'Muslims need to be careful when choosing what to eat and drink' - Mufti
A claypot chicken rice shop run by a married couple allegedly used rice wine in the preparation of their dish. Inset : Penang Mufti, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor - FILE PIX
Penang Mufti, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said, Islam forbids Muslims to drink intoxicating drinks and consume non-halal food.
"I agree with those who emphasise that the Muslim community needs to be careful in matters related to eating and drinking.
"They also need to know what can be eaten and consumed based on the law, Allah forbids a Muslim to drink any intoxicating drink. The law is the same as alcohol through the texts of the Quran and hadith.Therefore, every Muslim should not eat food or drink in any restaurant or premises that does not have a halal certificate issued by the religious authority in this country, which is the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim)," he said when contacted on Monday.
He added that the authorities need to explain the law involving intoxicating substances.
"Any Muslim who eats or drinks intoxicants will be punished according to the existing provisions in the State Islamic Affairs Administration Enactment.
"I suggest that any premises serving alcohol and any other intoxicants should display a notice stating that Muslims are not allowed to enter," he said.
Wan Salim added that Muslims need to know the types of drinks that is haram to be consumed.
"For instance there is a traditional drink among the Muslim community in Kelantan and Terengganu which is called 'tuak'.
"This drink is called nira in the western part of the peninsula. However, the tuak that the Dayak community in Sarawak often drinks is forbidden for Muslims to drink," he said.
Previously, a claypot rice outlet run by a Muslim husband and wife in Sri Petaling, Selangor, went viral, visited by people including Muslims, but the disclosure of some individuals about allegedly non-halal ingredients used by the couple cast doubt among Muslim visitors to the eatery.
The couple is said to use rice wine for the recipe, which caused an uproar among Muslims who have frequented the eatery in the past.
Following the matter, Jakim in a statement on his Facebook confirmed that the claypot chicken rice premises run by the couple in question are not holders of the Malaysian Halal Certification Certificate (SPHM) based on a review through the Malaysian Halal Portal.
Jakim also confirmed the eatery was never issued a halal certification. It is understood that the premise has been temporarily closed following the spread of the issue.
