Source: The Star online
BY NURBAITI HAMDAN
SERI KEMBANGAN: Muslims must recognise the existence of people of other faiths in order to live in peace with one another, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The former prime minister said recognition and acceptance of people of different faiths was mentioned in the Quran and Muslims should not quarrel with non-Muslims unless they were attacked.
“We can be in friendship with them but it is important that we are sensitive towards one another,” he said in his speech at a muhibbah (goodwill) gathering and breaking fast ceremony in conjunction with the China-Malaysia Islamic Culture Expo 2014 at a hotel here on Saturday.
Dr Mahathir added that being insensitive and provoking each other would make it difficult for Muslims to live in peace.
“Islam is about peace although at the moment, it is difficult to say Islam is about peace,” he said in reference to religious conflicts in the country.
He gave the example of Prophet Muhammad who brought the teachings of Islam to the Arab world at a time when the Arabs were divided.
Dr Mahathir had earlier visited the exhibition and expressed his admiration for the Chinese Muslims from China who had attended the breaking fast ceremony.
“They are not Muslim converts from Malaysia but they are Muslim-born from China. This is hard to comprehend in Malaysia.
“It is difficult for us (Malay Muslims) to imagine that there are actually more Chinese Muslims than there are Malay Muslims in the word. This exhibition will be an eye opener for both Malay and Chinese Muslims,” he said.
Dr. Marathir speaks with the style of an Ahmadi Muslim even though he is not one of us officially. He deserves credit for his attitude.
Dr. Mahathir was in power for many many years but he never tried solve the Ahmadies faced in Malaysia. In Malaysia also we were declared non- muslims but he never tried to solve the Ahmadies problem, so he can speak Ahmadies now.
I seriously doubts this man’s intentions!
He never spoke any word in favour of Ahamdi Muslims worries in his country now he is taking out his head from his shell on ongoing religious persecution in Malaysia! Why now?
Nice thoughts!
Islam indeed came to make the world peaceful with equalities and happiness through the path of Allah
Muslims are expected to keep their words and pride
Abdul Ruff Colachal
Muslims should teach their collegues and children to respect other religious institutions,Books, etc.They should teach that other religions are equally true. Swami vivekananda says ” Every religion has prodiced men and women of most exalted characters”. Muslims children shall taught about theBright side of other religions.
During college days one of roommate was a catholic christian. Once he remarked in my presence that Hinduism is nothing But a bundle of Idols I gave him a book written by Swami Vivekananda. Then my friend went to the Library and finished the Complete works of Swami Vivekananda -12 volumes. Moreover on my advice he studied Thirumanthiram – a philosophical Book in Tamil -( thirumanthiram says all men and women are mobile temples ) and his wonders knows no limit. He was very sorry for his remarks against Hindu Dharma. In his personal library the following Books are available. 1. Thirumanthiram – 3 volumes 2.Bhagavad Gita 3. Pathajai Yoga sutharam 4. several Books on Swami Vivekananda 5. Vedata Kesari.
He spends 60 minutes daily for Yogic Exercise. He and his children are learning Carnatic Music. Still they are pious christians,attending prayer in church regularly. He has no evil thought against men and women of any religion. He would declare that every religion is leading to God only.