SEREMBAN: Preventing maksiat or sinful acts among the people is the role of the government, said Negri Sembilan Mufti Datuk Mohd Yusof Ahmad.
He said the recent statement made by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa to halt operations against khalwat (close proximity) offenders at night was against such principle that the latter should reflect on.
“I think Dr Mujahid had forgotten the struggles of Islam. He was fine back then; (I) don’t know why he had changed,” said Mohd Yusof.
He said when Mujahid was with the opposition, he used to be vocal in upholding Islam.
“If he has forgotten (this), I would like to remind him that preventing sinful acts is part of Islamic teaching. It is not something made up by some ustaz (religious teacher), individual or even Mujahid, but rather a permanence set by Allah,” he said when contacted today.
Mohd Yusof said Quran dan hadith called for Muslims to prevent reprehensible acts to the best of one’s ability using all available means.
“Preventing immorality is the duty of a government and the analogy used (by Mujahid) is against the teaching of Islam.
“The rationale (behind the statement), that what Muslims do behind closed doors was none of the government’s business, was inappropriate because we have the means to prevent (khalwat).
“I believe there are certain quarters who pressuring (the government) with aims to undermine the Islamic Religious Department,” he said, adding that Mujahid should reflect on himself.