Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

Mohd Asri was educated at the religious secondary school Al-Irsyad in Seberang Perai, Penang, and furthered his study at the Islamic College Klang. He received his bachelor's degree in Arabic and Sharia, with honors from the University of Jordan; a Master's in Islamic studies from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and a PhD in Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Heritage (Qurʾan and Sunnah studies) from International Islamic University Malaysia.

Mohd Asri is an active writer and commentator on Islam and religious issues. He was a columnist for two local Malay newspapers called Mingguan Malaysia and Sinar Harian. He is also a prolific writer who has published many books since 2003. He remains a permanent associate professor with Universiti Sains Malaysia while serving with the Office of Perlis Mufti. Known popularly by the public, especially among the young who follow his blog, Minda Tajdid and in columns on Malay newspapers.

Mohd Asri's books reflect his concerns about what he considers to be fanaticism in Madhhabs (schools of jurisprudence), criticism of Hadith fabrications, and condemnation of Shiʿism and some Sufi practices. He considers these phenomena not to be in line with “pure” Islam, and he has urged Muslims to return to what he believes are Islam's true teachings. He frequently cites sources often referred to by those conforming to the Wahabi and Salafi school of thought, such as Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 1328) and Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab, particularly in the issues of human life and human rights, and accepts moderate ideas from the Salafi and Wahabi school. Unlike the perception that associates Salafism with rigidity, conservatism, and extremism in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, Asri believes in the Salafi brand of “Sunnah Perlis”, emphasizing the freedom from Madhhab rigidity that calls upon Muslims to return directly to the two major sources of Islam in dealing with religious issues, namely, the Qurʾan and Sunnah.

While Mohd Asri may be conservative on many aspects of religious rituals, some of his views on women's rights,{{cite web |url=https://coconuts.co/kl/news/dr-maza-selangor-mufti-quit-harping-about-caning-wives-and-children/|title=Dr MAZA to Selangor Mufti: Quit Harping On About Caning Wives & Children | publisher=CoconutsKL| date=Jan 28, 2015 | access-date=9 February 2022}} religious freedom,{{cite web |url=https://www.mindatajdid.com/kebebasan-beragama-dan-hak-menyatakan-akidah/|title=Kebebasan Beragama & Hak Menyatakan Akidah | publisher=Minda Tajdid| date=July 12, 2021 | access-date=9 February 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri17dm0e6ew|title=Forum Perpaduan Kaum & Agama | publisher=PROmediaTAJDID| date=September 20, 2020 | access-date=9 February 2022}} and religious worship are largely recognized as progressive. He also urges Malaysian Muslims not to accept the Shafiʿi school as the only source of law, but to be more receptive of other schools of jurisprudence.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurasiareview.com/07032020-dr-mazas-salafi-styled-theocracy-analysis/ |title=Dr. Maza's Salafi-Styled Theocracy | publisher=Eurasiareview | date=7 March 2020 | access-date=9 February 2022}} This position departs from that advocated by the ulama in the Nusantara region, which largely adopts the Shafiʿi school.

Although he maintains an intentionally apolitical stance, political parties like the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and People Justice Party (PKR) are interested in him. As Mufti of Perlis, he is propagating the “Sunnah Perlis” teachings, the Salafi version of a revival and reform agenda (islah and tajdid), and its call for the “pure” version of Islam by referring directly to the Qurʾan and Sunnah and by superseding the various interpretations the different Madhhab.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

While some have accused Mohd Asri of subscribing to Wahhabism,{{By whom|date=August 2022}} others claim he does not accept Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703–1792) as a great scholar or consider him a moderate and progressive scholar. Mohd Asri can be characterized as a moderate scholar who urges Muslims to practice more than one Madhhab simultaneously within Sunni Islamic doctrine, namely the Hanbali, Shafiʿi, Maliki, and Hanafi schools.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

He is very vocal on Malaysia's political and religious contexts,{{cite web |url=https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/kes-covid19-meningkat-dr-maza-tegur-pemimpin-kerajaan-262393|title=Dr. Maza Tegur Pemimpin Kerajaan | publisher=Astro Awani | date=6 October 2020 | access-date=9 February 2022}} and in criticizing the labeling of certain non-Muslim parties, especially the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) as kafir harbi (infidels against whom war can be waged) and efforts to amend the Syariah (the term used in Malaysia for Sharia) Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 to allow certain Hudud punishments to be implemented in certain states in Malaysia.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

On issues such as the environment, he is against pollution. He advocates modesty in fashion, particularly the proper attire for Muslim women, and that Muslims can wear non-Muslim traditional dresses.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Mohd Asri is married with five children, namely Talhah Mohd Asri, Intisor Mohd Asri, Ibtihal Mohd Asri, Dihyah Mohd Asri and Irwa' Mohd Asri, respectively.

• {{Flag|Perlis}}:
• 50px Companion of the Order of Prince Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail of Perlis (SSP) (2005)
• 50px The Order for Dato’ Titleholders – Dato' Arif Perkasa (2012){{cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/198173|title=Dr Asri kini bergelar Datuk|work=Malaysia Kini|date=17 May 2012|access-date=17 April 2021}}

• Recipient of the Perlis 1427 AH Maal Hijrah Figure Award
• Recipient of the Perlis 1429 AH Maal Hijrah Figure Award
• Recipient of the University of Science Malaysia 1430 AH Maal Hijrah Figure Award

• [https://muftiperlis.gov.my/index.php/penerbitan Fanatik Mazahab Fekah & Kesan Negatifnya Terhadap Pemikiran Umat] ISBN 978-967-13496-2-5
• [https://muftiperlis.gov.my/index.php/penerbitan Hadis Palsu Kesan Negatif Terhadap Imej Islam] ISBN 978-967-13496-3-2
• [https://muftiperlis.gov.my/index.php/penerbitan Fabricated Hadith Upon The Image Of Islam] ISBN 978-967-16744-3-7
• [https://muftiperlis.gov.my/index.php/penerbitan The Obligation of Understanding the Reality Before Issuuing a Fatwa] ISBN 978-967-16744-5-1
• [https://muftiperlis.gov.my/index.php/penerbitan Kewajipan Memahami Realiti Sebelum Berfatwa] ISBN 978-967-16-7442-0

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Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Penang

Category:Malaysian people of Malay descent

Category:Malaysian Muslims

Category:Muftis in Malaysia

Category:Malaysian motivational speakers

Category:Sunni Muslim scholars of Islam

Category:21st-century imams

Category:University of Jordan alumni

Category:Universiti Sains Malaysia alumni

Category:International Islamic University Malaysia alumni