'Fatwa review only when based on ijtihad'
Fatwa (religious edicts) related to ijtihad (independent reasoning) can be reviewed to suit current times, say two scholars.
Fatwa or religious edicts related to ijtihad (independent reasoning) can be reviewed to suit current times, said a former national fatwa council chairperson.
Ismail Ibrahim said this is based on renowned scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi's view that different fatwa can be used when there are differences between mazhab (school of thought).
"For fatwa based on ijtihad , if there is a choice, we can choose the easier one," said Ismail, as reported by Malay daily Sinar Harian .
"But if the fatwa is clear, whereby all imam of the mazhab view a particular issue with the same viewpoint, then we cannot review the fatwa."
Ismail was responding to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who said that certain fatwa need to be reviewed to suit the times because they are no longer relevant today.
Meanwhile, Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria said although there are fatwa that can be reviewed, some cannot be reviewed “for all eternity”.
Such fatwa are those based on the Quran and hadith (sayings, deeds and teachings of the prophet).
Echoing Ismail, Harussani said fatwa that can be reviewed are those which are ijtihadi in nature.
For example, in the case of autopsy, according to Islamic law, the dead should not be tortured.
However, an autopsy can be done if the dead person was a victim of murder, he said.
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