Nice to meet you: Anwar meeting and greeting the public during the Iftar Madani event at Dataran Putra in Putrajaya. — SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Internalising the message of the Quran will make Muslims pious, noble, fair and moderate, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said this in his message in conjunction with Nuzul Al-Quran, the day Muslims believe that the holy text was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad.
“Even though in the end we will only taste a drop of water from the ocean of wisdom contained in the Quran, God does not burden His believers, and it is enough for a significant part of ourselves as human beings in this journey of life,” he posted on Facebook yesterday, reported Bernama.
“May our appreciation of the Quran be a guiding light for our life on earth and aid us in the afterlife as we commemorate the event of Nuzul Al-Quran,” he wrote, urging Muslims to use the month of Ramadan to study the Quran.
While reading, reciting and memorising the Quran carry abundant rewards, Anwar said it is also important to reflect on the words of God through tadabbur, which means to understand and reflect on the text’s meaning and relevance to life.
“Understanding the message of the Quran should be emphasised more because it lives, speaks and serves as a guide to life and beyond.
“Ibrah (teachings) that emanate from the word of God are not specifically intended for believers, rather it is a guide for all mankind,” he added.
Every topic and story in the Quran, whether it is about the al-Kahfi youths or the life of Prophet Yusuf, is loaded with the spirit of struggle and profound advice, he said.
“Committing to each verse is like grasping the light of a torch that highlights events and illuminates the way forward,” Anwar added.
Meanwhile, after a buka puasa event at Bulatan Dataran Putra yesterday, the Prime Minister hinted that there will be no extra public holiday for the coming Hari Raya, as was the case last year.
“We must have the working spirit,” Anwar told reporters who asked whether the government would declare April 12, a Friday, a special holiday. Hari Raya Aidilfitri is expected to fall on April 10, which is a Wednesday.
Last year, a special holiday was granted on Friday, April 21, on the eve of the first day of Hari Raya.
The Majlis Iftar Madani yesterday, organised by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), saw scores of people congregating to meet the Prime Minister before they broke fast.
Earlier, Anwar witnessed a ceremony where RM110,000 in donations were given to the underprivileged. The money was contributed by various agencies including the Inland Revenue Board.
