Muslims were today urged to fight against the Shiites as it is "a form of jihad" before it is too late, because the "Shiite virus" is spreading fast in Malaysia.

According to the Friday sermon prepared by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) this is because those who fight Shi'ism are defending the sanctity of Islam.

NONE "As Muslims, we have an obligation to report to authorities if we are suspicious of, aware of or see anyone trying to spread the deviant Shiite teachings.

"Remember that any effort to curb such teachings is considered a jihad as it defends the sanctity of Islam, which we have inherited from our Prophet Muhammad..." the sermon says.

Jihad is an Arabic word that translates to "struggle". Scholars commonly accept jihad to take two forms - a foremost inner struggle by the believer to better him/herself and an outer physical struggle.

Meanwhile, today's sermon also reminded Muslims that the National Fatwa Council had in 1996 released an edict that all Muslims must only follow the Sunni teachings.

'More educated people are falling prey'

It added that the Shiite issue is worsening in Malaysia, especially among the Jafari school of Shi'ite thought, with more educated people falling prey.

It said that this followed the spread of Shi'ite books in Bahasa Malaysia throughout the country.

The sermon added that the Shi'ite teaching is deviant because it, among others:

  • Denies the leadership of the first caliphs Abu Bakar as-Siddiq, Umar al-Khattab and Uthman Affan, and consider them unbelievers;
  • Claims that the al-Quran has been amended;
  • Defends the practice of contract marriages (mutaah); and
  • Allows the practice of sodomy.
Practitioners of Shiism, widely found in Iran but considered heretics in Malaysia, look to Ali, Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law, as the divinely-appointed successor of the prophet.

They denounce the election of Prophet Muhammad's close companions, Abu Bakar, Umar and Uthman, into the caliphate, making them leaders of the Muslim community after the death of the prophet.

However, Malaysia's fifth prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had, when he was in office, ratified the Amman Message - an agreement by 500 Islamic scholars from 50 countries, to recognise eight schools of thought, including Shiites, as Muslims.