KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 — Malaysia’s foremost Islamic authority blamed local jihadist fighters today for failing to understand the wider scope of jihad, or religious struggle, and subsequently tarnishing Islam’s image as a proclaimed religion of peace.

In its Friday sermon today, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) also reminded Muslims that National Fatwa Council has decreed that joining militant group Islamic State’s (IS) struggle is against Islamic teachings, and dying for them does not make one a “martyr”.

“Based on definition by scholars, it can be concluded that jihad’s meaning in Islam is wider than war, it includes all aspects of human action in upholding Allah’s religion,” said the sermon.

“Such as education, strengthening the economy, eradicating poverty, reinforcing the community’s unity, battling desires and the devil, in addition to making sure the community is happy in life and afterlife.

The sermon also questioned IS’s struggle, which it claimed involves killing Muslims that it said was forbidden by Islam.

Jakim also said that Egypt-based fatwa institution, Darul Ifta’, has decreed that IS is haram, or prohibited in Islam, because it brings ruin to nations and tarnish the image of Islam and its adherents.

“We would like to stress here, do not be Muslims who bring slander towards Islam itself. Surely, Islam really a religion which detests violence and war as a whole,” it said.

“The reality is, Muslims must find a way to introduce Islam to non-Muslims as a religion that is meant to brings blessings to the whole humanity.”

Minister in charge of Islamic religious affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said earlier this month a fatwa is not needed because the government has made it “clear” that joining the IS is “wrong” even as the violent Islamist militant group continues to lure young Malaysian Muslims to its bases in Syria and the Middle East.

However, after a conference by last week, the National Fatwa Council said it is in the midst of decreeing a fatwa that prohibits Malaysian Muslims from joining IS.

The Bloomberg news service previously reported that as many as 40 Malaysians are currently fighting for the IS in Syria, with some saying that the jihad was mandated by the Prophet Muhammad.

Putrajaya has previously designated the IS, formerly known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, as a terrorist group.