Several Muslim preachers today shared the challenges they face when propagating Islam to Malaysians of different faiths.

Sometimes, the challenges were due to Muslims themselves – Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (Macma) president Taufiq Yap Yun Hin lamented the common tendency to label the Chinese as kafir (infidels)

“We shouldn't use the term ‘Cina kafir’. We should instead pray for them,” said Taufiq at a seminar on reaching out to non-Muslims, organised by Persatuan Ulama Malaysia, at the Karangkraf Media Group Complex in Shah Alam.

The academician also stressed the importance of understanding the beliefs and taboos of the Chinese community, citing the reunion dinner on the eve of the Chinese New Year.

“Eating together for the Chinese is very important. Even the round table means something, it symbolises unification.

“I, too, celebrate the Chinese New Year. I take the opportunity to do dakwah (preach) to my family members - I give them books in Mandarin that talk about Islam,” he said.

Propagating to Indians

Islamic Propagation Society International (Ipsi) president Kamarudin Abdullah, on the other hand, believes that the Malays are the most suited to spread Islam to Indians.

“The psychology of Malays and Indians are somewhat similar. Indians can accept it if Malays preach Islam to them,” he said at the seminar today.

Kamarudin also claimed that 80 percent of Indians in the country convert to Islam because of marriage.

“Thank God, alhamdulillah (praise to Allah), that Malays are beautiful,” he joked.

But he also criticised Muslims who are judgmental when it comes to giving or receiving the salam (Islamic greeting).

“Thank God I wear a skullcap, if not, they won't answer my salam. What, do they think that only Malays are Muslims?”

Admitting that this was one of the challenges in doing dakwah, Kamarudin however believed that this was a problem that could be overcome.

Orang Asli's priorities

Meanwhile, Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA) president Abd Razak Kechik outlined the challenges of propagating Islam to the Orang Asli.

“You call them to hayya alal falah (come towards success), but they don't have enough food and some use sardine cans in place of cooking pots.”

And some Malay neighbours of the Orang Asli, said Abd Razak, do not make things easy to attract them to Islam.

“They show bad examples to the Orang Asli. For example, they slingshot stones at the dogs of the Orang Asli,” he said.

He added that the existence of anti-Islam non governmental organisations also posed a problem.

Meanwhile, Sabah mufti Bungsu @ Aziz Jaafar cited the high rate of apostasy in the state as a challenge he faced.

“I went to Kudat and met a former imam (Muslim communal prayer leader) but sadly he had left Islam. And not only him but the whole village, too.”

Nevertheless, dakwah to Sabah natives, said the mufti, must not be through force.

“I don't think there’s anything wrong to wish ‘merry Christmas’, for example. Maybe it is not suitable here but in Sabah it is fine,” said the mufti.