GEORGETOWN: Penang mufti Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said the only problem he has with Siti Nurhaliza's planned concert in March is it being too close to Ramadan.
The mufti added that he does not question the intentions of the concert organisers at all.
Instead, he is only concerned with the concert date, which would be a couple of days before Ramadan is slated to begin on March 11.
Wan Salim said that holding a concert so close to the month of Ramadan could divert the attention of Muslims from spiritual development.
He said that during such times, Muslims should be encouraged to prepare spiritually for the arrival of the sacred month.
"However, I am only expressing my personal opinion and considering the impact of the concert on the spiritual aspect of Muslims, not merely seeking immediate benefits," he said in a statement today.
Elaborating further, Wan Salim added that he wants to remind everyone that the personal views of a mufti do not bind any individual, whether Muslim or non-Muslim. A mufti is not infallible or immune from errors, and their views are not like verses from the Quran or authentic hadith that cannot be contested by other Muslims.
He said that the advice he gives is sincere, for the good of the Muslim community and not to seek popularity for personal gain.
"It is up to the relevant parties and the public whether to accept or reject the given views based on their own considerations. However, it should be understood that the actions of a Muslim are judged by Allah based on the sincerity of their intentions and compliance with Sharia," he said.
At the same time, Wan Salim took the opportunity to explain that he is very open-minded about entertainment and artistic activities in general. He said that Islam, as a way of life, is compatible with the natural state of humans (fitrah) and does not oppose clean entertainment and art (al-funun al-bari'ah), as long as it does not lead to sin and does not distract from obligations to Allah and fellow humans.
"This has been my consistent stance, although I am aware that some scholars view singing and music as forbidden and sinful. In conclusion, realising my own shortcomings as a servant of Allah, I sincerely apologise to Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza and Yayasan Nurjiwa for the open criticism, which has unexpectedly sparked controversy," he said.
Earlier, media reported that Siti Nurhaliza was determined to proceed with the scheduled concert, 'An Epitome: I am Siti Nurhaliza', which is set to take place three days before the beginning of Ramadan.
In an official statement from Siti Nurhaliza's company, Yayasan Nurjiwa, it was explained that the main purpose of the concert was to raise funds for the victims of the war in Palestine who urgently need assistance.
This statement was issued following Wan Salim's warning for Siti Nurhaliza to postpone the solo concert scheduled for March 9 out of respect for Ramadan.
