Muslim groups unbothered by Jakim directive

Sheridan Mahavera Sheridan Mahavera Updated 6 years ago · Published on 7 Sep 2019 7:00AM · 8 Comments

Ikram deputy president Professor Badlishah Sham Baharin does not anticipate any problems with the Jakim directive on interfaith prayers, and welcomes the suggestion to emphasise messages of unity. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, September 7, 2019.

MUSLIM groups will continue interfaith activities despite a Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) directive that they are not to take part in prayer sessions with non-Muslims.

Two groups, namely the Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) and Ikram, told The Malaysian Insight that they respect Jakim’s wish for Muslims not to participate in joint prayer sessions, and will continue to hold interfaith programmes.

Abim and Ikram are among the largest and most well-known Muslim groups nationwide, with members and networks in each state.

Each organises an average of 10 interfaith events a year to promote understanding and harmony between the different communities. These include visits by Muslims to temples and churches, public dialogues between leaders of different religions, and sporting events featuring multiethnic teams.

Abim president Mohamad Raimi Ab Rahimi said the controversy over prayers should not prevent interfaith events from being held.

“These activities do not threaten anyone’s religious convictions. In fact, we have to increase inter-religious dialogue to promote understanding between us.”

Both Abim and Ikram said they do not hold joint prayers during their events.

Raimi’s comments follow a directive from Jakim and the committee to promote understanding and harmony between religions (JKMPA), which is under the national unity and integration department, for Muslims not to take part in prayer sessions with those of other faiths.

The instruction refers to “doa beramai-ramai”, or reciting prayers together, before the start of events with Muslim and non-Muslim participants, covering two instances:

* Where Muslims recite doa (prayer of supplication) simultaneously with members of other faiths, who recite their own prayers; and,

* When Muslim and non-Muslim groups each pray before the function begins.

JKMPA, in a letter, said joint prayer sessions should be replaced with an activity where a message of unity is shared.

Ikram deputy president Professor Badlishah Sham Baharin said the group will abide by Jakim’s instruction, and welcomes JKMPA’s suggestion to emphasise messages of unity.

“Ikram has always held programmes to promote peace and understanding, and build bridges between the different religions and communities.”

The contention over joint prayers, he said, will not affect the interfaith events that the group carries out every year.

Among Ikram’s noteworthy activities are visits by Muslim schoolchildren to temples and churches, and the Harmony Football Cup.

Badlishah said the tournament, which features multiracial teams, is meant to revive the spirit of the renowned Malaysian squad that went to the 1980 Olympics. – September 7, 2019.

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Comments

  • Yes you dont have to follow blindly. Think and make your own decisions. Congratulation for thinking and making your own decisions.

    Posted 6 years ago by Sin Fook Choo · Reply

    • Hear hear!

      Posted 6 years ago by CD E · Reply

    • We need this advice!

      Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Interfaith shld emphasise TOLERANCE . Not Always the Non Muslims hv to GIVE IN the Muslims also must learn to GIVE IN.

    Posted 6 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • Prophet Muhammad stood up when a body of a deceased Jew went passed him,with a remark that ,the Jew is also fellow human who deserves to be respected

    Posted 6 years ago by Zabidi Hussin · Reply

  • When a minister could not find the commonality goal to unite the people using whatever little wisdom he has, he better resign from his post. Bcos he will choose to divide the nation for his narrow thinking and limited understanding of other faiths. It is always easier to divide and rule in whatever aspect of importance may it be religion , race or politics. The role and responsibility of a minister is to unite and rule the nation base on acceptable and common goal. Unfortunately this naive minister has little creativity and limited understanding of others beside his own faith and thus made a narrow minded decision on simple ground that can use common sense to unite the people but choose to have narrow thinking and acted "narrowly correct" in expense of the esteem goal of uniting a population of obvious diversity.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Thats the way to ABIM and IKRAM. Show JAKIM how Muslims can earn the respect of others and to show that Islam is a peaceful religion, and not an exclusive one thats based on religion supremacy.

    Posted 6 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • Follow your God but not the trouble making false humans. Dont let these them destroy your faith

    Posted 6 years ago by S L · Reply