As the few self-proclaimed Islamic extremist groups continue to destroy the lives of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, tarnishing the image of the religion, the majority has stood up to show that the actions of the few are not part of the religion.
Since the Paris attacks in France, and the San Bernardino mass shooting in the United States, some Muslims, especially those in the West, have suffered reprisal attacks. This has put many good Muslims in a difficult position. As they fight against the extremist teachings within their nations, they also have to demonstrate to non-Muslims around the world that the religion is for peace and not for violence.
Recently in Kenya, a group of Muslims traveling in a bus with Christians refused to separate themselves from the Christians when a self-proclaimed Islamic group known as Al-Shabaab from neighboring Somalia, set out to kill all the Christian passengers on the bus.
But in Malaysia, the country’s Muslim population is not just protecting human lives. Muslims in the country have gone the extra mile to show concern for animals.
According to the Plaid Zebra, in the country’s state of Terengganu, the Muslim population has unanimously issued a fatwa, protecting endangered wildlife species in the state. A fatwa is an Islamic legal pronouncement issued by an Islamic scholar (mufti) to resolve a specific issue where it is uncertain what the jurisprudence (fiqh) is.
It is said the Terengganu Fatwa Council, which is made up of Islamic scholars in the state, issued this legal pronouncement protecting the wild animals in November, 2015. Their objective is to stop poaching in the area. Approximately 970,000 of Terengganu’s residents are Muslim, and they make up over 95 per cent of the state’s population.
The council announced that hunting is now Haram (illegal), highlighting Islamic tenets that ask mankind to protect Allah’s (God) creations. Scholars in the council said they are hoping that their actions will not be restricted to the Terengganu area alone, but will be adopted nationwide to protect the country’s shrinking wildlife population.
The state of Terengganu is located in the western part of the country. The area is home to the sambar deer and the critically endangered Malayan tiger. The sambar deer is relentlessly poached for meat and sport, and as of 2013, scientist have found no evidence of population recovery. The Malayan tiger, of which there are only a few hundred remaining, is also hunted. In Chinese medicine, it is believed that the tiger bones possess medicinal properties and are seen as a symbol of wealth.
Over the years, the Malaysian government has done little to protect these animals. Therefore, the decision by the Fatwa Council in Terengganu has been welcomed by wildlife and environmental activists.
Gopalasamy Reuben Clements, an associate professor at the University of Malaysia in Terengganu state and a member of the Fatwa Council, said he is hopeful that a gradual process could eradicate poaching from the country. He was quoted as saying, “While we don’t expect poachers to change their ways overnight, we hope this fatwa will at least start to create peer pressure around them.”
Clements also added that many poachers in the state belong to the Muslim community, and he believes that they will abide by the fatwa.
In March 2015, it is said the Indonesian Council of Ulama, the country’s top Muslim clerical body, prohibited national wildlife trafficking. As Indonesia took the lead, and with Malaysia following, wildlife activists hope that more countries in Southeast Asia will follow these shining examples and will start working to protect endangered species from extinction in the region.
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