SIBU: A fatwa is not merely a legal ruling but serves as a vital fortress in safeguarding the faith (aqidah) of Muslims from foreign ideologies and deviant teachings.
Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, said that in today’s increasingly challenging social media landscape, Muslims need strong and authoritative guidance to ensure their faith remains protected from beliefs that could threaten unity and trust within the community.
“An authoritative fatwa acts as a barrier against deviant beliefs and harmful influences.
“With clear fatwas that are widely disseminated, the community will be better guided and not easily swayed by provocations that can shake our beliefs,” he said.
He said this in his address at the opening of the Sarawak State-Level Fatwa Seminar 2025 held at the Sarawak Islamic Complex Hall here today.
Wan Junaidi added that fatwas are not new in Islamic tradition but have long served as a foundation for answering the questions of the community since the time of the Prophet’s Companions and early scholars.
He explained that before the establishment of formal institutions in Sarawak, Islamic affairs relied heavily on customary judges and religious figures.
“The establishment of the Fatwa Committee marked a pivotal moment in strengthening the role of the mufti as the administrator of legal affairs in the state.
“A fatwa not only provides answers to legal questions but also serves as a bridge connecting the divine texts (nas syariah) with the realities of our unique society here in Sarawak,” he said.
He further emphasised that the Astana Negeri (Office of the Head of State) has always prioritised strengthening the fatwa institution as a crucial foundation to ensure that every legal ruling issued is credible and aligned with the needs and realities of Sarawak’s Muslim community.
Meanwhile, the State Mufti, Datuk Kipli Yassin, reaffirmed the Sarawak Mufti Department’s commitment to strengthening its role as the authoritative institution responsible for issuing fatwas in the state.
He said the department’s responsibilities are far-reaching, encompassing not only the issuance of fatwas but also research, legal education, the development of falak (Islamic astronomy), and the dissemination of fatwa -related knowledge to the community.
“Every fatwa issued is not merely a ruling but the result of in-depth study and consultation among experts, founded upon the objectives of syariah (maqasid syariah),” he said.
He also encouraged participants of the seminar to seize the opportunity to deepen their understanding, learn from the presentations, and share their knowledge with others so that its benefits could be more widely felt.
“In the context of Sarawak’s plural society, a clear understanding of fatwa will reflect the harmonious and tolerant image of Islam,” he added.
The seminar, themed ‘Fatwa Berautoriti Ummah Lestari’, serves as an important platform to strengthen understanding of the role and significance of fatwas as a guiding framework for Muslims in living a life based on shariah principles.
