Malaysia Remains Firm In Addressing Islamophobia Through Dakwah - Anwar

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia remains firm in addressing Islamophobia through knowledge, engagement and the dissemination of the Quran rather than outrage or condemnation, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

He said ignorance continues to fuel hatred and misunderstanding of Islam, not only in the West but also in the East, and even within Muslim societies themselves.

Anwar stressed that Islamophobia has, in some cases, become institutionalised through the influence of right-wing parties and even some governments, shaping national narratives that are hostile toward Islam.

As such, the Prime Minister said Malaysia is taking a stance to respond according to Islamic values.

"We can choose to shout and yell and insult. We can choose to show anger and condemn. But we (are) in Malaysia. We choose to respond according to the Islamic precepts and tradition, through engagement,  knowledge and understanding," he said in his speech during the launching of the 30th language translation (Russian) of the Quran and Shipment Container of Quran here today.

Referring to the Quran-burning incident in Sweden in 2023, Anwar said Malaysia responded not with anger, but by distributing Qurans.

“This is precisely the reason when we heard about the burning of the Quran, we responded by saying you burn one Quran, we will Insya-Allah (God willing), publish one million Qurans, with one of the first countries we sent the Quran to being Sweden, with translation in their language. And this is the manner I think we need to respond," he added.

Anwar launched the 30th translation of the Quran in Russian by Yayasan Restu as part of the One Million Copies of the Quran Project announced in 2023 in response to the incident of Quran burning in Sweden. 

Over the past two years, the project has published and distributed translated copies of the Quran in 29 languages, including English, Tagalog, French, Hindi, Hausa and Spanish.

With the launch of the 30th edition in Russian, Yayasan Restu is taking a step further by planning to add 30 more translations in foreign languages to continue this dakwah effort, aiming for a total of 60 translations in various languages over the next three years. 

The initiative seeks to ensure that the message of the Quran reaches and can be appreciated by people of different nations and communities around the world, in line with the mission of rahmatan lil alamin (a mercy to all creation).

Anwar also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the production of Mushaf Ummah al-Jami', a scholarly collaboration by qiraat experts from around the world, supervised by renowned scholar Dr Ahmad ‘Isa Al-Ma’sarawi, featuring all 20 mutawatir qiraat written form.

The publication will put Malaysia among the first countries in the world to officially publish such a mushaf as a reference for the Islamic world, with Yayasan Restu planning to publish half a million copies.

Also present at the event were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, Yayasan Restu executive chairman and Nasyrul Quran chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Latif Mirasa, Department of Islamic Development director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee and foreign dignitaries.

-- BERNAMA