PM: Muslims must safeguard the legacy of Islamic scholarship
He reminded that technological success must be founded on values, ethics, and deep religious understanding, as these have long been the cornerstone of the strength of the Muslim ummah.
'If we do not move in tandem, and if we are not rooted in strong understanding and enlightenment, there is no guarantee of security.
'Malaysia is among the countries spearheading AI development, but without values and ethics, we will only be consumers of Western systems,' he said in his speech at the 'Malaysia Bermunajat 2025' programme themed 'Uniting the Ummah Through Supplication and Knowledge' at Putra Mosque here last night.
The programme, organised by the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), aims to enliven the culture of 'munajat' (supplication) and appreciation of knowledge as the foundation for uniting the ummah and building a society grounded in Malaysia Madani values.
The Prime Minister also emphasised the role of pondok institutions as the stronghold of Islamic faith, culture and knowledge during the colonial era.
'At a time when the education system, economy and culture were taken over by colonial powers, only one source of strength remained - the pondok or pesantren, which defended the soul of Islam, knowledge and the spirit of struggle.
'Imagine if, a hundred years ago, when the British took over, there had been no pondok or pesantren, we might have lost our faith, spirit and fighting soul,' he said.
He also expressed hope that students of pondok schools would master new knowledge, including in the fields of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and AI, to ensure they were not left behind in the mainstream of technological advancement.
'Therefore, pondok students too must be given a place in the modern education system, to master the digital world, while remaining rooted in Islamic scholarship,' he said.
Anwar also called on Muslims in the country to rediscover the vast treasures of Islamic knowledge, particularly in the fields of the Quran, hadith, fiqh, law, education - including technology - and national governance, so they did not lose their sense of history and identity in the excitement of pursuing change and technology.
Meanwhile, he said Malaysia had become a country that gathered ulama and scholars from around the world to speak, educate, and offer enlightenment to save the ummah and the nation in a free, open and respectful manner.
'We are grateful that this country is peaceful, we are united, and this is the only country that consistently brings together learned ulama from all over the world to speak, teach and provide clarity in the effort to save the ummah and the nation,' he said.
The Malaysia Bermunajat 2025 programme, which was also attended by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar and thousands of congregants, was graced by the presence of a renowned ulama from Pakistan, Maulana Tariq Jamil.
At the event, Tariq delivered a lecture filled with wisdom, emphasising the importance of nurturing a deep connection with Allah and the responsibilities of Muslims towards the surrounding community. — Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
a few seconds ago
- The Sun
Police investigate four reports from Dataran Merdeka rally
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have confirmed receiving four reports linked to the rally held at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday. One case involves an effigy resembling Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim being caned near the National Mosque, while the other three pertain to drone usage. Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad stated that the effigy incident is being investigated under multiple laws, including the Sedition Act 1948, the Penal Code, and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. 'The case has been referred to the Classified Crime Investigation Unit in Bukit Aman,' he said during a press conference. The remaining reports concerning drone operations have been forwarded to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM). Mohamed Usuf noted that while the rally proceeded peacefully and with proper approval, authorities will still scrutinise any misconduct by participants. - Bernama


Free Malaysia Today
a few seconds ago
- Free Malaysia Today
LFL rubbishes ex-chief judge's claim of pressure over constitutional ruling
LFL's N Surendran said judicial deliberation shouldn't be mistaken for interference. PETALING JAYA : Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has rubbished claims of judicial interference after a former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak said that a top judge pressured him to rule in favour of a litigant in a constitutional case against the federal government. Abdul Rahman Sebli, who retired last Thursday, claimed in his farewell speech that a 'very senior member of the judiciary' had emailed him, criticising his interpretation of the constitutional issue at hand. Rahman said judicial independence was not only about interference by the executive, but also about a judge's own peers in the discharge of judicial functions. In a statement today, LFL adviser N Surendran said such accusations were 'plainly wrong' and defied logic, particularly as the senior judge in question was part of the seven-member Federal Court panel hearing the case. 'How can a judge 'interfere' in a case which she herself was involved in deciding? Such a suggestion defies logic,' he said, without citing names. Surendran said unless someone outside the bench, such as from the executive, tried to influence the decision, it did not qualify as interference. He also argued that there was nothing 'sinister' about judges on multi-judge panels discussing cases and circulating draft judgments to persuade colleagues. 'In other words, there can be nothing wrong with any judge suggesting to his fellow judge in the same panel that his interpretation of the law is incorrect, and to try to change his position on it. 'This is part of the usual process of judicial decision-making, not just in Malaysia, but also of Supreme Courts in other common-law countries such as the UK or the US,' he said. Surendran also said it was 'strange' that a now former Federal Court judge was making a complaint that he was affected by 'peer pressure', adding that Federal Court judges enjoy security of tenure and constitutional protection. While acknowledging that judicial interference was a serious concern, Surendran warned against diluting its meaning. 'Judicial interference is a very serious matter. But it must not be confused with entirely appropriate and necessary internal processes of judicial deliberation,' he said.


Free Malaysia Today
4 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Turun Anwar rally missed the point, says ex-Muda sec-gen
About 18,000 people took part in Saturday's 'Turun Anwar' rally in Kuala Lumpur, according to police, although the organisers, PAS Youth, claimed a total of more than 200,000 participants. PETALING JAYA : The opposition should have focused on credible alternatives and policy proposals in its July 26 rally instead of focusing on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's failures and demanding his resignation, says a former Muda secretary-general. Amir Hadi, now the executive director of civil society group Mandiri, said he had communicated his reservations to the organisers regarding the use of the Turun Anwar slogan. Amir Hadi. '#TurunAnwar is political. It's a message aimed at seizing power. Especially when Perikatan Nasional (PN) is known for its many manoeuvres to return to government, including efforts to topple a government without going through an election. 'This kind of approach turns people off. At least those on the fence. If you're a party member or sympathiser, of course, you'd want the government to fall. But for fence-sitters, it just looks like a rushed attempt to return to power,' he said in a Facebook post late last night. He said Malaysians might be frustrated with the current government, but were also weary of political instability that could do more harm. 'The fact is, people are sick of politicians. They may be angry at Anwar over various issues, but that doesn't mean they want him removed halfway through his term, plunging the country back into instability,' he said. Amir, who did not join the rally for the reasons given, said presenting concrete policy alternatives such as abolishing toll charges and repealing draconian laws was the strength of past oppositions. 'Even if they've failed to deliver now, back when they were the opposition, they presented solutions,' he said in a likely reference to Pakatan Harapan, which is now part of the unity government. Amir also said that questions about who PN would propose as Anwar's potential replacement were legitimate: 'And they still can't answer who will replace Anwar – even within their own ranks. So how can people trust them?' 'PN lacks direction' DAP's Liew Chin Tong also took aim at the opposition, saying PN had a significant presence in Parliament but lacked a clear leadership vision to be taken as a serious alternative. Liew Chin Tong. He said the Turun Anwar rally might have drawn a crowd, but did not capture the interest of middle-ground or non-partisan voters. 'Almost all were core supporters of PAS,' the deputy investment, trade and industry minister said in a Facebook post. He said PN could choose to be a constructive opposition, such as by cooperating on key issues like confidence and supply, as DAP did after the Sheraton Move. 'Their leaders should know that being the kind of opposition that can only manufacture outrage and anger to manipulate the people's emotions, especially among the Malays, will not bring the country anywhere,' he said.