The jihad ideology bandied about by the Islamic State militant group or IS is not the true jihad as it contravenes the true teachings of Islam.

The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) deputy director-general Ruslan Said said this was because Islam does not promote militant activities as practised by Daesh.

"Daesh militants are doing useless things and they won't die as 'syahid' (Muslim martyr) as they want to.

"Their ideology deviates from the belief of Islam, which ironically, is a peace-loving religion," he said in his speech at the special conference on 'Daesh Threats Rooting in Malaysia' in Kuala Lumpur today.

The conference was aimed at giving a comprehensive insight on the seriousness of IS threats, especially to the younger generation as they had been an easy target for recruitment.

Roslan said Malaysians who were involved in IS militant activity were doing it out of courtesy and sympathy after seeing the suffering by other Muslims abroad.

- Bernama