Anwar echoes Sultan Nazrin's call for shura and adab

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has echoed Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah's call for the principles of shura (consultation) and adab (civility and proper conduct) to guide Muslims, particularly in navigating differences of opinion and competing ideas.

Anwar said Sultan Nazrin's address at the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) meeting yesterday was profound and insightful and should be widely understood and shared with the public.

He said shura went beyond the concept of democracy, encompassing consultation that required patience and wisdom before a decision was reached, followed by trust in Allah.

"Shura is not merely democracy in the sense understood in the West. It encompasses consultation, patience and wisdom. We consult and, ultimately, place our trust in Allah," he said in his speech at the MKI meeting.

Anwar said Sultan Nazrin's emphasis on adab was equally significant, as the concept extended beyond conduct to encompass education, learning, consultation and interpersonal relations.

Sultan Nazrin, in his speech, had said a culture of shura and adab should be strengthened within families, educational institutions, organisations, mosques, the administration and wider society to ensure differences of opinion were managed with knowledge, patience and respect.

Sultan Nazrin, who chairs the MKI, said shura provided space for diverse views to be heard, while adab ensured differences were handled respectfully, courteously and wisely.

Anwar said the emphasis on shura and adab was particularly relevant at a time when Muslims were encountering competing ideas, including in discussions on religion and society.

He said the principles should also guide all parties, including the government, opposition and those involved in Islamic preaching.

"Sultan Nazrin's call for shura and adab should be translated into greater understanding and practice so that both principles become part of Muslims' everyday lives," he said.

In his speech, Anwar also called for greater emphasis on Islam's intellectual heritage, or turath, saying interpretations of the Quran and hadith should draw on recognised commentaries and authoritative scholars.

He said he had proposed that the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) organise more scholarly programmes focusing on the Islamic intellectual tradition.

"If we become disconnected simply because new experts offer interpretations and views without referring to that legacy, we stand to lose," he said.

Anwar also urged Jakim to strengthen religious understanding among the public, particularly young people and the Orang Asli community, and to widely disseminate Sultan Nazrin's address.