Online 'bomoh' trend becoming more rampant, preacher warns

SHAH ALAM - Islamic preacher Wan Akashah Wan Abdul Hamid expressed concern over medical practitioners' trends using the name of Islam and showcasing the treatment process directly or through videos recordings on social media featuring scenes of summoning djinns or spirits.

He said if this trend was not controlled or addressed, it might tarnish the religion as the treatment method was misinterpreted by the community general.

In fact, he stressed, the trend was violating medical ethics and manners of Islam for exposing the condition of the patient.

"The treatment process is 'live' or the video footage would be uploaded on social media and can cause confusing in society.

"This is because not all communities, especially the younger generation understand things that are 'invisible to the eye' and this somehow will encourage them to make assumptions on Islamic medicine, ” he told Sinar.

Wan Akashah stressed that the trend was violating medical ethics and manners of Islam.

Wan Akashah also stressed that the knowledge of Islamic medicine was only known by those who practice it, study and read and it was inappropriate to be shown in public.

“When this treatment is shown on social media, it might create negativity since some netizens comment's on this are not based on science and facts.

“Besides that, such a trend can also embarrass patients. There are patients who do not want to be exposed on social media platforms and if possible, want to keep their struggle private from the public's eye,” he said.

Therefore, he advised these "medical practitioners" not to display such sensitive content on social media to prevent slander against the religion and confusion in society as it should be kept private.

To prevent the trend from spreading further, Wan Akashah urged the religious authorities namely the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the state Islamic religious department to monitor the trend and take action to avoid the matter from becoming rampant.

Meanwhile, the National and State Fatwa Committee has been urged to release a fatwa in relations to this trend of streaming treatment process live or via video content on social media platforms and websites.

Lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader said there were fears this would distort the faith of Muslims.

“This trend is not included in Syariah criminal offenses under the Federal Territories Syariah Criminal Offenses Act 1997.

"The fatwa committee needs to make a conclusion of this practice because it is a serious matter. People can misuse it to make money for the sake of self-interest.

"Therefore, they need to make a resolution to overcome this issue and one decision where it is not allowed because it is the opposite with sharia, " he said.

Akberdin said there should be clear guidelines because in Syariah crime there were no specific laws that can convict a person of the offense as it was more inclined towards "abuse".

He said that there was no denying that Islamic medicine exists and a good alternative but the people treating it must be knowledgeable in the field of Islamic medicinal treatment and has a reliable background such as the Darussyifa ’ Treatment Centre.

"However, the treatment and practice must be according to what has been accepted by the authorities, it is not as simple as one might think.

"Who gave the them the authorities to do such things? The perpetrators are taking advantage of the practice since people would not know where they live and their background," he said.