Burning Questions on the Bak Kut Teh controversy

by Nathaniel Tan

I confess I find it delicious (somewhat unhealthy probably, but delicious).

It is something of a testament to current affairs that in all seriousness, I really don’t know whether it’d make sense to put the words “No offence” at the beginning of the previous sentence.

In any case, allow me for now to seek the perspectives of experts who I hope may be reading on some of the following quotes from an article on the Bak Kut Teh Controversy:

Ketua Penolong Pengarah Jabatan Kemajuan Agama Islam Malaysia (Jakim) Lokman Abdul Rahman berkata, bak kut teh tidak boleh dianggap halal kerana ia masih mengekalkan penggunaan nama yang haram mengikut hukum Islam.

“Walaupun mereka mungkin akan membuat permohonan, Jakim tidak akan meluluskan makanan bak kut teh halal itu kerana sudah jelas ia tidak mengikut hukum yang telah ditetapkan di dalam Islam,” katanya.

So, I have a few questions. Some I have some inkling of, others less so, but I wanted to get your views:

a) (For you Hokkien lang out there) If I were to use the word “Bak” or “Bak Kut” – is a specific type of meat implied in common usage?

b) What exactly is the hukum Islam referred to twice by saudara Lokman above?

I ask b), and the follow up questions that follow with full respect, and in the hopes that some lady or gentleman may perhaps enlighten me and increase my understanding of the issue.

So, is there a specific law that involves the haram or halal-ness of things with certain names? As in, perhaps, if I were to wrap a piece of perfectly halal plain bread with a wrapper that said “pork bun” or something would that technically make it haram to buy or eat?

Again, I hope there is absolutely no misunderstanding of my intent, which is asked fully respectfully in the spirit of inquiry.

I have always been interested in Islamic jurisprudence, and remember having plenty of technical questions I used to ask Nik Nazmi (waaaaaay) back in the day when we shared an office. Our conversations always enlightened me, and I hope to continue my journeys of discovery in the same spirit of learning.

Apologies in advance if I edit or delete overly contentious comments, trying not to spend Xmas in jail, ahaha :P :)