Quran urges debate even with oppressive leaders - minister on Trump visit

Summary

• The home minister defends Malaysia’s invitation to Donald Trump for the Asean Summit, citing Quranic guidance on engaging even oppressive rulers.

• Saifuddin Nasution Ismail argues that the summit provides a crucial diplomatic platform to condemn Israel’s actions and uphold Palestine’s cause, despite protests and opposition from PAS and other critics.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has called for maturity in responding to protests over US President Donald Trump’s planned attendance at the 47th Asean Summit, stressing that the Quran itself offers guidance on engaging even oppressive leaders.

According to Saifuddin (above), the Quran provides clear direction on how Muslims should approach such rulers, recalling the command given to Prophet Moses to confront the pharaoh at that time.

“If we refuse to participate even in global debates, how then are we to convey our position? The Quran recounts how Moses was commanded to meet the pharaoh despite his cruelty, with God instructing him to argue his case in gentle language,” Malaysia Gazette reported him saying at the Home Ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya.

"Who was the cruellest leader at one point in human history? In the Quran, it was the pharaoh. He even declared himself to be God. His policy then was to kill every male child, which was cruel, extremely oppressive.

“But what did God command? ‘Go forth, Moses, to Pharaoh, and God said, argue your case with gentle words,’” Saifuddin added.

He also cited Indonesian scholar Buya Hamka’s “Tafsir Al-Azhar”, which underlines the need to use respectful language even when criticising those in power.

"So we have that scriptural basis. If we engage directly, we can say it to his face: we condemn the brutal attacks on Gaza, we denounce policies supporting Israel, and so on. We can state it firmly while he sits before us,” he said.

Greatest jihad

Saifuddin further reminded that a hadith (sayings of the prophet) teaches that the greatest form of jihad is to speak the truth before an oppressive ruler.

“There is even a hadith that states the greatest jihad is to speak the truth before a tyrant. Yet when we engage with a tyrant, it is suddenly branded as befriending the devil? How are we to speak out if we cannot face them directly?” he asked.

Saifuddin, however, stopped short of explicitly placing that label on Trump.

On the controversy surrounding Trump’s invitation, Saifuddin clarified that it should not be seen as Malaysia endorsing the US leader.

Instead, he said, the move reflects Malaysia’s duty as Asean chairperson to represent the collective voice of all 10 member states through Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“Trump is attending not on the basis of Malaysia-US bilateral relations alone.

“The prime minister is present as the head of a significant region with a population of 680 million, and a stable, robust economy, engaging with other world leaders, including those from China, India, Russia and Brazil,” Saifuddin explained.

Anwar, who has consistently condemned Israel’s actions, confirmed that Trump is scheduled to be in Malaysia next month.

Last Saturday, Anwar rebuked critics of the invitation, saying the summit would provide a diplomatic platform to continue raising the issue of Palestine.

“Malaysia has been outspoken in defending Palestine and Gaza, but at the same time, we utilise diplomatic channels. We are free to speak up because we are an independent and dignified nation.

“But we must also be wise in making friends," Bernama reported him saying.

Anwar also revealed that Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the summit, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is “seriously considering” a visit.

On Sept 6, a coalition of 23 NGOs staged a protest in Kuala Lumpur against Trump’s planned visit.

Anwar's predecessor, Dr Mahathir Mohamad had also called on him to rescind the invitation extended to Trump.

PAS plans protest against ‘devil’

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan today announced that his party is planning to hold a demonstration to oppose Trump's attendance in Kuala Lumpur next month.

He said the demonstration is aimed at protesting the oppression in Gaza perpetrated by Israel, and backed by the US.

“That’s our plan. This is not about PAS but how Malaysians who love peace are opposed to his (Trump’s) presence,” he told Malaysiakini.

However, Takiyuddin said they have yet to decide on when or where to hold the demonstration.

The decision came on the heels of PAS supremo Abdul Hadi Awang's warning yesterday, who likened the invitation to Trump to “associating with the devil”.

In making the call, Hadi cited Quranic verses and prophetic traditions that caution Muslims against aligning with oppressors, stressing that Trump had openly supported Israel’s military campaigns against Palestinians.

On Sept 16, an independent inquiry commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council found that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The US is a staunch ally of Israel, and has channelled billions of dollars to the Zionist-led regime.

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