Langkawi’s landmark eagle statue is under scrutiny by several quarters after it was cast into the ‘haram’ spotlight, with calls to demolish the famous landmark ominously looming over.
Perak deputy mufti Zamri Hashim wrote in local daily Berita Harian that it was forbidden in Islam to make full-bodied statues of living creatures such as humans or animals.
He cited consensus of Muslim scholars from Sunni schools of jurisprudence, and added that if such statues have been already built, it’s demolition is “wajib” or compulsory.
The ball apparently started rolling after an alleged query from an unnamed local authority, who Zamri Hashim said he was responding to, who questioned the installation of an eagle replica as a landmark and personally felt was ‘haram’ due to it’s resemblance to a live eagle.
Credit: themalaymailonline.com
Perak mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria showed his support for his deputy minister:
“Any living creatures, except for trees, cannot be built as a replica or monument if it is done in a condition with all limbs complete,” he said to Astro Awani.
Harussani however refused to comment when asked by Awani about calls to demolish the tourist icon, vaguely saying, “What has to be understood is, what is forbidden remains forbidden,”
But it seems that some lie on a different side of the fence.
Kedah’s exco in charge of religious affairs, Datuk Mohd Rawi Abd Hamid, suggested that the issue of the eagle statue can be dealt with the mufti department of each state, and that their decision should then be applied state-wide.
“Each state mufti can discuss in line with what fits each state and find a solution because the issue of replicas of living objects — whether animals or humans — does not only involve Kedah.”
“For example, in Terengganu, there is a turtle replica, Kuching has cat replicas,” he was quoted saying by Sinar Harian.
Yep, Kuching does have cats – Credit: panoramio.com
Kedah’s deputy mufti, Syeikh Marwazi Dziyauddin, has likewise echoed similar sentiments. He has assured the public that there would be no rush to demolish Langkawi’s icon just yet. Rather, Syeikh Marwazi has said that the Kedah Fatwa Council will need to be first consulted, then the matter would be brought to local authorities to determine the next course of action.
“Let there be official discussions first, we have to look at all angles, including the [law] where carving statues resembling humans or live animals is ‘haram’.” he said to Sinar Harian.
Syeikh Marwazi noted that this was an old issue flaring up again. He acknowledged how the proposal to build the eagle statue may have not been referred to by the Kedah Islamic Religious Department.
Credit: wikipedia.org
“When the construction of the statue in the shape of eagle was proposed, maybe those who proposed it did not refer to the religious authorities about its necessity and the [codes].”
“But all are aware that any such statue is haram,” he said.
Well, another one bites the ‘haram’ bullet. Thought it stopped at Pokemon Go but okay then.
