Corruption a bigger sin than consuming pork, former Perlis mufti tells Muslims
The Malaysian Insider – 14 hours agoRELATED CONTENT
- Corruption a bigger sin than consuming pork, former Perlis mufti tells Muslims
Former Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Asri Zainul Abidin expressed disappointment with Muslims in the country who were more concerned over the consumption of pork, but kept silent over bigger crimes such as corruption.
He said it is as though the Muslim community does not realise the sin and harm in matters that are clearly illegal, such as interest-taking and corruption, both far greater sins compared to consuming pork.
"Unfortunately, we are not making enough noise over things that are clearly haram.
"This is the understanding of Islam, which only regards consuming pork as unlawful, but do not view gambling, interest-taking and corruption in the same way when clearly they are much bigger sins and cause greater harm," he wrote on his Facebook page today.
He added that it was not a sin when followers of Islam accidentally consumed pork, and that Allah would not punish anyone if it was done unknowingly.
Asri was commenting on the pig DNA that was found in Cadbury chocolates and lashed out at the reaction of some quarters, which he deemed as an overreaction.
He added that Islam did not require such reactions which brings about difficulty.
"Objecting on consumer rights is a good thing so that the purchasing public is not deceived.
"But excessiveness, such as asking to wash the mouth with sand (samak mulut) or change the blood is considered overreacting in Islam, he said.
According to recent reports, tests conducted by the Health Ministry on two chocolate products, Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut, with batch number 200813M01H I2 that expires on November 13, 2014, and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond, with batch number 221013N01R I1, that expires on January 15, 2015, found they had pig DNA in them.
Following this, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) immediately suspended the products' halal certification, while Cadbury said it would recall the chocolates from stores.
Malay group Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) said it planned to sue Cadbury Confectionery Malaysia following the reports on traces of pig DNA.
JMM president Azwanddin Hamzah had accused Cadbury of misleading Muslims by producing products with porcine DNA.
Cadbury's biggest consumer, he said, were Muslims and Malays. – May 28, 2014.
