Islamic preaching not a joking matter, says Selangor sultan

 

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor also cautioned preachers against touching on politics and driving a wedge between Muslims or people of other communities. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has warned Islamic preachers against weaving inappropriate jokes into their talks, as the audience may end up overlooking the point of the talk.

He said the public would “only remember the jokes” which would eventually cause the audience “to be more attracted to the speakers because of their jokes, not the knowledge”.

In a statement posted by the Selangor royal office, Sultan Sharafuddin also cautioned preachers against touching on politics and driving a wedge between Muslims or people of other communities.

He also warned preachers against inciting hatred or contempt towards any religion and the government.

Sultan Sharafuddin’s caution on political talks comes a week after Terengganu’s Islamic religious council barred politicians from delivering religious lectures or ceramahs in mosques and suraus in the state.

Separately, Sultan Sharafuddin highlighted the need for preachers to obtain accreditation prior to holding religious talks at mosques or suraus.

Accreditation would ensure that Islam is protected against slander or the religion being wrongly taught.

He said the Selangor Islamic religious council had received complaints that some unaccredited preachers were being invited to hold religious talks in mosques and suraus.

“Yet when they are not given any approval to give talks because they do not have any accreditation, the religious authorities are blamed and derided for it,” the sultan said.

As ruler of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin is the constitutional head of Islam in the state, and chairs the Selangor Islamic religious council. - FMT