Over the last few days, I witnessed much verbal battles online and elsewhere where some non- Muslims took potshots at fatwa and Muslims telling them to butt out as it does not concern them. Many political leaders also came out saying that the non-Muslims should not be concerned as it does not affect them.

I abstained from writing a single opinion as I am neither Muslim nor a yoga practitioner but as a citizen living in a multiracial multi-religion country, I realise that it is not so easy to compartmentalise these issues.

My understanding is that a fatwa is an Islamic religious ruling, a scholarly opinion on a matter of Islamic law (please correct me if I am wrong). The people who pronounce these rulings are supposed to be knowledgeable, and base their rulings on knowledge and wisdom.

They need to supply their evidence from Islamic sources for their opinions and they - as has been pointed out by some scholars - can come to different conclusions regarding the same issue. It is a also an offence under section 9 and 12 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Act 1997 to flout a fatwa .

So it is not only about using one’s God-given conscience as a guide. I also understand that Muslims are expected to follow fatwa but not obliged to do so. in short, it between you and God.

Thus, it puzzles me that a fatwa is enforceable under the Syariah act.

Is our National Fatwa Council comprised of members who have the stature to give such edicts, or are they merely yet another tool under the ruling government’s payroll? Is it not odd that the council took unilateral action without consulting other Islamic bodies whether NGOs, opposition -linked ulama or the Malay rulers?

The council is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Department, directly or indirectly influenced by Umno which in turn controls Parliament. So how far do they represent the 60 percent of the population who are Muslims?

Should there be a more inclusive consultative approach where the views of a more diverse group are consulted on a decision before it is announced to the world? That, however, is a matter for Malaysian Muslims to decide.

As a non-Muslim citizen, however, my concerns are as follows:

1. The effect of investment inflows into the country including tourism due to investors pessimism over frivolous fatwa , this affects us all regardless of religious affiliation.

2. Overzealous enforcement officers inconveniencing non-Muslims by hanging around health clubs and demanding to see identification. In the past, it made us an international laughing stock when they asked an American couple for their marriage license. They have proven in many incidents to be anything but tactful. This encroaches on personal privacy.

3. Using such fatwa to frame Muslim opposition MPs on trumped up charges and this will be a setback for the constituents (including non-Muslims) whom they represent.

4. The ruling government which has a fatwa council under its payroll, twisting their arms to issue fatwa to scare non-Muslim voters into abandoning the opposition Islamic party PAS.

I cannot help but notice such an escalation since PAS extended the olive branch by formally ratifying its non-Muslim wing. It seems that they are killing two birds with one stone by trying to show that they are more Islamic than PAS at the same time trying to erode PAS’ non-Muslim support.

I for one see this whole episode as possibly politically-motivated with far-reaching ramifications.

5. Its divisive effect over citizens. As it is, in some instances, we are divided in schools, eateries because of the religion we profess or the food we eat. Must we be separated by the exercises we do as well ?

6. Will civil rights activists be arrested under the ISA for declaring a fatwa possibly unconstitutional?

7. Will the ruling government through its control of a fatwa council issue specific fatwa against groups who dissent against them politically?

As you can see, we are not islands unto ourselves; everything is interconnected, more so in a country where the non-Muslims are a whopping 40 percent of the population.

Fatwa are the prerogative of the Islamic community, but justice, knowledge and wisdom cannot be claimed exclusively by any group. Not discussing these issues openly or excluding some groups from the discussions will only give a cosmetic semblance of order and stability when in fact it will be a veritable time bomb when it permeates into civil society and causes dissatisfaction.

Having said that Malaysians must learn to discuss issues rationally without seeing everything as a ‘win’ or ‘lose’ situation, we need to learn the meaning of ‘agreeing to disagree’.