FT mufti urges calm as Quran case reaches court

 Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil says Muslims should control their emotions, refrain from acting impulsively, and let the law take its course.

Federal Territories mufti Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil acknowledged that the incident, where a university student allegedly stepped on the Quran, was serious and could deeply affect harmony in a multiracial society.

PETALING JAYA:

 Federal Territories mufti Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil has called for cool heads following a controversy where a university student had allegedly stepped on the Quran, a case now before the court.

Fauwaz urged Muslims to control their emotions, refrain from acting impulsively, and let the law take its course.

“Controlling emotions means following the law and leaving it to the authorities. The government and authorities are capable of handling such matters. This is not the first such incident; previously, there were insults against the Prophet Muhammad, and we handled them appropriately,” he told FMT.

He acknowledged that the incident was serious and could deeply affect harmony in a multiracial society. In Islam, respecting the sacred is a fundamental principle that must never be violated, he said.

“This case should not become a subject of speculation because conflicting information exists. It must be fairly investigated by the authorities and decided in court,” he said.

On Tuesday, an undergraduate student S Vikneswaran of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, pleaded not guilty to defiling a copy of the Quran by stepping on it. He also claimed trial to the improper use of network facilities by posting on social media a picture showing him stepping on the Quran.

It caused an uproar, with some netizens even posting his personal information online – a practice known as doxxing.

An independent preacher then alleged that the student had converted to Islam, a claim that the Pahang religious council had dismissed, based on records from several states.

Islamic outreach

Fauwaz called for interfaith dialogue to be strengthened, to prevent sensitive issues from disrupting multiracial harmony. Continuous dialogue and education could help people of different faiths understand each other’s boundaries and sensitivities, reducing the risk of misunderstandings.

There was also the need for more creative approaches in Islamic outreach (dakwah) to educate society about Islam across all communities.

“The Federal Territories mufti department plans to launch the ‘Kembara Mufti’ programme in animated cartoon form, to be broadcast on Facebook and YouTube in Malay, Chinese, and Tamil,” he said.

Citing examples from Europe, he noted that many who initially harboured hostility towards Islam eventually embraced the faith. “Alongside strict enforcement, dakwah must be delivered in diverse forms,” he said. - FMT