The PAS leadership closed ranks today and displayed a united front against attacks on the party’s cooperation with non-Muslims and Pakatan Rakyat.

Speaking at the conclusion of the three-day 56th muktamar in the Islamic Tarbiyah Centre, Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan, the Islamic party's spiritual leader Nik Abdul Nik Mat ( left ) reminded the thousand-plus delegates during his winding up speech that the Prophet Muhammad himself cooperated with non-Muslims in the early days of the faith.

pas muktamar 130610 nik abdul aziz 4 This, pointed out Nik Aziz ( right ), included the Prophet seeking protection from his uncle Abu Talib, who remained a non-Muslim to his last breath.

Linking this with the current political situation, Nik Aziz said that the Islamic party's cooperation with non-Muslims like the DAP and other Pakatan allies was on the basis of the Prophet’s example.

He also lambasted Umno for criticising PAS for cooperating with non-Muslims.

"Please tell Umno about how difficult it was for the prophet (to fight for Islam) until he had to remove the word Rasullullah (messenger of God) from the Hudaibiah treaty he signed with the Quraish in Mecca.

NONE “That was the extent that the Prophet was willing to go so long as Islam can persevere," added the Kelantan menteri besar.

Nik Aziz also maintained that the Islamic party had never compromised on its Islamic principles when cooperating with non-Muslims.

“Like the Prophet, we befriend the non-Muslims so that we can propagate Islam's message to them," he explained.

Echoing Nik Aziz, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang ( left ) contended that the political cooperation practised by PAS in Pakatan is based on principles outlined in the Qur'an.

According to his reading of the Holy Book and the interpretation of learned Islamic scholars, Muslims are allowed to cooperate with non-Muslims in politics.

pas muktamar 130610 abdul hadi awang “However, the cooperation that Umno is practising goes completely against Islamic principles and akhlak (morality). This does not follow the examples shown by Islam." said Abdul Hadi, who is also Marang MP.

He added further that Islamic political practices is different from matters of worship, such as the performance of prayers. In the prayers he said, the imam (leader) and the followers must be Muslims. In politics, however, Abdul Hadi said leaders can be Muslims though followers can be non-Muslims.

Abdul Hadi also reiterated the party’s stand against any and all cooperation in the form of a unity government with Umno and BN.