I believe a Fatwah is not required but I recommend either a reminder or the passing of one.

1) Fatwah is merely an opinion without legal binding

True that a fatwah is the opinion of the ulama (scholars who are much better versed in islam) thus it carries much greater weight than a regular muslim’s opinion. Although I agree that the discussions etc should be more transparent so that we can better understand how the fatwah came to be. Much like how there are parliament discussions broadcasted.

2) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has already said to avoid all things harmful or prohibited.

If memory serves right, jobs with alcoholic sales or in any direct relation to anything haram are very much advised against. I believe if that is the only job available through rigorous search then it is allowed. But one should continue to rigorously search for another job which does not have any relation anything haram.

3) Gambling etc is prohibited as pointed out, a no brainer. Those who still do will get what they deserve.

4) Muslims now are more educated?

If it is the secular education it is true, we are much better educated but what about religious education?

There is no proper statistics to make the comparison between past and current muslims being better religiously educated.
Also, the quality of religious education is difficult to properly ascertain. Some muslims are home taught (by parents) or even self taught due to parents’ neglect in religious matters, others by ustaz/ustazahs either as a group at the ustaz/ustazah’s home and the remaining learn either at mosques or religious centres. Unless all muslims were to go through a standardized religious education system similar to our secular education system, we cannot truly make this comparison.

Food for thought, why has this not been implemented?

Many ‘modern muslims’ do not possess sufficient basic knowledge and make their judgements on secular or worse, kafir, logic. Worse yet, with their high positions and great pay, many think they are smart enough to make the right judgement and are too proud to listen to the wisdom of others.

Conclusion:

Given my limited 22 years of which only about 10+ years dedicated somewhat to religious studies (i admit i have been lazy in this field and hope to correct it in the near future) this is what I have thought of.

On a side note, the Quran has been proven time and again to be the most modern book known to man, any laws etc from it are written in stone and unchanging, to follow what is stated should be a given and to follow it will only lead to Progress to God. Secular progress is a plus which usually follows but is not the main point. Anyway, we will Never Regress secularly if we did follow the Quran.

Reminder:

This forum is to discuss as to the need of a fatwah for the IR. Please refrain from nit-picking with another’s comments too much.

I also think that muslims should not enter casino at all. I agree with brother Muhammad Lateef opinion. The law is clear.

We need more Daáwah in the community,not Fatwas.Fatwas as mentioned,is still,at the end of it all a deduced conclusion from an intense session of ijtihad.Which means that,it is still debatable and non compliable.

Gambling is Haram.That’s a no brainer.
Consuming alcohol is Haram.Another no brainer.

What if I open the door,as a guest relations officer at the casino?
What if I serve finger food,at a joint in the IR which also serves alcohol?

Now,this will be some of the issues that will have people clamoring for a Fatwa,because they’ll cite the context of employment.

But,were we not advised by the Prophet(p.b.u.h),to avoid all things that are syubahah,which in the above cases are.A Fatwa is not needed in such “contemporary” issues.

Asatizahs can do well to start their Daáwah materials engines up and running on this issue.Start diversifying into intimate sharing on the implications of IR existing in the fabrics of the Malay Muslim community.Start highlighting the intricate details on the ills of gambling,excessive enjoyment or just plain ignorance on the developments.The Daáwah messages should never always be confined,to family,marriages,teenagers,sexuality,terrorism and other commonly found themes.If the thought of a Fatwa needing to be issued,that means,there is an opportunity for Daáwah there.

Salam.

Conscientious Muslims should know to refrain from having any involvement with the gambling activities of the IR, and they don’t need a fatwa for that.

Granted there are already some so-called Muslims who engage in various gambling activities right now, whether or not there is a fatwa.

If backwards is a loss of God-conciousness, then we must be going forwards. Never has there been more practising Muslims in Singapore and a desire to find meaning in life. But do not be confused by installing elements of syariah as a form of progress. The Singapre Muslim community will not be moving forward with a regime like Iran.

A mufti is a man-made title. Surely, he also has man-made responsibilities to serve spiritual guidance. Nothing in the qur’an demands a mufti to issue a fatwa for anything and everything. Therefore, he is free whether or not to give an opinion (fatwa) on a matter. An opinion cannot be forced. If he wishes not to opine, then that is his right. We did not choose the mufti in the first place and he is not accountable to us. But surely, he is accountable to God as is everyone else. In this matter, for a person in the public view, and a person who has the interest of the Muslim community at heart, surely, a matter of unity is more important than a matter of vice. The community cannot move forward if it were to fragment along the opinions of one man who everyone regards as a supreme authority of Islam in the country.

As it is important for him to ensure that MUIS is supported by all Muslims, not some, it is more wiser to refrain from issuing any kind of fatwa that only serves to add fuel to the fire.

Haven’t we learnt from the absurdity of the yoga fatwa and how it fragmented the Malaysian community?

“If we were to consider this manner in what a fatwa’s objective really is, then its merely an opinion of an ulama.”

The word ‘merely’ should not be used. It seems to belittle the rigorous thought processes that the fatwa commitee undergoes in their ijtihad. Not forgetting, the enormous burden that they shoulder on behalf of the masses should they issue an erroneous one.

“There is no need for the Mufti to issue a fatwa because he is free not to issue one.”

Being the Mufti, isn’t it his job to issue fatwas and perform ijtihad for the locality in which he is appointed in? If that is not his job, then what is?

“Perhaps his opinion is that if he issues a fatwa against the IR, it would fragment the community and would pull the community backwards, not forward.”

That depends on how you define as ‘forward’ or ‘backward. Backwordness, from an Islamic perspective, is the loss of God-consciousness.

“And progressing the community is more important than calling for a cease on vice in the IR which can never be exercised.”

That depends on what you define as ‘progress’, as mentioned above.

We may not be able to prevent vice in totality. But we can discourage ppl from being involved in it.

When seeked for an opinion, the ulama would issue a fatwa. That fatwa represents the opinion of the ulama and is not legally binding. It is only an opinion and many of which are positioned after ijtihad.

So if a Muslim were to agree with the fatwa, he may comply, and if he doesn’t then there is no issue whatsoever.

If we were to consider this manner in what a fatwa’s objective really is, then its merely an opinion of an ulama. There is no need for the Mufti to issue a fatwa because he is free not to issue one. Perhaps his opinion is that if he issues a fatwa against the IR, it would fragment the community and would pull the community backwards, not forward. And progressing the community is more important than calling for a cease on vice in the IR which can never be exercised.