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370300
Mon, 06/08/2015 - 12:56
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Quran Understanding Crucial To Muslim Unity

By Ainul Huda Mohamed Saaid KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 (Bernama) -- The International Quran Recital Competition used to be screened live during the fasting month of Ramadan in Muslim homes in the country. The melodic recitations of the world’s best Quran reciters would accompany mothers as they prepare Hari Raya (a festive celebrated by Muslims) cookies or those who had just returned from the “terawih” prayers to unwind. Although no longer held in Ramadan, the prestigious 57-year-old competition is an indispensable platform to raise awareness on the importance of a holistic understanding of Islam. A GUIDE IN CHAOTIC TIMES To deal with the mounting negative perceptions about Islam, Muslims should step up their efforts to learn and live the Quran. Instead, what most of them tended to focus on were the methods of reading and memorising the scripture, said Md Asham Ahmad, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM)’s Centre for the Study of Shariah, Law and Politics. He said it was impossible to comprehend Islam without the understanding of the Quran. “How can we distinguish misconceptions from the truth without an authentic form of understanding? Where should we obtain that authentic source of the truth (about Islam)? That would be the al-Quran,” he said to Bernama. Md Asham said Muslims were akin to a mirror that reflects “the face of Islam” to the world. “It is not Islam that is incorrect in its teachings but it is the mirror that has become so dirty and dusty that it is unable to reflect the true face of Islam. “That mirror needs to be thoroughly cleaned so that it can clearly show Islam the way it really is, such as during the glory days of Islam,” he explained. He said Muslims needed to undergo a reeducation process with the Quran as a source of guidance. QURAN AND MUSLIM UNITY The Quran is a platform of connecting Muslims worldwide. However, such a unity would be impossible to realise without a unified understanding of what makes a Muslim, a Muslim, said Md Asham. “If their understanding of Islam is not aligned with what is promoted by the Quran and sunnah, as explained in detailed by recognised and respected scholars throughout time, that solidarity we are hoping for will not take place,” he said. He said the Quran was the source of truth and Muslims could not achieve unity without belief in the holy book. Muslims also needed to learn the proper etiquettes of learning Islam and the Quran. “The guidance from the Quran is not something that can be simply achieved by sitting back and simply talking about it, it is something that is given to those who sincerely seek it,” he said. THIS YEAR’S COMPETITION This year’s International Quran Recital and Memorisation Competition will begin on June 9 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC). Participants from over 70 countries will be joining the five-day event, themed “Perpaduan Nadi Transformasi Negara” (Unity the Pulse of a Nation’s Transformation). In the recital category, Malaysia will be represented by the champions of the 58th National Quran Recital Competition, Wan Ainuddin Hilmi from Kelantan and Siti Husnaa Hassan from Pahang. The memorisation category will be represented by the winners of the 36th National Quran Memorisation Competition, Muhammad Syazani Jemy from Johor and Farihah Zulkifli from Kuala Lumpur. The competition will adjudicated by 15 professional judges from, among others, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Thailand. The Malaysian King Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah is expected to officiate and close at the ceremony. Live screenings of the competition will be aired on TV1, TV Al-Hijrah, the radio station IkimFM and online at Jakim web TV by going to www.jakim.tv. -- BERNAMA

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