Pahang ruler calls on Muslims to unite, defend their faith

The sultan of Pahang, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, has urged all Muslims to unite to defend their faith in an increasingly challenging global Islamic environment.

He emphasised that Muslims must share the same spirit in upholding Islamic law, regardless of their differences.

“Even though Malaysia, as a nation, has a smaller Muslim population compared to other countries, the people should not allow themselves to be divided when facing challenges or important decisions.

“Each of us in Malaysia, especially in Pahang, may have different backgrounds, but our commitment to uphold Islamic law should be in one spirit, heart, soul, and mind, and we should implement it in the same way,” he said.

The ruler said this at the closing of the International Conference on Contemporary Education in the Islamic World (ICCEIW) in Kuantan yesterday.

Also present at the event was Pahang crown prince Tengku Mahkota Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah.

Sultan Abdullah also urged Muslims not to support any form of violence, particularly those carried out by Muslims in the name of defending the religion but contradicting the teachings of Islam.

“We have heard of groups like Isis, Daesh, which have tarnished the image of Islam, instilling fear not only in the followers of other religions but also in Muslims, due to their use of violence and coercion in the name of religion. This is not what we practise in our country (including in Pahang), he said.

Addressing Islamophobia

Sultan Abdullah said the issue of Islamophobia adds pressure on Muslims when the global community holds misconceptions about Islam.

As such, he views the ICCEIW conference as a significant initiative to address the issue of Islamophobia.

“Conferences like this are essential for us to find inspiration, seek guidance, and discover insights. They help us develop a unified framework to advocate for the true essence of Islamic principles in the future,” he added.

ICCEIW is the inaugural conference organised by the Pahang state government in collaboration with Universiti Islam Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, the Pahang Foundation, the Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Custom Council, and the Association of Islamic Universities.

The three-day conference, which began on Sunday, was attended by 300 participants from 22 countries, including Indonesia, Brazil, Syria, India, Libya, Tunisia, Canada and Saudi Arabia.

The event, attended by Al-Azhar University rector, Professor Salamah Daud, aimed to introduce a new dimension to scholarly discussions, particularly in education.

- Bernama

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