Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming recently used Islamic terms such as “Alhamdulillah” (Praise be to God) and “sujud syukur” (prostration of gratitude) while discussing his Ministry’s achievements in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (4 February).
However, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Rantau Panjang, Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, found this inappropriate and questioned Nga’s choice to use the terms.
Guidelines on non-Muslims using Islamic terms
The Federal Territory Mufti’s Office has since clarified that non-Muslims are permitted to use Islamic terms like “Alhamdulillah” and “InshaAllah” in daily conversations, provided several conditions are met. These include ensuring the terms do not denigrate the sanctity of Islam, do not contain elements of insult, and are used in the correct context.
The Federal Territory Mufti’s Office stated:
“In the context of Malaysia’s plural society, there are situations where non-Muslims use words derived from Islamic teachings, such as ‘Alhamdulillah‘, ‘InshaAllah‘, ‘MasyaAllah‘ and the like, in their daily conversations.
“This phenomenon is normal because interactions between cultures and religions often lead to the mutual adoption of certain phrases, whether intentional or not. However, the question arises regarding the Islamic ruling on this action from the perspective of Fiqh.”
This image is for illustration purposes only.
According to the Federal Territory Mufti’s Office, there are several guidelines that must be observed when a non-Muslim uses Islamic terms:
- The terms must not be used in the context of mockery or insult
- The terms must not be used as commercial material or slogans that contaminate their original meaning
- One should refer to Muslims to understand the true meaning of the word to ensure correct and appropriate use
The Federal Territory Mufti’s Office concluded that the use of Islamic terms by non-Muslims in daily conversation is permissible within a pluralistic society. However, this is strictly contingent upon the terms being used in the correct context, without any intent to insult or degrade the sanctity of the religion.
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