinion and did not have legal implications.

“A valid view of religion that has legal implications is only that which has been decided on by muftis, and these views are usually discussed with the Fatwa Committee before being brought to the sultan.

“The fatwa is only valid, credible and legally binding if it has been approved by the sultan and is gazetted,” he said on Facebook today.

Asyraf said as of late, there had been too many confusing fatwas issued by various ustaz and preachers.

“After the launderette issue, other issues, such as ‘Muslims should not receive haircuts from non-Muslims’, have surfaced, which have spewed polemics in the community.

“Therefore, religious authorities should be respected and stop spreading ‘odd’ fatwas from individuals who are not muftis, as otherwise, it would only lead to more confusion, feuds and polemics, which would not benefit us and could hurt the sanctity of Islam.”

The Muslim-only launderette in Johor raised the ire of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, who has forbidden such businesses from operating in the state.

The launderette owner has since apologised to the ruler.

In a video that has gone viral, religious teacher Shahul Hamid Seeni Muhammad said it was haram for Muslims to get a haircut from non-Muslims.

The headmaster of Maahad Tahfiz Darul Tahzib made the remark in the video that was uploaded two years ago and has garnered more than 9,000 views.

It showed Shahul Hamid saying it was haram for Muslim women to go to non-Muslim salons, as a woman’s hair was considered aurat and should not be exposed to non-Muslims, even if they were women. – October 18, 2017.