FatwaFederal TerritoriesLegal Theory & Methodology
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-908: FATWA DAN KESANNYA DARI PERSPEKTIF UNDANG-UNDANG
Does a fatwa have legal authority that obliges everyone to comply with it?
Short answer
Legally, a binding fatwa is one decided by a fatwa committee appointed by the ruler and officially published in the government gazette.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Legal Theory & Methodology
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Legally, a binding fatwa is one decided by a fatwa committee appointed by the ruler and officially published in the government gazette. A gazetted fatwa binds only Muslims residing in the particular state or territory, and the courts must recognise it as authoritative. Acts contrary to a gazetted fatwa may be treated as offences under the Syariah Criminal Offences Act 1997 and prosecuted in the Syariah Court.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Apabila disiarkan dalam Warta, sesuatu fatwa hendaklah mengikat tiap-tiap orang Islam yang bermastautin di Wilayah-Wilayah Persekutuan sebagai ajaran agamanya dan hendaklah menjadi kewajipannya di sisi agama untuk mematuhi dan berpegang dengan fatwa itu...
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-908: FATWA DAN KESANNYA DARI PERSPEKTIF UNDANG-UNDANG”, 3 July 2025. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/6302-irsyad-hukum-siri-ke-908-fatwa-dan-kesannya-dari-perspektif-undang-undang. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/is-a-fatwa-legally-binding-in-malaysia/