The Malaysian Insight

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.