Hours after the death of Karpal Singh, a Malaysian Lawyer and politician, Muslims were told by the National Fatwa Council today they were not encouraged to use the phrase “Rest in Peace" (RIP) to a non-Muslim because the term had Christian connotations.
In a statement issued on its website, www.e-fatwa.gov.my, the National Fatwa Council said Muslims could express their condolences to non-Muslim families.
"Condolences can be expressed to a non-Muslim family as long as there are no religious implications," it said.
"Wishes such as 'I sympathise with what has happened to you' or 'we express our sadness at the loss in your family' are allowed.
"However, a Muslim is definitely not encouraged to wish a non-Muslim person 'Rest in Peace'," the council said.
The council said RIP was an assumption that the non-Muslim person would receive God's blessings.
"It is similar to the Latin prayer of 'May his soul and the souls of all the departed faithful by God's mercy rest in peace’."
The council said this sentence was a form of prayer regularly used by Christians, especially during the 18th century and regularly engraved on tombstones.
"From an Islamic point of view, a person who has died in blasphemy will not receive God's forgiveness and blessings," it said.
The council's statement also said the wish also depended on the intentions of the individual saying “RIP”.
This is really serious..
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