I am no supporter of PAS but I did take offence at HF's letter criticising the party specifically with regard to the 'statue' issue ('Ploy or no ploy, there's no denying PAS' goals', May 18).

I do not dispute many points raised by HF although in most cases I prefer to give PAS, or any party being defamed, the benefit of the doubt.

However, I protest HF's misguided comments about the actions of the Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him.

Islam reveres every prophet from Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus, Abraham and thousands of others , peace be upon them, till the last messenger, the seal of prophets, Muhammad, peace and blessings of God be upon him.

But the actions and teachings of the prophets before Muhammad, need not be emulated and followed by Muslims because they were only suitable for the nations of the respective prophets.

The followers of Moses, for example, were ordered to pray 50 times daily. The followers of Jesus, fasted for 40 days without food day and night.

These orders were for the followers and disciples of the specific prophets who lived under totally different circumstances.

So what Prophet Abraham did, resulting from circumstances peculiar to his time, need not represent the teachings of Islam as brought by the seal of prophets.

And when the beloved Prophet Muhammad destroyed the statutes in Mecca, the city had been peacefully conquered by the Muslims who are proclaiming the Holy Kaaba as the house of God, and Mecca a sacred city which is denied access to non-believers.

Is it then wrong to 'clear up your own house'? If, for example, you have just moved into a house previously occupied by an artist who has painted nude paintings on the walls, wouldn't you have the walls whitewashed ?

Please take note that in Medina, Jerusalem and Damascus, the other three holiest of cities according to Islamic tradition, the Holy Prophet strongly forbade interference of a person's faith. Statutes and idols of non-believers in their places of worship were not touched at all, nor were their customs and beliefs curtailed in any way.