Spread of deviant religious teachings worries Selangor Sultan
PUTRAJAYA, July 2 — The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has called on Muslims to raise their level of knowledge, understanding and imbibing of Islamic teachings to protect themselves from being influenced by deviant religious teachings.
The Sultan (picture) said deviant religious teachings were actively being spread by certain groups in the country who regarded Prophet Muhammad’s companions as infidels and their religious teachers as prophets, and approved acts that were contrary to true Islamic teachings.
“This is worrying me as the deviant teachings are being insidiously disseminated through certain organisations.
“As the head of Islamic religion in the state, I do not want deviant religious teachings to influence the minds of the young in schools and higher learning institutions, as well as the community at large.
“Therefore, I hope the fatwa (edicts) that have been gazetted can be effectively enforced, taking into consideration the existing syariah legal provisions,” the Sultan said in his speech in conjunction with the Pemier Islamic Forum at Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (KUIS) in Bandar Baru Bangi near here tonight.
The Sultan said he wanted issues like lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBT), apostasy, religious pluralism, insulting and criticising Islam and other acts which could create conflicts and chaos to be immediately but decorously dealt with.
Sultan Sharafuddin said based on studies carried out, more and more Muslims were involved in LGBT activities which received the support of several non-governmental organisations and through the Internet and social media like Facebook as a medium for communication and interaction.
“I do not want to see the Muslim community divided and weak.
“I urge the Muslim community, particularly the Malays, to be united in protecting the sanctity and position of Islam as the official religion of the federation, so that it will continue to be respected and held in high esteem by all,” he said.
The Sultan also urged Muslims to maintain good relations with the other communities in the country so that peace, harmony and prosperity could prevail.
“The turbulence in some countries of late shows us that disunity will not bring us any good, but chaos and destruction,” the Sultan said. — Bernama
