Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that Islam does not teach its adherents to pry into the private lives of others in the name of preventing vice.
"Islam does not ask us to go and look for another person's wrongdoings.
"If you have to climb inside a person's house and all that (to find wrongdoings), that is not Islam," Mahathir said to reporters after delivering his address at a conference in Kuala Lumpur.
The prime minister was asked to comment on the statement by de facto Islamic Affairs Minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa who earlier today said that the Islam Putrajaya will uphold is “compassionate for all” (rahmatan lil alamin).
In an interview with The Star, Mujahid indicated an end to vice raids by religious authorities investigating reports of khalwat (close proximity) or other wrongdoings allegedly taking place behind closed doors.
On Mujahid's emphasis on the upholding of a compassionate Islam, Mahathir stressed that it was up to a person's interpretation, and Islam was never a cruel religion to begin with.
"Islam is not a cruel religion. It's not about chopping head and hands. It's not that.
"There are various ways of punishment which are milder but these people want to harass people, cut people's hands and people's head, that's not Islamic," he stressed.
Mahathir also said Islam rejects the act of taking another person's life.
"You kill, you incur a sin," he added.
The administration of religious matters including vice operations is under the jurisdiction of state religious authorities.
In the interview with The Star, Mujahid however indicated that he has been engaging with the various religious agencies to convince them to adopt the stance of the federal authority. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.