BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The State Mufti calls upon the relevant authority to test all products certified Halal following the recent turmoil among Muslim majority in the neighboring Malaysia after Cadbury chocolates was discovered to contain porcine DNA, Brudirect reported.
Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Hj Awg Abd Juned speaking during the Forum Irsyad ceremony in conjunction with Isra’ Mi’raj 1435H/2014M at Darul ‘Ifta’ Building, State Mufti’s Office yesterday.
“We shouldn’t be irresponsible about halal and haram in food, such as eating anything we want, without asking questions, without conducting analysis and tests. We shouldn’t be satisfied just because the food company has Halal certification or just because the packaging shows a Halal logo” says the State Mufti.
“Asking from Allah the Almighty is easier than asking from fellowmen. There are conditions, but these conditions are not cumbersome. What are the conditions for our wishes to be easily granted? It is simply maintaining and complying with Halal consumption” said the State Mufti.
He said food that is Haram or “syubhah” (suspected to be non-Halal) should not taint our supplications and we should make sure that we consume is not haram or tainted with elements considered forbidden in Islamic dietary rule such as porcine DNA that is derived from commercially farmed pig.
The State Mufti strongly reminded the Muslims and the general public that “a certificate is only a license and the logo is only a mark”. He added that both were not absolute determinants for something to be completely Halal, for example the uproar next door about Cadbury chocolate. The distributor was said to have a Halal certification complete with its logo. When this happened, said the State Mufti, the community became confused.
“What I want to address here is that we as the people of Brunei should take this as a lesson, which is that it is not enough to just simply issue a Halal certificate and Halal logo, we should continue to monitor and test all products which are given Halal certificate and logo from time to time” suggest Yang Berhormat Pehin Dato Paduka Dr Ustaz Hj Awg Abd Aziz.
“It should not only be limited to products in cans or boxes, but also meat, including poultry meat imported and supplied to local restaurants, shops, eateries, and sold to the public. In addition, all of the people’s favorites such as the different kinds of bread, cake and ice cream will also need to be monitored and reviewed”.
The State Mufti said this step is crucial as it is part of Fardhu Kifaya’ (communal obligation) and as protection for Muslim consumers. He urged the relevant authorities to be more proactive and advanced in handling such problems, because present day trends do not teach us to sit quietly or be complacent.
During the forum yesterday, the State Mufti launched four books published by the State Mufti’s Office; Manusia Mencabar Allah (Man Challenges Allah), Gaya Hidup Sihat dan Permakanan Sihat: Menurut Perspektif Islam (Healthy Lifestyle and Diet: From Islamic Perspective), Membaca Nadi Kejayaan Bangsa (Reading the Glorious Pulse of Nation) and Puasa dan Zakat (Fasting and Tithe). All books were written by Yang Berhormat Pehin himself.
The forum was chaired by Noorus Sadiqin Hj Md Yassin, Assistant Religious Research Officer, State Mufti’s Office, with panelists comprised Hj Jufri Hj Hidup, Mosque Affairs Officer at the Mosque Affairs Department; Hj Abd Azim Hj Ahmad, Religious Research Officer at the State Mufti’s Office; and Hjh Norashikin Hj Abd Majid, Ulama Tarbiah Fatwa at the State Mufti’s Office.
The ceremony concluded with a souvenir presentation to the guest of honor and the recitation of Doa Selamat by Ak Zamiri Pg Hj Jamaluddin, Religious Research Officer, State Mufti’s Office.
The forum carried the theme “Sembahyang Teras Kekuatan Ummah” (Prayers the Core Strength of Islamic Community).