Although no date has yet been set for the Malaysian release of the much talked about game, it did catch the attention of the Federal Territory Islamic Law Committee, under the purview of the Federal Territory Mufti’s office.

In an official statement issued today, it was revealed that after a meeting on Aug 1, the committee decided that Muslims were not allowed to play Pokemon and Pokemon Go based on Quranic explanations and public interest as well as problems arising as a result of playing the game.

“It is hoped that Muslims, particularly those in the Federal Territory will not be involved in the game application,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Federal Territory mufti Dr Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri said in the statement that they had studied the views of several ulamas and previous fatwas issued before arriving at their decision.

He said they were of the opinion that the fatwa issued was justified and that the Pokemon Go game and Pokemon itself should be avoided if it is pernicious.

Dr Zulkifli, in saying this, quoted a hadith by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): Do not cause harm or return harm.

Previous fatwas were listed in the statement, one of which was by Prof Dr Yusuf al-Qaradhawi, who issued a fatwa against the Pokemon animation and game in 2001.

Another was by the Saudi Arabia Supreme Ulama Council, who issued a fatwa that Pokemon games were unIslamic. However they did not specifically mention the Pokemon Go game.

Earlier, Penang Mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor called for the game to be declared ‘haram’ immediately.

In a report by Sinar Harian, he was quoted as saying that a study by the mufti’s department had revealed that the ‘negatives’ derived from playing the game far outweighed the ‘positives.’

For a detailed reading of the reasonings provided by the Federal Territory Islamic Law Committee, click here: Bayan Linnas Siri 66 : Integriti Data Peribadi dan Kesihatan Pemain Selamatkah Pokemon Go?