Moderation key to stopping extremism: DPM
JAKARTA: The principle of moderation is key in preventing Muslims all over the world from being dragged into extremism, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He added the principle was not created by man but Allah had described the Muslims as a special being as mentioned in the Quran and that Islam opposed all kinds of extremism.
"Elements of extremism exist at least in two forms, that is the stream that considers Islam as being loose to the extent of disposing off its originality and identity, while another stream understands Islam as being very rigid to the extent that its followers appear to be rough and old-fashioned," he said when opening the Malaysia-Indonesia Conference of Ulama and Preachers 2015 here on Wednesday.
He said both extremist streams had deviated from the true teachings of Islam and had divided Muslim solidarity besides forming the wrong perception of the religion to the extent of creating the Islamophobia at the global level.
Islam had never promoted or supported any form of violence or terrorism because this was a crime whereas Islam was a peaceful religion and brought prosperity to man, he said.
He said while the West perceived the Muslims as being terrorists, there were groups who identified themselves as the Islamic State (IS) which had created a terrible and violent phenomenon by attacking Muslim and non-Muslim civilians and killing prisoners of war arbitrarily.
"There is no basis for such acts in Islam and their crimes of terrorism are to subjugate the civilian community through violence and terrorism," he added.
Muhyiddin said in the efforts to check such extremist elements, the treasury of knowledge of the ulama and dynamic methodology of the preachers in Malaysia and Indonesia must be shared for joint benefits.
"The Muslims in Malaysia and Indonesia must stand strongly on the principles of moderation (Wasatiyyah), that is taking the middle path or to avoid extremism in their religious practices as demanded by the true teachings of Islam," he said. – Bernama