KUALA LUMPUR, 3 NOVEMBER 2023 – The Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia, (PERKIM) through PERKIM’s International Institute Kuala Lumpur (IDIPKL) had organised the sixth series of the Dakwah Premier (SKOP) at the Dewan Al-Ilm, 250, Bangunan Balai Islam, IDIPKL on Friday morning.
The event was attended by more than 90 persons which comprised of the staff of PERKIM, IDIPKL, PERKIM Branch of Bandar Tasik Puteri, Wanita PERKIM Branch of Ulu Klang, PERKIM Club members of the National University Malaysia (UKM), University Malaya students as well as revert students of PERKIM’s classes (KPIPK).
The event commenced with a speech by the Honorary Secretary General of PERKIM, YBhg Tan Sri Dr Mohd Yusof Noor.
Dr Yusof Noor, in his speech, declared that dakwah is not something new because the call to righteousness and dakwah has gone on for a long time until today, especially with the advance of the internet.
There is no reason for anyone to say he is ignorant of dakwah and the call to righteousness in religion. We do not concur with things that contradict religious teachings, e.g. the killing the public, women, children and the elderly. He said, according to present sources, a group of Gazans were shot and killed by Israeli soldiers while getting water from a tank. The Gazans are deprived of water, electricity and food.
Today, we don the scarf as a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinians who are cruelly threated by the Israelis.
Israel and its ally, the United States, did not heed the call to ceasefire by the United Nations. They still kill even though they know it is wrong.
I think we in Malaysia, especially the Muslims here, do not condone such acts because Allah SWT has declared in Surah Fussilat verse 33 which means : “Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah, works righteousness, and says, ‘I am of those who bow in Islam’ ?”
I am aggrieved when I see the cruelty of Israelis who have killed large numbers of innocent women, children and the populations in this century and yet there is no avenue for diplomatic discourse.
I am unhappy because the world today, talks about humanitarian rights yet they do not practise these rights and act cruelly towards the Palestinians. Do you realise that this cruelty has been going on for more than 70 years? A simple analogy; if we go to someone’s home, we should be thankful to the host for providing a place to stay. It is thoughtless to out-stay your welcome, then chase the host out of his home.
If we bow down to Allah SWT, we would not side withthose who utter beautiful words but do not put them to practice.
After that, the ex-rector of the International Islamic University Malaysia, Prof Datuk Seri Dr Zaleha Kamarudin presented a talk titled “Educational Da’wah without Boundaries”.
Dr Zaleha hails form Raub, Pahang and holds a PHD in Comparative Family Laws (Civil and Syariah) University of London 1994 and MA on Comparative Laws (MCL) International Islamic University Malaysia 1998.
She shared her experiences and efforts to achieve the Best Student in Islamic Law in UIAM and received a scholarship from JPA. After her interview she became assistant lecturer in UIAM 1985 – 1990. In 2011, she was elected Rector in UIAM, she received from the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia 200 students from Afghanistan, 10 of whom had no legs due to stepping on landmines.
Later, she was given a letter by a student who wished to terminate his studies because he felt he should be back in Afghanistan to help his brothers fight the war.
At UIAM, these students were given the best to enable them to restructure and rebuild their country.
10 students completed their studies and 3 of them became professors at UIAM. They are Profesor Dr Mohammad Naqib Eishan Jan, Profesor Dr Wahabuddin Ra’ees dan Almarhum Profesor Dr Sayed Sikandar Shah Haneef.
Although they entered UIAM without knowledge of English, but with a competitive spirit and dedication, they could achieve the post of professor.
Those who returned to Afghanistan could help rebuild their country. Dr. Zaleha said that if she goes to Afghanistan or Uzbekistan or Azerbaijan, her students would meet her at the airport.
When she was completing her PHD in London there was an armed conflict in Bosnia Herzegovina. Tun Mahathir Mohamed had brought many Bosnian women to study at UIAM. However some were Muslim and some were not. Those with degrees form the Al-Azhar University became mentors in UIAM. Dr. Zaleha also received students from Albania, Dagestan and Turkey as it is our approach to provide aid to Muslim youth through cross boarder education.
Although we regard UIAM as any other local University, it is a university that developed the Ummah. As a Rector of UIAM, she communicated with 200 Palestinians students who shared their hopes of becoming warriors of HAMAS. They could memorise the Quran because when the Quran is in their hearts, they can fight the war. Some Palestinian students received scholarship from MAIS to further their studies at Al-Azhar University in Egypt.
To conclude, Dr Zaleha said that UIAM educates and nurtures students to become leaders in their countries and this should be considered by other Universities.
A questions and answer session followed.
At the end of the session Dr Yusof Noor presented a book “Warisan dan Wawasan 60 Tahun PERKIM” and a plaque to Dr Zaleha.
PERKIM’s guest of honor was present at SKOP Series 6 to listen to the lecture delivered
Abdul Qawi Navine acted as emcee at the event.
Attendees participated in the prayer at the beginning of the session.
Some PERKIM members who attended the session.
Dr Yusof Noor in his welcoming speech.
Dr Yusof Noor looked over-whelming sad during his speech, when he touched on the cruelties of Israel towards the innocent Palestinians.
Dr Zaleha on the subject of Da’wah: Borderless Education.
Attendees at the talk given by Dr Zaleha.
Dr Zaleha had students from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Albania, Dagestan, Palestine and Turkey.
Muhammad Jais Mariappan posed a question .
University of Malaya student questions our solidarity with Palestine.
Dr Yusof Noor presented a book ”Warisan dan Wawasan 60 Tahun PERKIM” and a plaque to Dr Zaleha Kamarudin.
A commemorative picture of PERKIM leaders and the guest speaker, Prof Datuk Seri Dr Zaleha Kamaruddin
