KUALA LUMPUR: Maal Hijrah, as the PM says is the concept to achieve balanced development. The ideology of unity and oneness among  Muslims  can be strengthened with the implementation of the “Wasatiyyah” or “middle path” concept.

In his Maal Hijrah greeting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Wasatiyyah, or moderation, was called for in every step of the struggle to achieve a balanced spiritual and physical development in Islam.

He said this year’s Maal Hijrah theme was “Wasatiyyah as the Pillar of Muslim Unity” and stressed on the importance of unity and oneness among Muslims to be successful in this world and the hereafter.

“If syariah [Islamic Shariah] is practised, it will be able to unite Muslims with a sense of oneness and leadership that will transcend the boundaries of race, language and skin colour.The concept of Wasatiyyah has also created a strong ideology of unity among Muslims. Wasatiyyah has been conceptualised in all aspects of the struggle to achieve a balanced spiritual and physical development and has become the catalyst for Muslim unity,” he said in his Malaysia Blog.

Najib added that Malaysia had also applied the concept of moderation and used it in managing foreign and international conflicts.Through the implementation of moderation, the Malaysian government had successfully acted as an intermediary in solving the crisis between the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Malaysia has also adopted the same approach of moderation in addressing the ethnic and religious violence in Rakhine state, west Myanmar. By focusing on the aspects of humanity, the government had sent aid supplies to the victims of violence in Rakhine without any discrimination.

Najib also likened “Hijrah” in Islam to “change” or transition from one condition to another. He said the government had implemented the concept of Hijrah in the Government Transformation Programme. The result of our openness to change has made Malaysia known internationally as one of the most dynamic and progressive Muslim countries in the world.

Renowned international scholar Dr Yusuf Al-Qardawi has also acknowledged and praised the country’s role as a staunch supporter of Palestinians oppressed in Gaza. Najib added that the concept of Hijrah was just one part of the overall implementation of Islam. It is one of the orders in the religion that must be constantly followed. We must always be open to change and hope for a better life in this world and the hereafter.

“We must also work hard to improve ourselves and hope for Allah’s blessings.”

Najib ended his message by offering his and his family’s wishes to all Malaysian Muslims. He also advised Muslims to celebrate with friends from other races in living up to the spirit of Wasatiyyah as the pillar of Muslim unity.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the journey of Prophet Muhammad (saw) from Mecca to Madinah, commemorated on Maal Hijrah, was not merely “an episode in Islamic history. In it, there is a teaching which should be followed by all. He said the prophet’s life was a combination of actions based on the Islamic principles of always striving, being patient, not giving up and above all, leaving everything to Allah. In conjunction with the start of the Islamic new year, he urged the people to continue moving towards success and development.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/moderation-helps-muslim-unity-1.171455