FatwaFederal TerritoriesSocial & Contemporary Issues
AL-KAFI #1911: HUKUM MUSLIM MENGGUNAKAN GELARAN 'PRIEST'
What is the ruling on a Muslim using the title 'priest' in his name, and does it amount to imitating followers of other religions?
Short answer
A Muslim may not use the title priest in his name, because the title is specifically associated with Christian clergy.
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
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Social & Contemporary Issues
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
A Muslim may not use the title priest in his name, because the title is specifically associated with Christian clergy. The ruling rests on the prohibition of imitating the symbols of other faiths (tasyabbuh bil kuffar), based on the hadith that whoever imitates a people is counted among them. The fatwa also cites the principle of avoiding grounds for suspicion, so as not to bring slander upon oneself or the religion of Islam.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Seorang Muslim itu diharamkan menggunakan gelaran priest pada nama mereka, kerana gelaran tersebut telah menjadi suatu gelaran khusus yang sinonim dengan agama Kristian.
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. “AL-KAFI #1911: HUKUM MUSLIM MENGGUNAKAN GELARAN 'PRIEST'”, 5 January 2023. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/5499-al-kafi-1911-hukum-muslim-menggunakan-gelaran-priest. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-muslim-using-title-priest/