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Muslims in Malaysian state can now retain surnames
Malaysian Muslim converts in the northern state of Perlis will now be allowed to retain their family names, instead of changing it to Abdullah ["Slave of Allah"] following a state religious edict, reports on Sunday said. The fatwa, or religious edict, issued by the Perlis Fatwa Council said converts must retain their family or fathers name to avoid confusion in their family history or lineage, the News Straits Times reported. Its time that we correct societys misconception that converts must assign the bin or binti, which stood for son of or daughter of to Abdullah, said state mufti Mohamad Asri Zainul Abidin. From now on, the council has decided that it is haram, or forbidden, for them to do so, Mohamad Asri said according to the newspaper. Mohamad Asri said changing a converts family or fathers name to Abdullah was commonly practised in Malaysia as most thought it was required by Islam. He said the practice was actually contrary to the teachings of Islam, which stresses fairness, equality and respect for ones parents. He was quoted by state Bernama news agency as saying that changing ethnic Chinese or Indian surnames to a Muslim name was awkward and a mere tradition. He said it was unfair on the converts and their families. This should not be the case because they are actually being denied justice and their right, Mohamad Asri said, according to Bernama. Multicultural Malaysias almost 27 million population is made up of 60 percent Muslim Malays, 26 percent ethnic Chinese and 8 percent ethnic Indians. Posted by: Fred 2007-03-12 |
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