FatwaFederal TerritoriesSocial & Contemporary Issues
TAHQIQ AL-MASA’IL SIR KE-8 : ISU #LATHICHALLENGE, HINDARI BUDAYA JAHILIYYAH
What is the ruling on joining the Lathi Challenge, and do the song's lyrics contain elements of worship of spirits?
Short answer
Performing the Lathi Challenge in its viral style and format is forbidden and sinful, because it contains elements of spirit worship that may lead the performer into polytheism and disbelief.
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
- Tahqiq al-Masail
- Topic
- Social & Contemporary Issues
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Performing the Lathi Challenge in its viral style and format is forbidden and sinful, because it contains elements of spirit worship that may lead the performer into polytheism and disbelief. The lyrics alone do not directly contain worship of jinn or devils, but a ruling must consider the whole product. When the lyrics are combined with the dance, background music and imagery such as blood-stained makeup, black smoke and apparitions, there is strong ground to see resemblance to mystical worship and sorcery, so it is prohibited by Islamic law.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Kami berpendapat hukum melakukan Lathi Challenge dengan gaya dan format yang ditularkan adalah haram dan berdosa kerana mempunyai unsur-unsur pemujaan yang dikhuatiri akan menjerumuskan pelakunya ke dalam perbuatan syirik dan kekufuran.
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. “TAHQIQ AL-MASA’IL SIR KE-8 : ISU #LATHICHALLENGE, HINDARI BUDAYA JAHILIYYAH”, 24 June 2020. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/tahqiq-al-masail/4545-tahqiq-al-masa-il-sir-ke-8-isu-lathichallenge-hindari-budaya-jahiliyyah. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-joining-lathi-challenge/