This was decided at the first interfaith meeting between Penang Mufti Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor and Christian leaders today.
Wan Salim said the changes were needed to ensure a fair and just solution in interfaith custody battles, Malay Mail Online reported.
Saying that Islam was a religion which promoted justice and freedom, any outcome that was the opposite of these principles would be deemed un-Islamic.
“When we cannot find solutions based on the Holy Book, we must come up with solutions based on public interests,” Wan Salim was quoted as saying in the portal.
He was speaking to reporters after the two-hour meeting with Penang bishop Sebastian Francis and other leaders of both faiths at the mufti’s office today.
According to Malay Mail Online, interfaith child custody battles were only one of the issues discussed at the meeting. Other matters raised involved unilateral conversions, the threat of Islamic State (IS) and extremism.
Speaking further, Wan Salim promoted a friendly relationship between followers of both Islam and Christianity as “they are not enemies.”
He also said today’s meeting was important as it helped clear any confusion and misunderstanding between the two communities.
“Allah gave us diversity, so we must unite in this diversity.”
Bishop Francis expressed similar views, saying he was satisfied with the outcome reached at the meeting. He also commended Wan Salim’s commitment towards common values, which included justice, peace and mercy, said the portal.
“We agreed on so many things and we will provide leadership in religious and moral matters for our own respective people.”
He also pledged to hold more such meetings in future, including with Muslim university students.