The New Straits Times today reported Harussani Zakaria as saying that such an activity was against Islamic teachings and akin to “glorifying” Kim’s death.
He questioned why Muslims should pray for a non-Muslim like Kim.
“No, you can’t do that because it is haram (forbidden). If the artist or individual was a Muslim, then we should recite Al-Fatihah for him,” Harussani was quoted as saying.
“But if the person was a non-Muslim, why are we praying for him to go to heaven?
“On top of that, he committed suicide. Why are we following the culture of infidels? What will you get out of it?” he added.
Harussani said there were better things for Muslims to do than mourn a celebrity who had taken his own life.
On Thursday night, nearly 200 white-clad fans gathered near Kuala Lumpur’s Masjid Jamek to pay tribute to Kim with speeches, balloons and candles.
The Asian Correspondent reported that the street tribute went on for about 90 minutes before police stepped in and politely asked the crowd to disperse as the public assembly was held without a permit.
Kim, 27, died in a hospital on Dec 18 after he was found unconscious inside a serviced residence in Seoul.
A coal briquette was burning on a frying pan — a common method of suicide in South Korea, an ultra-competitive society with one of the world’s highest suicide rates.
Kim was the singer for South Korean band SHINee.
News reports said a note believed to have been sent by him to a friend spoke of his struggles with depression and fame.
It said he was “broken from the inside” and that “the life of fame was never meant for me”.
Lead singer of K-Pop boy band SHINee dies in possible suicide