Federal Territories Fatwa: Sale of Products using Verses of the Quran for Commercial Use

22 July 2021

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Following the 105^th meeting of the Federal Territory Syarak Law Consultative Committee on 3O November 2017, the Mufti for the Federal Territories issued a fatwa on 12 July 2021 that was gazetted on 19 July 2021 under P.U.(B) 369/2021, ruling that the law on the sale of products using verses of the Quran for commercial use is as follows:

The use of verses of the Quran in general is required under Syarak Law;

However, the use of verses of the Quran for the purpose of promoting a product is not allowed. This is a step which is directed towards curbing (sadd azzara’i) acts leading to the sale of the religion in return for worldly gains; and

For the purposes of this fatwa, curbing (sadd azzara’i) is a necessary step to close all roads and doors leading towards damage or acts which are forbidden, for example, the prohibition on the sale of grapes to make alcohol or the sale of weapons to enemies.

Comments

The sale of products using verses of the Quran for commercial use made national news back in 2016 following the rise in the number of products using verses of the Quran being sold by businesses who claim that these products are better and more effective. Indeed, since then, many other States in Malaysia (i.e. Perlis, Negeri Sembilan and Penang) have issued similar fatwas on this issue in an attempt to curb the sale of these products which many Muslim scholars believe could lead to monetary gain by business owners at the expense of the public. Accordingly, this fatwa, although not something new, is a significant step by the Mufti for the Federal Territories to tackle this issue within the Federal Territories of Malaysia.

Alert by Muhammad Suhaib b. Mohamed Ibrahim (Senior Associate) of the Dispute Resolution Practice of Skrine

This alert contains general information only. It does not constitute legal advice nor an expression of legal opinion and should not be relied upon as such.

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Federal Territories Fatwa: Sale of Products using Verses of the Quran for Commercial Use