Malaysia's Top Muslim Council Issues Fatwa Against Halloween Celebrations

Malaysia's top Islamic council has issued a fatwa (religious edict) against the Halloween celebrations calling it 'Haram' (sinful) and anti-Islamic.

The National Fatwa Council has said the Shariah law does not allow celebrations such as Halloween, which is to mark the remembrance of dead people.

"The Halloween celebration is clearly against the values of Shariah. It cannot be celebrated by Muslims. To remember those who have passed away, Islam suggests the practices of reciting doa (prayers) and Quran," the council said in a blog-post.

"Today Halloween is usually celebrated with activities, with adults and children alike in fancy dress visiting strangers' houses asking for candy, lighting bonfires, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks on people with a variety of games, and telling horror stories. Halloween is celebrated with the theme of horror mixed with humour in order to cheer the heart and also against the spirit of dead that affect humans," it added.

Several other groups are also up in arms against events scheduled to commemorate Halloween 2014 saying the Western culture would mislead young Muslims.

Some even went on to suggest frivolities like these are deliberately promoted by the anti-Islamic forces in order to shake the faith of Muslims.

The council had earlier issued a fatwa against touching dogs saying it was un-Islamic when an event called "I want to touch a dog" was organised.