MUSLIM NGO Majlis Ulama ISMA (MUIS) has urged religious authorities and state mufti to be firm in barring Muslims from participating in the Japanese ‘dancefest’ Bon Odori Festival.
Pointing to the 48th Bon Odori Festival at the Shah Alam National Sports Complex over last weekend, the NGO’s researcher Ustazah Nur Fatin Halil claimed that Muslim participation in the event can lead to polytheism (Editor’s Note: The Bon Odori Festival is also staged in Johor Bharu and Penang).
“It’s shocking based on photos shared by the media that a handful of Muslims has attended the event whereby some tudung-clad Muslim women were seen celebrating and indulging in the dance festival,” Nur Fatin penned in a blog.
“Arguing that Bon Odori has evolved into a cultural and social event, and that the participation of all layers of the multi-religious community as a form of tolerance is a shallow and inaccurate excuse.
“This is because Bon Odori’s own philosophy is clearly based on the religious beliefs of ancestor worshipping which is contrary to Islam, hence there is a limit to Musim tolerance (to participate in the event).”
Nur Fatin further recapped that in 2022, the issue of Muslim participation in Bon Odori celebration had been discussed at length by several by religious authorities such as the Penang mufti with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) having firmly issued a statement that Muslims should not attend the festival.
“Since the festival is linked to remembering the souls or spirits of the ancestors, it is feared that it could lead to polytheism. Muslims must always preserve the purity of their Islamic faith,” advised former Penang mufti Datuk Seri Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor back then.
“Remembering the souls of the ancestors by dancing, worshipping their spirits and others is not encouraged in Islam. In fact, it is feared that they will fall into the sin of polytheism to Allah.”
However, Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah who is also head of the Islamic religion in his state had decreed that the Bon Odori Festival in Malaysia is only celebrated as a cultural event meant to strengthen the goodwill between people of both countries.
Interestingly, Sultan Sharafuddin went on to order officials from Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) and Shah Alam City Council to attend the festival to witness for themselves what actually takes place at such an event.
However, MUIS begged to differ as it still fears that Muslims can indulge in the act of polytheism by recognising the divinity of other religious beliefs.
“Religious authorities such as the mufti fraternity and JAKIM need to be firm in dealing with this issue by warning Muslims not to participate in any religious ceremony of other religions or beliefs,” insisted Nur Fatin. – July 25, 2024
