Publication:

Fatawa related to the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims in Malaysia : a comparative study

This research aims to conduct a comparative analysis on the fatawa concerning the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims that have been issued by muftun and fatwa institutions in Malaysia. Malaysia has a total of 15 fatwa institutions, each with its own jurisdiction over fatwa issuance and is not bound by fatwa issued by other institutions. Due to this circumstance, different fatawa have occasionally been issued in relation to the same issue, which leads to confusion among the general public. This is particularly crucial in light of the problems involving relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims, as issues related to this matter have always been a contentious topic in Malaysia and it affects how Muslims and non-Muslims interact with each other. Therefore, this study attempts to evaluate the conflicting fatawa by highlighting the causes for the differences as well as their evidences and arguments. In conducting this research, library research method is utilized in order to gain a better insight into the Islamic perspective in regard to Muslims and non-Muslims relationship. As this research requires data on the conflicting fatawa issued, inductive method is used by gathering all conflicting fatawa issued by both muftun and fatwa institutions. The data is analyzed by applying comparative method on the conflicting fatawa issued in this matter. The primary finding of this study is that there have been ten conflicting fatawa issued on this subject, some of which can be diminished if the root of the conflict is identified. While the contradiction may cause confusion to the public, especially when it comes to matters regarding Islamic belief, it also opens the door for the practice of ijtihad in choosing the better opinion in actualizing maṣlaḥah (common good) for the people in Malaysia.