Sultan Nazrin Wants Action Taken Against "khatib" Who Refused To Read Sermons Prepared By State Islamic Religious Dept

IPOH,  Feb 25 (Bernama) -- Sultan Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah today regarded the act of “khatib” (person who delivers sermons during prayer) who refused to read the text of sermons prepared by the State Islamic Religious Department and approved by the Mufti Office as “a transgression that has gone too far and must be addressed”.

“Turning a blind eye to such behaviour is akin to allowing a malignant disease to spread, risking further division within the ummah.

“Those granted credentials to preach and teach in mosques and suraus do so by royal decree conferred by the ruler, based on recommendations from the office of the Mufti, following a thorough evaluation,” he added.

The Sultan said the State Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council, the State Islamic Religious Department, and the office of the Mufti, together with the Orang Besar Jajahan (territorial chiefs), mosque committees, and parishes, must remain vigilant in identifying individuals who exploit religion to propagate misguided ideologies.

“Mosques and suraus must be cleansed of individuals who propagate deviated teachings,”  said His Royal Highness when opening the “Muzakarah Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah”, themed ‘Empowering the Integration Between Fiqh and Sufism’ here today.

The event was also attended by the Raja Muda of Perak Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa and Raja DiHilir Perak Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain Idris Shah.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Wan Zahidi Wan Teh.

Sultan Nazrin said there has been an alarming trend among individuals who assumed themselves, religious scholars or clerics.  

“More and more voices are propagating misleading narratives. Religious talks, sermons, and discussions have increasingly become platforms for slander and false statements, often influenced by political bias.

Mosques and prayer halls, originally intended to unite the ummah, are increasingly being exploited as arenas for spreading divisive ideologies and falsehoods,” he said.

The Sultan said the relevant authorities should conduct fair and just investigations, thoroughly examining the facts and validity of reports concerning incidences that violate work ethics.

“The findings and any decisions made by the authorities regarding any party involved, upon the completion of the appeal process, must be formally presented along with the recommendations for the consideration of the Ruler as deemed appropriate,” said the Sultan.

At the event today, Sultan Nazrin also unveiled two books, “Pengaruh Ahli Sunah Waljamaah Dalam Pembangunan Ummah” (The Influence of the Ahli Sunah Waljamaah in Community Development)  and “‘Hubungan Antara Pemerintah Dan Rakyat Dalam Kerangka Ahli Sunah Waljamaah” (Relationships Between the Government and the People Within the Framework of Ahli Sunah Waljamaah) authored by Wan Zahidi.

-- BERNAMA