SHAH ALAM: Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has raised concerns about Muslims who are easily influenced by negative religious teachings that can cause them to deviate.
The Ruler said there were many ways to obtain authentic religious information in accordance with the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah school of thought.
“Many books on Islam are available in our country and have been printed and translated into Bahasa Melayu, including information on websites, in comparison to the time I was learning religion in the past.
“There were no books on Islamic teachings in Bahasa Melayu and even if there were, they were in Bahasa Indonesia which was difficult to comprehend," Sultan Sharafuddin said in his royal address at the closing of the state level Al-Quran Recitation and Memorisation event (Tilawah dan Hafazan Al-Quran) at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah mosque here Friday (Feb 7) night.
The Ruler added that it was easy for Muslims nowadays to acquire in-depth Islamic knowledge due to the availability of Islamic books translated into Bahasa Melayu.
However, Sultan Sharafuddin said he was disappointed and sad to find that in spite of the availability of many religious books, with explanations by Islamic scholars, many Muslims were trapped by misinformation and easily influenced by deviant teaching propaganda.
“Where did we go wrong until cases involving deviant teachings are rampant in our country?
“Muslims will be left behind in every aspect of life if they are always deceived by religious teachings that are based on elements of superstition and falsehood.
“As a result of these deviant influences, Muslims will be further divided and easily oppressed by the enemies of Islam," Sultan Sharafuddin said.
The Ruler advised Muslims to always refer to religious authorities in matters pertaining to Islam and not easily believe and be influenced by deviant teachings.
Sultan Sharafuddin added that unity has to be the main pillar in the lives of Muslims, especially Malays; and that Islam was a complete and beautiful religion that can be the basis of unity in a society.
The Sultan also called upon the religious authorities to be more assertive in handling matters related to deviant teachings.
The Ruler added that legal and enforcement action must be initiated more assertively to prevent deviant teachings from continuing to be a bane amongst Muslims and create division within them.
