Cemetery Land Encroachment: Muslims Told Not To Respond To Zakat, Wakaf Boycott Calls

PETALING JAYA, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Muslims have been urged not to be influenced by calls to boycott zakat and wakaf following reports of encroachment on Muslim cemetery land here.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said Muslims should adopt a more prudent and rahmah (compassion)-oriented approach, focusing on promoting good deeds rather than actions that could harm their own interests.

“I advise everyone to adopt a more rahmah approach, calling towards righteous deeds and steering clear of harmful actions. We should focus on positive efforts and refrain from such calls (to boycott) to all Malaysians,” he told a press conference after officiating the release of the Malaysian Rahmah Index (IMNR) 2025 Study Report by Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia (IKRAM) here today.

Yesterday, Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin described as irresponsible and misleading the actions of social media users who called on Muslims to boycott zakat and wakaf in Selangor following the encroachment of Muslim cemetery land in PJS4.

He stressed that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the state government and is being addressed in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, Dr Zulkifli Hasan said in his speech at the event that despite Malaysia being recognised as one of the leading countries globally in various aspects of Islamic administration, including halal, hajj, Islamic finance, waqf, and zakat, the level of understanding and appreciation of Islam, rooted in rahmah, among the people had yet to reach the desired standard.

He also said that the country’s zakat management was improving, with the adoption of technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance transparency and efficiency in distribution.

“This is a positive development. However, the level of thinking—advanced, progressive, dynamic, wasati, guided by maqasid, and grounded in rahmah—among the people has not yet reached the desired standard,” he said.

Therefore, Zulkifli said the IMNR could serve as a catalyst in fostering societal thinking rooted in rahmah and human values.

The IMNR Study Report serves as a benchmark for assessing the extent to which policies, implementation, and practices in the country align with the concept of rahmad, which emphasises human values, well-being, and social harmony.

It also helps measure the dimensions of societal thinking based on the maqasid and rahmah approach in a more comprehensive manner.

--BERNAMA