Zulkifli Calls For Stronger Unity Of The Ummah

PUTRAJAYA, June 17 (Bernama) -- Muslims in Malaysia must put aside disputes and extinguish lingering hostility to strengthen the unity of the ummah and better navigate increasingly complex global challenges.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Dr Zulkifli Hasan, said meaningful social transformation can only be achieved when individuals undergo internal change encompassing intellectual, spiritual and moral development.

“A strong united community will bring abundant blessings to all its members, while division will only invite hardship and weaken the nation,” he said in his speech at the national-level Maal Hijrah 1448H/2026M celebration at Putra Mosque today.

The ceremony, themed “MADANI Dihayati, Ummah Diberkati”, was graced by the presence of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah. Also in attendance was Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Zulkifli said the unity of hearts and collective commitment among members of society have become increasingly important as Malaysia is not immune to the impact of global challenges, including supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty affecting countries around the world.

In this regard, he called on Malaysians to continue supporting the government and its initiatives aimed at elevating the dignity of Muslims and ensuring that Islamic values continue to flourish in the country.

Expanding on the contemporary understanding of hijrah, Zulkifli said the concept should be viewed as a continuous journey of leaving behind harmful behaviour and cultivating values and character that strengthen social cohesion among Muslims.

“Only when the unity of the community is strengthened can efforts to elevate and uphold Islamic values be implemented more effectively,” he said.

At the same time, he emphasised that despite differences in beliefs and backgrounds, all citizens share a common responsibility to preserve peace, stability and prosperity in the country.

Earlier during the ceremony, Sultan Nazrin presented the National Tokoh Maal Hijrah award to International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Rector Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Osman Bakar, while the International Tokoh Maal Hijrah award was presented to Moroccan Islamic scholar Dr Ahmad Al-Raysuni.

-- BERNAMA