Imbibe Islam As Complete Way Of Life, Says Science Adviser

TAWAU (Sabah, Malaysia), Dec 30 (Bernama) -- Muslims need to understand and practise Islamic teachings as a complete way of life which encompasses acquiring of knowledge and building a civilisation, said science and technology adviser to the Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Syed Abas Syed Ali. This way, he said, Muslims in Malaysia and their brethrens in other countries who still lagged behind in various aspects, could progress and build a high-level civilisation which had once been achieved in the distant past. "Civilisation for us Muslims is not something new or foreign. History has shown that Muslims had brought enlightenment to the world guided by the Quran and Sunnah, changing mankind's ignorant and barbaric existence to one that is civilised and knowledgeable." Syed Abas was speaking at a recorded premier Islamic affairs forum at the Tawau community hall last night. He was representing Chief Minister Musa Aman. The forum was organised by the Royal Customs Department of Malaysia in collaboration with the department's Islamic Welfare Association, Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and Radio Televisyen Malaysia. Syed Abas said that building a civilisation for the ummah (community) was a requirement for Muslims because allowing the community to be backward and lagging behind in various fields was against Allah's command as mentioned in the Quran. In regard to this, he said the government led by the Barisan Nasional (National Front) was working at reviving a glorious Islamic civilisation based on the Quran and Sunnah. He said the approach taken was aimed at creating a positive perception of Islam and that Muslims loved peace, moderation and knowledge, and had noble values. "We reject the perception that Muslims are violent, too rigid and fanatical," he added. -- BERNAMA