Islamic leader declares swearing on Koran not legitimate in sodomy case

Other Muslims have also been quite fond of swearing on Allah's book. Either way, seems a moot point since the Koran itself encourages deception (see 8:30 and 16:106). Then again, those verses deal primarily with legitimizing Muslim deceit vis-a-vis infidels, whereas in this case, both the defendant and accused are Muslim. Thus the latter's hesitancy to swear on the Koran makes the sodomy accusation all the more plausible. "Saiful's method of swearing on Quran against Islamic teachings, says Nik Aziz," from Malaysia News, August 16: BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- The method of swearing on the Quran used by Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan who has alleged that Parti Keadilan Advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sodomised him, is against the teachings of Islam, said PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.
ADVERTISEMENT

Nik Aziz said the holding of a Quran to declare one was telling the truth was more an imitation of the Christian practice of swearing on the Bible.

"In Islam, anyone is free to declare that he or she is telling the truth in a matter, but not by holding the Quran as it is copying the practice of Christians," he told reporters after accompanying the Pakatan Rakyat delegation during the nomination process for the Permatang Pauh by-election here today. Anwar is the Pakatan Rakyat candidate for the by-election, which will be held on Aug 26.

The Kelantan Menteri Besar, however, said the "sumpah laknat' (swearing in the face of divine retribution) that was done by Saiful when he swore on the Quran was permitted by Islam and now it depended on the sincerity of his oath that he had been sodomised by Anwar.

On calls for Anwar to do likewise to proclaim his innocence, Nik Aziz said in Islam the one making the accusation should do it to declare he or she is telling the truth and later the accused must defend him or herself.

Yesterday, Saiful, 23, took the step of swearing on the Quran at the Federal Territory Mosque in Kuala Lumpur to declare that he was telling the truth that Anwar had sodomised him on June 26 at a condominium in Damansara in the federal capital.

Anwar has described the action as dirty political gimmick to try and cause his downfall in the by-election.