As reported by media, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad when opening the 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Muslim Welfare Organisation of Malaysia (Perkim) had asked Muslims to do away with false assumptions when declaring themselves as moderate followers of Islam because the religion is indeed moderate.
The former prime minister said Muslims did not need to defend themselves as moderate or liberal Muslims as this gave a picture that were only partial followers of Islamic teachings while others (teachings) were deemed extreme.
According to Dr Mahathir, Islam is already a moderate religion...there is no need for us to show that were are more liberal Muslims than others. To the writer, the differences between them is only either they are practising the whole paths of Islam or just follows its partially according to had and hari.
According to Dr Mahathir, there is nothing extreme about Islam if we follow its teachings as contained in the Quran.
Dr Mahathir said the ummah (faithful) and Islamic nations must intensify efforts to dispel the notion held by many of Islam as being extreme, its followers ignorant, poor, do not know how to administer a country and are fond of asking for help from others.
He said that if the negative perception of Islam continued, it would adversely affect efforts to spread the religion as "no one would be interested to join a religion whose followers are seen as losers.
Dr Mahathir said an efforts must also be intensified to give a clear and correct picture that the religion was not an obstacle to progress and must encourage followers who want to be successful and competitive.
There are also many who recently converted (to Islam) but their faith is no less strong than longtime Muslims. In fact, new converts often times show better faith than born Muslims.
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