FatwaPenangCreed (Aqidah)
PESTA PONGGAL DAN TANGLUNG
May Muslims take part in or organise the Ponggal and Lantern festivals?
Short answer
The Penang State Fatwa Committee ruled that Muslims are prohibited from participating in or organising the Ponggal and Lantern festivals, because they contain elements of superstition, veneration and worship that Islam forbids.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Penang State Mufti Department
- Date
- Status
- Fatwa committee decision
- Series
- Keputusan Fatwa Negeri Pulau Pinang (e-Fatwa)
- Topic
- Creed (Aqidah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The Penang State Fatwa Committee ruled that Muslims are prohibited from participating in or organising the Ponggal and Lantern festivals, because they contain elements of superstition, veneration and worship that Islam forbids. However, Muslims are not prohibited from cooking the ponggal dish 'sakarai' or making lanterns at times other than the festival days themselves.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Orang Islam dilarang daripada menyertai atau menganjurkan perayaan Ponggal dan Tanglung kerana ia mempunyai unsur-unsur khurafat, pemujaan dan penyembahan sepertimana yang diharamkan oleh agama Islam.
Read the full fatwa on the Penang website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Penang State Mufti Department. “PESTA PONGGAL DAN TANGLUNG”, 18 April 2017. http://efatwa.penang.gov.my/fatwa_details.php?fatwaid=971. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/muslims-ponggal-lantern-festival-ruling/