Man of the people: Anwar opening the new building of Masjid Jamek Perai at Jalan Besar Taman Senangin in Perai. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star.
BUTTERWORTH: It is important for Muslims to actively enliven (imarah) a mosque as it holds an important role in the development of the community and country, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said it is vital for Muslims to “imarah” the mosque as it also promotes unity of the ummah, regardless of background.
Building mosques, he added, is a collective responsibility among the Muslims, as stated in the Quran.
“But what does it mean to enliven a mosque? Is it about beautifying it, adding new facilities, or simply making it visually appealing?
“No, it means nurturing the mosque as a centre of activity,” he said when officiating Masjid Jamek Perai here yesterday.
Anwar said the Quran emphasises that enlivening a mosque is rooted in faith in Allah, ensuring it remains a vibrant place of worship and community engagement.
He reiterated his call to all parties to refrain from using mosques as an avenue for spreading hatred and inciting suspicion.
“This practice must be firmly rejected and not be allowed to continue unchecked.
“Mosques are an important platform for Muslims to learn the religion and also the Al-Quran. Therefore, they must continue to hold many activities related to knowledge,” he said.
Anwar also urged Muslims not to use Islam as a tool for chaos or attacks.
“Instead, Muslims should provide understanding and before making any decisions, there must be proper comprehension.
“It is fine to have differing opinions, but there is no need to insult, curse or reject others outright,” he added.
During the event, the Prime Minister announced RM100,000 to be given to the mosque committee to use for religious activities and the personal development of the community’s children in the area.
Also present were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid.
Established in 1979, Masjid Jamek Perai was built by the Muslim community in the area.
Construction of the new mosque began on March 29, 2021, at a cost of RM5.5mil, of which RM3mil was allocated by the Federal Government, RM1.5mil by the state government, and RM1mil contributed by the community.
Earlier, Anwar attended a special meeting at the Penang Development Corporation.
