Internet Chats Can Lead To Forbidden Acts
- Details
- Published on Friday, 24 January 2014 09:39
- Written by Siti Nur Sarah Mohd Khir
Pic: www.kontralisanfm.comA FEW weeks ago, the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a fatwa (religious decree) that prohibits internet chats between non-mahram (non-marriageable kin) men and women because it can encourage and lead to the acts of unlawful sexual relationships.
The Iranian fatwa may sound excessive to some but it is a fatwa that Pahang’s Mufti, Datuk Abdul Rahman Osman, and Penang’s Mufti, Datuk Seri Hassan Ahmad, concur. In fact, they both urge the National Fatwa Council to also follow Iran’s example here in Malaysia and stop the proliferation of acts forbidden by Islam.
They want the Council to announce a religious decree and issue a guideline concerning this act so as to prevent acts that are against the teachings of Islam, which they believe also contribute to the collapse of marriages among Muslims in Malaysia.
According to Hassan, the Council should study the requirements needed to issue a fatwa prohibiting acts that can lead to unlawful sexual relationships.
Abdul Rahman meanwhile, said the fatwa was necessary because society today thinks that such interactions on social media was harmless and not against Islam because it did not involve any physical proximity.
In Malaysia, ‘chatting’ or forms of communication through the internet is widespread because the internet today can be accessed from anywhere using a smartphone, unlike years ago where a laptop is needed for internet access.
Normally, the kinds of conversation between non-mahram men and women aren’t a problem but it can only be that way if it is kept proper and wholesome - so as to not let it lead to close proximity and slander.
It is no different than speaking on the phone. But if the speech becomes intimate, it can lead to close proximity and slander.
The Fatwa Must Be Taken Seriously
Perak’s Mufti, Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria, said internet chatting between non-mahrams is forbidden (Haram) in Islam because can open the floodgates of slander and unlawful sexual relationships.
He said this has nothing to do with ideas of the Shia movement but rather it is an Islamic principle.
“Though Iran has a majority of Shia supporters, what the fatwa they issue is Islamic,” explained the Mufti.
Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria. Pic: www.kl-today.comIn fact, he also suggests a method for the government if they want to ban internet chatting here.
“One of the ways is to block all access to the social network – that is if the government is truly serious about it,” he told mD.
Meanwhile, an Islamic preacher, Datuk Dr. Mashitah Ibrahim, said the enforcement of fatwa is under the purview of the state governments because the administration of Islamic law is under the jurisdiction of the state.
She said the idea for the fatwa from the Pahang and Penang Mufti warrants deeper investigation because Muslims in this country need to first understand today’s trend s in technology so as to not fall behind the times.
“I don’t see the internet as something fundamentally bad. We need it for other activities such as commerce and gathering speedy information. It’s abuse of this facility that’s worrying and can lead to untoward incidents,” said Dr Mashitah.
When asked why our country needs to follow after Iran’s fatwa whom are known to follow the ways of the Shia, she said the fatwa issued must conform to a country’s situation.
She added that every country issue a fatwa that match the needs of a particular locality.
“If Penang feels they need the fatwa because chatting is rampant among non-mahrams there, they have the right to do so but other states need not to follow suit.
“As an example, Selangor and Kedah issued a fatwa against smoking but when other states do not have such prohibition, we can deduce that fatwas can be tailored to suit the corresponding state,” she elaborated.
Datuk Dr. Mashitah Ibrahim. Pic: blogspot.comBut it cannot be denied that cases involving unlawful sexual relationships such as out-of-wedlock sex, baby dumping and crimes relating to them does begin from non-mahram internet chatting.
Logically speaking, they can also cause broken marriages when it involves married couples.
This has known to happen in Malaysia.
Preacher and Consultant for Family Affairs, Zainal Abidin Yahaya said both the Pahang and Penang Muftis should be heard by the Fatwa Council.
He said many divorce cases that occur between Muslims are because of infidelity on the internet.
“We need to consider this seriously because easy internet access through smartphones has allowed many Muslims to be prone to enter into such sordid acts.
“We need to be vigilant of this kind of internet activity because it’s hard to detect couples that engage in unlawful relationships in cyberspace,” he said.
According to Zainal, people chat on the net and start a seemingly innocent friendship but it can quickly turn into romance, and trouble - so chats need to be closely monitored.
Fatwa To Ban Internet Chatting Can Reduce Cyber Crimes
We need to recount the cases that involved internet chats. One such case is about a 25-year old nurse who spent four days in captivity before she managed to escape from a cyber Romeo who kept her locked in a house in Subang.
Another is a13-year old girl who was brutally raped by her internet acquaintance aged 16 after chatting with him for only a few days on Facebook.
Or baby dumping as a result of unlawful fornication that began on social media, whether it be Facebook, Twitter or WeChat.
Kamal Affendi HashimIn August of last year, a WeChat-related crime occurred when a girl was raped at a staircase of a flat, after she befriended a stranger through the messaging application.
Truth is, there are bound to be news of internet-related violent crimes that has frightened society as a whole.
Crime analyst , Kamal Afendi Hashim said the suggestions made by the Pahang and Penang Mufti is good because it will reduce cyberspace-related crimes.
He said any suggestion is good if it is for the prevention of crime, nevertheless it is also important to stress that self-control must also be observed to those who engage in cyber chatting activity.
“Many of these crimes happen to those who just met and most use fake identities. If you care about your safety, why would put yourself at risk and open yourself to people you hardly know on the net?” asks Kamal.
Internet chatting (which lead to criminal acts) according to Kamal is governed under the Protection of Children and Protection of Women and Girls Acts.
He explained that most are still duped into trouble because they mistakenly felt that because of their status, education and income, they are immune to these crimes – which they feel only happens to other people.
“That is their mistake,” said Kamal.
-mD
