Najib Urges Malays To Return To Teachings Of Islam

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- The Malays have to return to the teachings of Islam and not be sidetracked into a culture of hurling slander at one another which has been undermining racial unity of late, Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Tuesday night.

Najib, who is the deputy prime minister, said they should return to the beginning through the process of reflection and introspection.

"Today, slander is not just the practice of the hypocrites but sadly it has become a norm for individuals claiming to be Muslim leaders and religious scholars," he said when simultaneously opening the Wanita Umno, Umno Youth and Puteri Umno general assemblies at the Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here.

Najib said Malays should emulate the leadership of Prophet Muhammad as the greatest transformational leader of all time who successfully led and educated the pagan Arabs from a period of darkness into the age of enlightenment.

He said the prophet had united the tribes of Auz and Khazraj and subsequently brought together as one the Muhajireen and the Ansar and proceeded to unite the Muslims and the non-Muslims.

"This goes to show that the success and failure of a certain civilisation depends not just on physical development alone.

"Rather, there are more important elements like unity and solidarity which come from emotional and spiritual factors as well as the value system of a particular community and its leadership," he said.

Najib said that among the most important values that would determine the success or failure of any people were the values of comradeship, discipline, respect for time, honouring one's word, dedication to work, efficiency in the implementation of tasks, diligence and the placement of the interest of the larger community over and above the interests of the individual.

"Indeed, these are the universal values of Islam that the Holy Prophet has enjoined in leading the ummah towards success and glory," he said.

Najib said that Muslims should return to the teachings of Islam to face current challenges.

The deputy prime minister called on the delegates to ponder three verses of the Quran as guidance.

Verse 26 of the Surah Ali Imran, which reads as follows: "Say: "O Allah. Lord of Power (And Rule), Thou givest power to whom Thou pleasest, and Thou strippest off power from whom Thou pleasest: Thou enduest with honour whom Thou pleasest, and Thou bringest low whom Thou pleasest."

In the Surah Ar-Ra'd Verse 11, Allah (God) says: "For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah. Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls).

Whereas in Surah Az-Zumar, Verse 53, it is written: "Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."