Yayasan 1Malaysia chairman Chandra Muzaffar and G25 defend a recent interfaith buka puasa event at a church, following claims that it trivialised Ramadan.
The recent buka puasa event, held at a church in Petaling Jaya, drew some 150 people from different faiths. (Pic: Jonathan Andrew/Gregory Chan FB)
PETALING JAYA: A prominent social activist has defended a recent interfaith buka puasa event held on church grounds here which drew criticism for allegedly trivialising Ramadan.
Speaking to FMT, Chandra Muzaffar, who is Yayasan 1Malaysia chairman, said there was no issue with Muslims breaking fast with other communities in other places of worship, noting that similar events happened in countries such as Syria, Lebanon, and Bangladesh.
Chandra Muzaffar.
“The fundamental point is that helping prepare the food, fraternising with each other and breaking fast with non-Muslims doesn’t impact the spiritual dimension of the fast.
“It does not trivialise Ramadan by any stretch of the imagination and is good for a multi-religious society like ours.”
Chandra said people shouldn’t be obsessed with religious boundaries but should instead go beyond such boundaries to connect through common humanity.
G25 member Johan Ariffin also said he saw nothing wrong with the event as it had helped foster good relations between different communities.
Johan Ariffin.
“Sometimes we read too much religious significance into everything and forget that the biggest part of religion is human relationships and not rituals or physical structures,” said Johan, a former deputy director of Sabah Foundation.
He added that the Al Naim Mosque and the Good Shepherd Church in Miri, Sarawak, which are located just 100 metres apart, had been holding such events for many years.
“There are many more examples. Why make a mountain out of a molehill?” -FMT
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.