Quran Translations without Original Arabic text Banned in Malaysia
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the cabinet had
decided on the matter at a meeting on Dec 22, last year.
Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the monitoring of hadith by the ministry
was aimed at protecting the authenticity of the hadith texts, and at the same
time, preventing the spread of false hadiths, especially through publications.
He said checks will be conducted on texts found in hadith books and religious
books published, especially those which could lead one astray, thus affecting
harmony, public order and national unity.
"At this stage, the control on hadith will be done using the Printing
Presses and Publications Act 1984," he said in a statement after chairing
a meeting with members of the Al-Quran Printing Control and Licensing Board
(LPPQ).
He said long-term efforts should also be made to create a specific Act to
control the hadith, similar to that of the Printing of Al-Quran Text Act 1986,
which was set up specifically to control publication of the Quran.
Ahmad Zahid said two guidelines were currently being prepared to implement the
hadith control functions, namely the Guidelines for Publishing Hadith and the
Guidelines for Assessment and Review of Hadith by HARC.
On the issue of Al-Quran publications, Ahmad Zahid pointed out that
translations of the Quran without the presence of the original Arabic text, is
prohibited.
It is in line with the decision of the 24th National Fatwa Council Discussion
on Islamic Affairs convened on June 5-6 1989, which held that 'it is forbidden
to write or use any portion of the Quran which is not written in Arabic script,
or according to the Quran's system of scripture', he said.
Ahmad Zahid said of late, LPPQ had detected copies of the Quran being imported
and sold without the approval of MOHA, and was widely available, including
online.
Source: Bernama
