Muslims cannot join candlelight vigils for Kim Jong-hyun; it is haram: Perak Mufti

KUALA LUMPUR — Muslims are forbidden from joining candlelight vigils in memory of the late Korean pop star Kim Jong-hyun who committed suicide this week, Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria said.

He said such activity is against Islamic teachings and is akin to "glorifying" Kim's death.

"No, you can't do that because it is haram. If the artist or individual was a Muslim, then we should recite Al-Fatihah for him. But if the person was a non-Muslim, why are we praying for him to go to heaven?

"On top of that, he committed suicide. Why are we following the culture of infidels? What will you get out of it?"

"Besides, there are better things we can do rather than mourn a celebrity who took his own life," Mr Harussani said when contacted.

Kim, 27, who was the frontman of Korean pop group SHINee, was found unconscious at a private hotel in Seoul on Dec 18. He died at hospital.

Police are treating his death as a suicide based on a report made by Kim's sister.

The singer-songwriter also left a suicide note in which he said that he was "broken from the inside".

On Friday (Dec 22), over 100 fans of Kim from various ethnic and religious backgrounds gathered near Dataran Merdeka for a candlelight vigil in memory of him.

Participants were seen holding up candles, balloons, flowers and glow sticks as they mourned Kim.

In 2015, the National Fatwa Council declared that it is forbidden for Muslims to join a candlelight vigil, as the activity is deemed to be similar to the practices of the followers of other faiths. NEW STRAITS TIMES