PENANG mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor has advised Muslims against taking part in the Bon Odori festival for fear it can lead to “syirik” (polytheism) practises. 

He said Muslims are advised to always preserve the purity of their Islamic faith by avoiding such festivals.

“Since the festival is linked to remembering the souls or spirits of the ancestors, it is feared that it could lead to polytheism,” he said in a statement today.

“Muslims must always preserve the purity of their Islamic faith.

“Remembering the souls of the ancestors by dancing, worshipping their spirits and others is not encouraged in Islam.”

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad was reported to have said the Malaysian Islamic Development Department found that the Bon Odori festival has elements of other religions. 

As such, Muslims are advised against participating in the event, which will be held at the Shah Alam National Sports Complex on July 16.

Meanwhile, Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, in a separate event, said the state government does not plan to cancel the event scheduled on July 30.

He said in the context of Penang, it does not contain elements of worshipping or certain religious rituals.

He said the festival has been held for the last 10 years in Penang and it is aimed at strengthening the long-established ties between Malaysia and Japan, which could help spur the state’s economy and tourism.

According to Yeoh, the festival held in Penang before the Covid-19 epidemic could attract more than 10,000 visitors, and the state government expects more than 5,000 participants this time round.

In PUTRAJAYA, the Malaysian Islamic Charity Council, under Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia, said Muslims should not take part in the festivals of other religions that involve matters concerning faith.

Its chairman, Muhammad Najhan Shahir Halim, said the ban was based on the Quran and hadith (narrative record of the sayings or customs of Prophet Muhammad and his companions) and five maqasid syariah (objectives or purposes behind the Islamic rulings) principles, which, among others, protected religion, life and the mind.

Nevertheless, he urged Muslims to respect the cultures and beliefs of other religions by living peacefully with one another. – Bernama, June 7, 2022.