MELAKA: Islam has not taught its followers to discriminate in their sympathy towards any party, regardless of differing schools of thought (mazhab) or religion, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said Malaysia's actions in expressing sympathy for Islamic countries under attack in the Middle East were not acts of defiance against major powers.
"As Muslims, whatever school of thought we hold, we must feel sympathy not only when a country is attacked but also when its top leader is assassinated.
"This is something we must oppose. It cannot be that we are forbidden from expressing sympathy for a fellow Muslim nation just to avoid being seen as not aligned with a major power," he said.
He said this while speaking at the Melaka state government's Majlis Santunan Kasih Ramadan and Iftar Jamaie Mega event, which was also attended by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and about 3,000 guests at the Al-Azim Mosque Islamic Centre Square in Bukit Palah here on Friday (March 6).
Ahmad Zahid added that although Malaysia had a Muslim-majority population, the country had never taken a stance of hating other religions.
"Be grateful for the togetherness we have in our country. Preserve the peace, preserve the harmony and respect the differences in religion, language and culture during this month of Ramadan," he said. – Bernama
