PAS may be defeated in its war to uphold Islam but it will attain victory in the hereafter, in Paradise, if it remains steadfast.

This was the declaration this morning by party president Abdul Hadi Awang in his policy speech at the opening of the 61st PAS muktamar in Kuala Selangor.

"Even though the warriors of Islam are defeated or fall in the battlefield, or in any other field of struggle, the truth is that they will attain victory (in the hereafter)," Hadi said.

This year's muktamar is themed 'Be steadfast till victory' (Beristiqamah hingga kemenenangan).

Hadi then went on to cite the Quran, about God granting victory to those fight for Islam, for which their ultimate reward would be to enter Heaven.

Among the goals of PAS is to implement hudud in Malaysia, starting with Kelantan, a plan that has strained its relationship with DAP.

Observers have said that PAS will lose in the next general election if it continues on this path, which will turn non-Muslim and progressive voters away from the party.

PAS will achieve struggles democratically

However, Hadi insisted that PAS would achieve its struggles democratically and stressed that this was not deemed to be the Western concept of democracy.

“PAS upholds the concept of Islamic democracy, which worships Allah the Almighty. Not Western democracy, which makes gods of men (bertuhankan manusia) no matter how smart they are.

“PAS also does not practise theocracy, which makes gods of religious figureheads as the creator of rules and policies that can't be questioned,” the party president added.

To attain divine assistance, Hadi said, PAS should hold on to three principles: Practise Islam; do not be extreme; and not be influenced by oppressors.

On not being extreme, Hadi said it meant that PAS members should be courteous, and not do anything to damage themselves, while at the same time they should avoid going to the right, left, or backwards.