An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yelma’e, has accused actors who play the roles of a herbalist as acting against Islamic principles.
He accused departed Yoruba actor, Murcphy Afolabi, of such, saying he could not pray for him because of it.
In a video posted on YouTube, he notes: “What we posted yesterday was that we cannot pray for (late) Murphy Afolabi because in the movies he usually acts, and particularly Yoruba movies, it has a lot of forbidden things including traditional sacrifices and it is rare for the actors not to be involved in such traditional sacrifices.
“They might be acting that way with the thinking that they are joking but anything that has to do with Almighty Allah should not be joked with. Acting like herbalist, witch, or wizard, is against Islamic teachings and Islam is against such actions.
“What will make a Muslim start using what nonbelievers do to make people laugh? It is common in Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo films, but mostly in Yoruba films. I feel it is time for religious teachers and students to start looking into these issues.
“When any of these actors with a Muslim name acts like herbalist in Yoruba movies and later dies, it becomes hypocritical for people to expect us to pray for them. As for Murphy Afolabi, I won’t pray for him, and neither will I curse him because he might not know.”
Murphy died on Sunday after falling in a bathroom in his Ikorodu, Lagos house.
He was buried in Monday.
