The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has brought about impacts on social, economic, educational, political, and religious affairs. In order to control the spread of this pandemic, the new normal lifestyle of Muslims is guided by the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) established by the Malaysian National Security Council (NSC) and the Ministry of Health of Malaysia (MOHM). Worship activities involving the socialization of Muslims in mosques, such as congregational prayers, Friday prayers, and funeral management, are also subject to new norms implemented to safeguard public safety from COVID-19 infections, thereby influencing several legal decisions and fatwas. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze several legal decisions and fatwas issued by the Selangor Mufti Department and the Special Muzakarah Committee Meeting of Malaysia's National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) concerning various aspects of Islamic worship practices during COVID-19 pandemic phase. This study also incorporates the opinions and decrees from global scholars. Based on qualitative research methodology through document analysis, this study discusses the validity of the issued fatwas along with an investigation into the approach and principles of the discretion in fatwa. The findings of this study indicate that the issuance of fatwas based on the hanging opinions (marjuh) and non-definitive opinions of the Shafi‘i school of jurisprudence aligns with the concept of discretion in fatwa (al-tarakhkhus fi al-fatwa), which is endorsed by scholars who prioritize the well-being (maslahah) and concessions (rukhsah) for the Muslim community. The significance of this study lies in allaying public apprehensions regarding the compatibility of fatwa decisions issued by the Selangor Mufti Department with the established fatwa standards based on the Shafi‘i school of jurisprudence in Malaysia and other global scholars.
‘Allam, S. I. (2022). Fatawa al-Nawazil Waba’ Kuruna. Cairo: Dar al-Ifta’ al-Misriyyah.
Abdullah, R., & Buang, H. (2004). Fatwa Di Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Jabatan Syariah dan Undang-Undang, Universiti Malaya.
Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003.
Al-Azhar Fatwa Centre. (2021). Does the fasting person break the fast with vaccination against the Corona virus? Retrieved from https://www.azhar.eg/fatwacenter/fatwa/qadaya/ ArtMID/7988/ArticleID/53999. Accessed on June 9, 2023.
Al-Baji, A. A. W. S. (2010). Al-Muntaqa Sharh al-Muwatta’. Beirut: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabiy.
Al-Hattab, M. A. A. M. (1992). Mawahib al-Jalil li Sharh Mukhtasar Khalil. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr.
Ali Burnu, M. S. A. (2003). Mausu‘ah al-Qawa‘id al-Fiqhiyyah. Beirut: Muassasah al-Risalah.
Al-Kasani, A. B. M. (2003). Badai‘ Sanai‘ fi Tartib al-Sharai‘. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub ‘Ilmiyyah.
Al-Maraghi, A. M. (1946). Tafsir al-Maraghi. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr
Al-Nasafi, A. A. M. (2011). Kanz al-Daqa’iq. Beirut: Dar al-Basha’ir al-Islamiyyah.
Al-Nawawi, Y. S. (1991). Raudat al-Talibin wa ‘Umdat al-Muftin. Beirut: Al-Maktab al-Islami.
Al-Nawawi, Y. S. (2010). Al-Majmu‘ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab. Cairo: Al-Maktabah al-Taufiqiyyah.
Al-Shafi‘i, M. I. (2001. Al-Umm. Mansurah: Dar al-Wafa’.
Al-Shirazi, A. I. I. A. Y. (1992). Al-Muhadhdhab fi al-Fiqh al-Imam al-Shafi‘i. Damascus: Dar al-Qalam.
Al-Suyuti, J. A. R. (1983). Al-Ashbah wa al-Nazair fi Qawa‘id wa Furu’ Fiqh al-Shafi‘iyyah. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah.
Al-Zarqa, M. A. (1989). Sharh al-Qawa‘id al-Fiqhiyyah. Damascus: Dar al-Qalam.
Al-Zuhayli, M .M. (2007). Al-Mu‘tamad fi al-Fiqh al-Shafi‘i. Damascus: Dar al-Qalam.
Bin Bayyah, A. (2020). Fatwa No. 11: Pertaining to the Rulings of Performing Congregational Rites in Light of the Spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease). Retrieved from https://binbayyah.net/english/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Fatwa-11-COVID-19-final.pdf. Accessed on June 11, 2023.
Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta’. (1954). Fatwa No. 6901: The Rule of Imitation and Fabrication Between the Four Schools of Jurisprudence. Retrieved from https://www.dar-alifta.org/ar/ fatawa/19043/???-???????-????????-???-???????-???????-???????. Accessed on June 14, 2023.
Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta’. (2013). Fatwa No. 2393: Conciliation Between the Schools of Jurisprudencence. Retrieved from https://www.dar-alifta.org/ar/ViewResearch Fatwa/2393/???????-???-???????-???????. Accessed on June 14, 2023.
Farahin, U., Naemah, N., & Faez, M. (2013). Pengambilkiraan Realiti Semasa Dalam Berfatwa: Analisis Terhadap Fatwa Zakat di Selangor. Jurnal Fiqh, No. 10 (2013) 91-118.
Ibn Manzur, M. M. (1993). Lisan al-’Arab. Beirut: Dar Sadir.
Ibn Rajab, A. R. S. (2008). Jami’ Al-’Ulum wa al-Hikam. Beirut: Dar Ibn Kathir.
Islam Web. (2003). Fatwa No. 37716: Permissible and Forbidden Fabrication. https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/37716/. Accessed on June 14, 2023.
