On rally eve, Friday sermon warns of Islam's 'enemies'

Twenty four hours before the planned rally for clean and fair elections, the government appears to be attempting a last ditch effort to influence Muslims against coming out in droves.

Throughout Kuala Lumpur mosques today, the government-issued sermon called on the congregation to be wary of "those who try to undermine (Muslim) unity".

Unlike last week's sermon, also published on the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) website which mentions Bersih 2.0, the sermon today obliquely warns of "traitors to religion, race and country".

"We would like to state that these people are actually the ones who had caused anger among the Muslims (by) questioning the rights of Muslims as well as using Muslim leaders who have been blinded by their lust for power.

"They incite dissatisfaction and hatred against leaders...behind the mask of fairness and transparency, using the rakyat as human shields when their main agenda is to cause chaos, undermine unity and make us believe that the nation is no longer peaceful," it read.

While it does not mention names, the sermon appears to be targeting Bersih 2.0 chief Ambiga Sreenevasan who had previously courted ire for representing Lina Joy in the controversial apostasy case.

Although Ambiga, the Bar Council president at the time, held watching brief during the case, she did not represent Joy in court.

Those opposing Bersih 2.0, including Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali have also lashed out at the NGO coalition, saying that it is only a front to prop up the political ambitions of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

'Leaders are protectors of Allah'

Scathingly, the sermon said that Muslims who align themselves with these "traitors" are actually betraying Allah, going against the teaching of Prophet Muhammad and committing a "grave sin".

"Leaders are Allah's protectors on earth and anyone who honours the leaders will be praised by Allah," it said, calling Muslims to defend "every inch of (our) homeland against encroachment of the enemies of Islam"

To strengthen its argument it quoted the prophet, who according to the hadith collector Muslim said that anyone who undermines the unity of the ummah should be slain.
It also quoted the Agong, in saying that the rakyat should prioritise hamony and stability above all.

The sermon interestingly ends with a verse from the al-Hujurat (the Chambers) chapter of the Quran, which reads:

"And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allah.

"And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly." - Malaysiakini