PAS: Anyone can read the Quran
Rahmah GhazaliPublished: Apr 6, 2009 6:20 PM | Updated: Apr 6, 2009 8:23 PM
PAS central commitee election director Mustapha Ali has defended Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming for reciting a verse from a Quran, saying that “there is nothing wrong for a non-Muslim to read it”.
PAS central commitee election director Mustapha Ali has defended Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming for reciting a verse from a Quran, saying that “there is nothing wrong for a non-Muslim to read it”.
He said this in response to a police report lodged against Nga by the Malay Unity Action Front yesterday, accusing Nga of “belittling Islam” by reciting a verse from the Surah Al-A’raf for campaign purposes.
Speaking at a press conference at party headquarters in Air Kuning, Changkat Jering, this morning, Mustapha said “Islam encourages non-Muslims to understand the Quran”.
“There’s nothing wrong even for a Muslim who wants to read a Bible and holy books from other religions for their personal knowledge. If a non-Muslim wants to understand Islam, why would we want to stop them?”
In his usual casual manner, the Terengganu PAS commissioner said that what Nga did was “far better than some Umno leaders who do not even know how to read the Quran”.
“It is (also) not uncommon for someone to make a mistake when reciting verses. Even experts make mistakes, so what is the fuss?” he said.
On the same note, Mustapha stressed that it is not insulting Islam if a non-Muslim recites Quranic verses, but that it amounts to “appreciation”.
‘Not our directive’
Mustapha brushed off suggestions that PAS has instructed Nga to recite the verse in order to attract Malay voters.
“We never instructed Nga (right) to do so, but I can be sure that it came from his heart. The question of wanting to get something for our benefit does not arise. He wanted to do it because he wanted to understand the Quran,” he reiterated.
Mustapha said he has read the Bible for personal knowledge, reciting in English: “For example, in Matthew (Chapter 22), it says ‘Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s’.
“I used to read this verse when I wanted to understand the dilemma in distinguishing religion from politics.”
Today’s press conference was the final one since campaigning began for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak.
However, Mustapha vowed to have another one “if PAS wins the by-election, God willing”.
He said this in response to a police report lodged against Nga by the Malay Unity Action Front yesterday, accusing Nga of “belittling Islam” by reciting a verse from the Surah Al-A’raf for campaign purposes.
Speaking at a press conference at party headquarters in Air Kuning, Changkat Jering, this morning, Mustapha said “Islam encourages non-Muslims to understand the Quran”.“There’s nothing wrong even for a Muslim who wants to read a Bible and holy books from other religions for their personal knowledge. If a non-Muslim wants to understand Islam, why would we want to stop them?”
In his usual casual manner, the Terengganu PAS commissioner said that what Nga did was “far better than some Umno leaders who do not even know how to read the Quran”.
“It is (also) not uncommon for someone to make a mistake when reciting verses. Even experts make mistakes, so what is the fuss?” he said.
On the same note, Mustapha stressed that it is not insulting Islam if a non-Muslim recites Quranic verses, but that it amounts to “appreciation”.
‘Not our directive’
Mustapha brushed off suggestions that PAS has instructed Nga to recite the verse in order to attract Malay voters.
“We never instructed Nga (right) to do so, but I can be sure that it came from his heart. The question of wanting to get something for our benefit does not arise. He wanted to do it because he wanted to understand the Quran,” he reiterated.Mustapha said he has read the Bible for personal knowledge, reciting in English: “For example, in Matthew (Chapter 22), it says ‘Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s’.
“I used to read this verse when I wanted to understand the dilemma in distinguishing religion from politics.”
Today’s press conference was the final one since campaigning began for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak.
However, Mustapha vowed to have another one “if PAS wins the by-election, God willing”.
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