- PM Anwar Ibrahim affirms commitment to uphold Islam’s status as the Federation’s religion, allocate resources for Islamic knowledge programs, while ensuring rights and respect for non-Muslim citizens.
- Anwar also addresses global Islamophobia, orders Quran publication in multiple languages, plans discussions with Turkish President to address Islamophobia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has articulated his unwavering commitment to upholding Islam’s status as the religion of the Federation, alongside ensuring substantial allocations for the facilitation of Islamic knowledge programs. Concurrently, he has affirmed that the rights of all non-Muslim citizens will be safeguarded, guaranteeing them respect and a quality standard of living.
Championing the entitlements of divergent communities and affording them the latitude to observe their faith aligns seamlessly with the tenets of Islamic doctrine. This is elegantly attested by the following hadith:
(Sahih Bukhari, Book 46, Hadith 6)
“Do not revile their gods lest they should revile Allah wrongfully without knowledge.”
History further manifests this principle, as exemplified by the tenure of Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), the second Caliph of Islam. During his leadership, he assumed the custodianship of the keys to the church in Jerusalem, thereby granting Christians the liberty to unfetteredly embrace their religious practices.
“I will ensure and reiterate my stance in this nation that, while Islam remains the religion of the Federation, I will persistently champion the faith, sustain religious practices, advance the teachings of Islam, and furnish substantial resources and backing for the education, comprehension, and implementation of Islamic initiatives,” he avowed.
The Prime Minister addressed the gathering at the inauguration of the 63rd Malaysian International Al-Quran Recitation and Memorisation Assembly (MTHQA) 1445H/2023 at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre. Also in attendance were his spouse, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
Meanwhile, Anwar elucidated that global Islamophobia stems from narrow-minded perspectives held by specific entities about Islam.
“This is why, when the unfortunate incident of Quran burning occurred in Sweden, beyond condemning it, I resolved to commission the publication of the Quran in all languages, including Swedish – a total of one million copies to be distributed across Malaysia and the world. We have dispatched 15,000 Qurans to Sweden, intended for universities and study centers, so they may engage in evaluation and comprehension. For us, as a government, this step is a more rational approach to cultivating understanding,” he articulated.
Anwar also disclosed plans to confer with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to devise follow-up measures for addressing the issue of Islamophobia in New York next month.
In relation to MTHQA, Anwar characterized it as a platform that transcends mere recitation and memorization of the Quran; it serves as an endeavor to deepen comprehension of the holy scripture. He emphasized the significance of Muslims studying and embracing the Quran, thereby enabling them to elucidate and promote awareness among individuals from various racial and religious backgrounds in the country.
This year’s MTHQA event, spanning from today until August 24, encompasses two competitions: Quran recitation and memorization. The competition features 76 participants from 52 countries, including 24 men and 12 women in the recitation category, and 27 men and 13 women in the memorization category. Among Malaysia’s representatives are visually impaired ‘qari’ (male reciter) Muhammad Qayyim Nizar Sarimi from Kelantan, Nor Hidayah Abd Rahman (female reciter) from Terengganu for the recitation category, and Ahmad Ikmal Mohd Ridhuan from Johor and Dian Karisma Mohd Japar from Sabah participating in the memorization contest.
