FatwaFederal TerritoriesCreed (Aqidah)
AL-KAFI #1196: HUKUM MEMBACA KITAB AGAMA LAIN ATAU BUKU KARANGAN PENULIS NON-MUSLIM
What is the ruling on reading the scriptures of other religions such as the New Testament and the Vedas, and books written by non-Muslim authors?
Short answer
Reading and studying the scriptures of other religions, and books containing deviant or misguided beliefs, is not permitted unless the reader has a firm grounding in Islam and the guidance of a trusted teacher.
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
- Creed (Aqidah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Reading and studying the scriptures of other religions, and books containing deviant or misguided beliefs, is not permitted unless the reader has a firm grounding in Islam and the guidance of a trusted teacher. The fatwa lists conditions for this exception, including studying under a reliable teacher, a genuine need to refute doubts, and a strong foundation in creed. Books by non-Muslim authors that are unrelated to religion or contain nothing contrary to Islam, such as novels, motivational and economics books, are permissible to read.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Tuntasnya, kami menyimpulkan bahawa seseorang itu tidak boleh membaca dan mengkaji kitab-kitab agama lain dan buku-buku yang mengandungi fahaman yang sesat dan menyeleweng daripada ajaran Islam yang sebenar, melainkan setelah dia mempunyai fahaman agama yang mantap dan mendapat daripada bimbingan guru yang mursyid.
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 #1196: HUKUM MEMBACA KITAB AGAMA LAIN ATAU BUKU KARANGAN PENULIS NON-MUSLIM”, 7 April 2019. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/3274-al-kafi-1196-hukum-membaca-kitab-agama-lain-atau-buku-karangan-penulis-non-muslim. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-reading-other-religions-scriptures-books/