KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 ― Pahang Mufti Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Osman has defended his “kafir harbi” label against opponents of Islam, saying his previous remark was not meant to be a sanction for the slaughter of non-Muslims.

The senior Islamic cleric also said those who lodged police reports against him had the right to do so, but insisted he has never condoned killing those labelled “kafir harbi”, The Star reported today.

“They have the right to do that. But I never intended to call on the Muslims to slay the non-Muslims as I was just making a general statement,” he was quoted saying.

“As Muslims, we have the responsibility to declare jihad against kafir harbi. But in this context, jihad does not necessarily mean picking up weapons and going to war,” he was quoted saying further.

He said he meant fighting through debate and argument rather than through armed combat against those who disagree with Islam’s ideology.

“I have friends who are Chinese and Indians. Why would I want to trigger chaos?”

Abdul Rahman added that the term could also be used on Muslims who breached Islamic principles.

He said it was better for non-Muslims not to interfere in the religious affairs of Muslims, and argued that the recent controversial proposal by PAS to strengthen the Shariah courts does not affect non-Muslims.

Abdul Rahman insisted it was too “far-fetched” to say that his “kafir harbi” remark could result in attacks by global terrorist group Islamic State (IS).

“There's a vast difference from what I said and what IS champions. They want to set up an Islamic State and they even kill other Muslims in the process.

“What I want is just jihad against this ideology and it is for the better,” he was quoted saying.

The term “kafir harbi” was historically used to describe non-Muslims who can be slain for opposing Prophet Muhammad and the will of the Islamic God.

Abdul Rahman is under police investigation for sedition after his remarks, published on the front page of Malay daily Utusan Malaysia last week, triggered public uproar among both non-Muslims and Muslims alike.