NEW YORK – Fight ignorance peacefully and with knowledge.
This was the message of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at a Friday sermon here yesterday.
Anwar gave the Khutbah Jumaat at the Islamic Cultural Centre of New York (ICCNY) – being the first leader of a country to do so.
Anwar said Islamophobia is taking root at a worrying pace, which is why it is incumbent on Muslims to prove those demonising Islam wrong.
Speaking about Quran burning incidents in Sweden, Anwar said that while one can understand the anger of Muslims, it would be better to retaliate through knowledge.
“To counter the Quran burning incident, my government printed a million Qurans, including in the Swedish language,” Anwar told worshippers who packed the 1,000-capacity mosque with another 200 praying outside.
Anwar said interreligious conflicts in history and over time were not a clash of civilisations but instead a clash of ignorance.
“How do we counter ignorance? It is through knowledge and understanding. Information is not knowledge. Not wisdom,” Anwar added.
The prime minister also took the opportunity to explain the concept of Madani governance.
“The Medinah society is a society par excellence.
“They promoted understanding, knowledge, and the values of humanity such as compassion and rahmah,” he said, explaining that Islam strives for excellence, not mediocrity, which includes knowing about other cultures and faiths.
“The Madinah community is a society tolerant of other races and cultures. It practices moderation.”
Governance in Islam, he said, means protecting every single person in society – the poor, the minority, and the marginalised.
After concluding prayers, Anwar also witnessed the conversion of a young American man, Andrew Vinals, assisting him in reciting the act of conversion, the Kalimah Syahadah.
Earlier, the prime minister was welcomed by ICCNY imam Zakir Ahmed.
Anwar’s entourage included Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution. – September 23, 2023