Islam Web. (2008). Fatwa No. 107754: Controls Permissibility of Fabrication Between Schools of Jurisprudence. Retrieved from https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/107754/. Accessed on June 14, 2023.
Islam Web. (2020). Fatwa No. 416968: Provisions for Washing the Dead with Corona. Retrieved from https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/416968/. Accessed on June 10, 2023.
Islam Web. (2020). Fatwa No. 417253: Suspension of Friday and Congregational Prayers Due to the Corona Virus. Retrieved from https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/417253/. Accessed on June 10, 2023.
Islam Web. (2020). Fatwa No. 441220: Ruling on a Fasting Person Taking the COVID-19 Vaccine. Retrieved from https://www.islamweb.net/ar/fatwa/441220/. Accessed on June 10, 2023]
IUMS. (2020). The International Union of Muslim Scholars issues a fatwa to stop Friday and congregational prayers in every country where the Corona epidemic is spreading. Retrieved from https://www.iumsonline.org/ar/ContentDetails.aspx?ID=11084. Accessed on June 11, 2023.
JAKIM. (2015). Kompilasi Pandangan Hukum: Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Ugama Islam Malaysia. Putrajaya: Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia.
JAKIM. (2015). Pengurusan Jenazah Orang Islam Yang Disyaki Atau Disahkan Dijangkiti Virus Ebola (Ebola Virus Disease: EVD) Di Malaysia. Retrieved from http://e-smaf.islam. gov.my/e-smaf/index.php/main/mainv1/fatwa/pr/10327. Accessed on June 12, 2023.
JAKIM. (2020). Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Muzakarah Khas Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Ugama Islam Malaysia (MKI) Edisi Khas Pandemik COVID-19. Putrajaya: Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia.
Jordan’s Dar al-Ifta’. (2020). Fatwa No. 3572: People Exempted from Congregational Friday Prayer in Light of Corona Pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.aliftaa.jo/ Question2En.aspx?QuestionId=3572. Accessed on June 11, 2023.
Jordan’s Dar al-Ifta’. (2020). Resolution No. 283: Islamic Ruling on Washing the Person who Died from an Infectious Disease such as the one caused by Corona Virus. Retrieved from https://www.aliftaa.jo/Decision.aspx?DecisionId=636#.YD4eIGgzaUk. Accessed on June 11, 2023.
KUNA, Kuwait News Agency. (2021). The COVID-19 vaccine does not invalidate the fast and there is no issue in taking it during the daylight hours of Ramadan. Retrieved from https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2967511. Accessed on June 10, 2023.
Mahaiyadin, M. H., Bhari, A., & Sirajuddin, M. D. M. (2021). Analisis Keputusan Fatwa Tempatan Sewaktu Pandemik COVID-19 Menurut Kerangka Al-Tarakhkus fi al-Fatwa. Jurnal Pengurusan dan Penyelidikan Fatwa (26)(2).
MAIS. (2021). Fatwa Hukum Penggunaan Vaksin Covid-19. Warta Kerajaan Negeri Selangor (74)(24). Shah Alam: Majlis Agama Negeri Selangor.
MAIS. (2021). Hukum dan Kaedah Pengurusan Jenazah Pesakit Covid-19 Beragama Islam. Warta Kerajaan Negeri Selangor (74)(19). Shah Alam: Majlis Agama Negeri Selangor.
MAIS. (2022). Fatwa Hukum Suntikan Vaksin Covid-19 Di Bulan Ramadan Dan Kepada Jemaah Haji Dan Umrah. Warta Kerajaan Negeri Selangor (75)(35). Shah Alam: Majlis Agama Negeri Selangor.
MJKFNS. (2020). Pandangan Hukum Syarak Berkaitan Pengoperasian Masjid, Surau Dan Musolla Serta Pengurusan Jenazah Dalam Situasi Penularan Wabak Covid-19. Keputusan Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Fatwa Negeri Selangor Bil. 2/2020.
MOHM. (2020). Official Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Related to COVID-19 by the Ministry of Health of Malaysia. Retrieved from https://covid-19.moh.gov.my/ faqsop/faq-covid-19-kkm. Accessed on June 9, 2023.
MOHSA. (2022). Hajj Vaccinations. Retrieved from https://www.moh.gov.sa/ HealthAwareness/PilgrimsHealth/Approved-Vaccines/Pages/Inside-the-Kingdom.aspx. Accessed on June 12, 2023.
MUIS, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore. (2020). Fatwa on Friday Prayers During COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.muis.gov.sg/officeofthemufti/Fatwa/English-Fatwa-on-Friday-Prayers-during-COVID-19. Accessed on June 10, 2023.
Mukhlisin, A., Suhendri, A., & Dimyati, M. (2018). Metode Penetapan Hukum Dalam Berfatwa. Al-Istinbat: Jurnal Hukum Islam (3)(2).
NSC. 2020. Media Statement on 18 March (2020). Putrajaya: National Security Council, Prime Minister's Department.
WHO, World Health Organization. (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/situations/COVID-19. Accessed on June 5, 2023.
(Abas et al., 2023)
Abas, A.-M., Yahaya, M. Z., Afifi, M., Azahar, & Mohammad, M. F. (2023). Analysis of Religious Decrees (Fatwas) on Worship Practices Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic in Selangor State. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(10), 342–355.
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
