KUALA LUMPUR – A historical photograph of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad guiding the conversion of 52 individuals at his residence on July 20, 1978, has gained widespread attention on social media.
The image depicts Dr Mahathir, then serving as deputy prime minister, leading the individuals through the recitation of the shahadah, the Islamic declaration of faith.
Originally posted on Dr Mahathir’s Facebook page on August 25, 2017, the caption read, “Conversion of 52 individuals at the residence of Deputy Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1978”.
The photo’s re-emergence was fuelled by a recent incident involving Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who assisted in the conversion of a man, sparking a lively debate across various social media platforms.
The online discourse revolved around the appropriateness of a prime minister participating in religious conversion activities after Anwar guided the man through the recitation of the shahadah at the Ar-Rahimiah Mosque in Klang.
Various viewpoints emerged, with some netizens questioning the alignment of religious activities with the official duties of a prime minister.
Nonetheless, supporters of Anwar asserted that his commitment to Islam remains paramount, even in his role as prime minister.
Weighing in on the matter, Pahang Mufti Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Osman said any Muslim has the prerogative to facilitate the conversion of new adherents. He maintained that Anwar’s actions should not be subject to dispute or debate.
He reaffirmed that any Muslim has the capacity to bear witness to the conversion of fellow individuals.
Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin also came to Anwar’s defence, echoing the opinion of former Federal Territories Mufti Datuk Seri Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri.
Khairy said that being prime minister should not impede Anwar from fulfilling his responsibilities as a practicing Muslim.
Anwar’s recent participation in the conversion ceremony was later revealed to be an impromptu gesture prompted by the request of the local non-governmental organisation, Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia (Perkim).
Perkim’s Klang division chief Hushim Salleh clarified that the ceremony took place after Anwar’s Friday prayers at Masjid Jamek Ar-Rahimiah in Klang, followed by a visit to the families of the Elmina plane crash victims at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital.
Hushim said the individual who underwent conversion had expressed a personal desire to be named after the prime minister, leading to the spontaneous ceremony.
He also urged against making baseless assumptions and spreading unfounded rumours. – August 23, 2023