Don't just think about the afterlife, Dr M tells Muslims

People should focus on acquiring technical knowledge to progress through life, rather than merely focus on religious knowledge to prepare for the afterlife, said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He drew parallels with the decline of the Arab world, opining that people there are only interested in acquiring religious knowledge.

"The Muslims decided that acquiring knowledge is not something that will give them merit in the next world,” he said.

"They believe that only through learning about religion will you gain merit for the next world."

He was delivering the keynote speech at the International Conference on Teacher Education in the Muslim World in Petaling Jaya this morning.

However, he said the decline of their situation has ultimately meant that their religious obligations have also been affected.

"Muslims countries are invaded and face war, I'm sure children (there) will not get any knowledge at all," he said.

In contrast, he said the Europeans had learnt Arabic simply to acquire the knowledge the Arab world had produced in the past.

Where emphasis should lie

Citing this example, Mahathir renewed his call for Putrajaya to reintroduce the teaching of mathematics and science in English.

"Let us be realistic, the Malay language is not yet the language of maths and science," he said.

Mahathir added that the use of the Malay language should not be equated to nationalism.

"Nationalism is about becoming successful in all fields, to be able to contribute to growth development of your country and race and be respected ... That is nationalism," he said.

Mahathir had introduced the teaching of mathematics and science in English when he was the prime minister but the scheme was abandoned in 2011.

On a related matter, he called for a review of religious studies and moral subjects in schools to put more emphasis on character building.

"Islam guides people with good values and to differentiate good from bad, but we focus on how to pray, recite the doa and ask things from God.

"But if we ask something from God without our own effort, it will not be granted. We don't seem to emphasise that.”