PAS spiritual advisor Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (centre) said there were too many liberal movements in Islam that had raised strange and deviant ideas. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 21, 2014.Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has likened the organisers of last Sunday's popular “I want to touch a dog” event to people who have “worms” in their heads.
The PAS spiritual advisor said there were too many liberal movements in Islam that had raised strange and deviant ideas.
"Organising a specific programme just to touch dogs would only be done by those who are akin to having worms in their heads.
"It is against the Shafie school of thought," he was quoted as saying by Harakahdaily.
The "I want to touch a dog" event was held last Sunday, drawing over 1000 people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Though generally well-received, the event drew criticism from several muftis and Malays who questioned the motive behind it.
Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad called for the organisers as well as Muslims who touched the dogs to repent, saying they had mocked Allah's laws.
Former Johor Mufti Datuk Nooh Gadut believed that the event was an attempt to insult the ulama and religious authorities.
The Johor Religious Council said deliberately touching a dog was haram (forbidden) because it was “najis”, or unclean, according to the Shafie and Hanbali schools of thought.
In an interview with The Malaysian Insider prior to the event, organiser Syed Azmi Alhabshi (pic, right) said he received the green light from the Selangor Religious Council and the police to organise the programme.
He added that the event's purpose was not to encourage dog ownership among Muslims, but to help people overcome their fear of dogs and to teach them compassion for animals.
Former Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said while the ulama unanimously agreed that a dry dog was not unclean, a person could still touch something unclean on the condition that they clean themselves afterwards.
"The Shafie school of thought is rather firm on this. But, other schools are wider and easier." – October 21, 2014.
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