BUKIT MERTAJAM: In addition to being places of worship, mosques can be unifying centres for the wider community, says national Imam Mithali Award 2025 recipient Agus Lokman Sulam.
He said that it is important for imams to have soft skills while leading their respective mosques.
"Throughout my time serving the community, I faced many challenges and gained valuable experience," he said when met after the award ceremony here on Saturday (Nov 29).
"Even though the mosque is a sacred place, it is also where we encounter real issues.
"As imams, we must understand our congregation, and this is reflected even in how we lead prayers.
"For example, the Prophet Muhammad shortened his recitation when he heard a child crying at the back, showing that an imam must be aware of the needs of his followers," he said.
According to Agus, such awareness is part of the soft skills required of an imam, who must be able to read a situation wisely and respond with empathy, without compromising the overall conduct of worship.
He said an imam must know and understand the congregation so that he can unify the community through related events.
Agus, 57, who served as an imam at Masjid Sungai Lampam in Perak for 31 years, received a plaque, certificate and RM3,000 cash.
The award was presented during the second edition of the AI- Falah Madani 2025 Carnival at Masjid Mengkuang Titi here.
Present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee, and Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) secretary Datuk Rosidi Hussain.
Na'im said cooperation between religious scholars and those in authority is crucial to ensure that the responses of religious institutions remain aligned with Islamic principles, public interest, and current realities.
"Cooperation is vital as the community continues to face various challenges, including fractures within the community and the Muslim ummah, confusion surrounding religious guidance, the irresponsible use of social media, and others," he said in his speech.
The first-term senator said that in an effort to instil good values in the community, scholars and intellectuals should serve as voices of calm and guidance, not sources of confusion.
"They should act as bridges that unite, rather than deepen divisions within society, upholding values of morality, etiquette, and respect," he said.
He said scholars must strengthen communal bonds, not unravel the ties of affection carefully nurtured by past generations of scholars.
He said it is time to stop quarrelling among the community, fuelling hatred in the name of religion, waging battles on social media, and spreading falsehoods that tear apart families and communities.
"Such actions bring no benefit to our faith, our nation, or the ummah," he added.
The carnival was organised by the Prime Minister's Department through Jakim and with the cooperation of the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIPP).
The first edition of the carnival was held at Masjid Jamek Beserah in Pahang and received a positive response from the local community.
The carnival supports the implementation of the Jakim Strategic Plan 2019-2025 and the Al-Falah Transformation Plan (Religious Affairs Transformation Plan Towards Malaysia Madani 2023-2027).
The three-day programme, concluding on Sunday (Nov 30), is expected to attract over 10,000 visitors in total.
