Stop boycotting KK Mart,
Perak mufti urges Muslims
Wan Zahidi Wan Teh says the public’s response to the ‘Allah’ socks issue has gone beyond the boundaries of Islamic justice.
PETALING JAYA: Perak mufti Wan Zahidi Wan Teh has urged Muslims to halt their boycott of the KK Mart convenience store chain, saying the public’s response to the “Allah” socks issue has gone beyond the boundaries of Islamic justice.
Wan Zahidi said as intent is an important element of criminal behaviour in Islamic jurisprudence, intent to insult Islam cannot be proved in KK Mart’s actions after the incident.
“The explanation and open apology for the incident by KK Mart’s management, as well as the statement given to the Islamic development department, clearly show this element is not proved,” Sinar Harian quoted him as saying at a press conference at the Perak mufti department today.
Wan Zahidi said the issue was laced with hatred and anger, causing the public response to it to veer far from the path of universal Islamic justice.
Citing the formation of the Medina charter, he said boycotting a race is not in line with the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad.
“The Prophet formed the Medina charter to regulate relations between the various ethnicities in the first Islamic state established in Medina.
“The charter states that non-Muslims are part of the community, together with Muslims. Their persons and property are protected, just as those of Muslims,” he said.
Wan Zahidi said he only issued this statement now because he needed time to look up the matter and take current developments into account.
He said his statement also required clarification to prevent extremist actions such as the firebombing of KK Mart outlets.
The KK Mart controversy began on March 13 when photographs of socks with the word “Allah” at an outlet in Bandar Sunway were circulated on social media. The company issued an immediate apology.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, expressed his displeasure when the controversy first surfaced, calling for stern action to be taken against those responsible.
KK Mart founder KK Chai and his wife, Loh Siew Mui, a KK Mart director, have claimed trial to intentionally wounding the religious feelings of Muslims by selling the socks.
Despite KK Mart’s apology and the court action, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh continued to publicly campaign for a nationwide boycott of the convenience store’s outlets.
On March 27, the king urged all parties to stop taking advantage of the controversy, saying the matter should be left to the authorities and that “persistent anger brings no benefit”.
Malay Muslims carrying out their BDS Melayu-land.
ReplyDeleteKetuanan mob boycott everything western
ReplyDeleteAnd you lot will prosper