Adhere to teaching permission suspension, Muslim preachers told

IPOH - All Muslim preachers have been advised to adhere to the suspension of teaching permission and preaching regulations as prescribed by the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPk).

Independent preacher Datuk Mohamad Kazim Elias better known as Ustaz Kazim said the Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk) has temporarily suspended teaching and preaching activities involving foreign and out-of-state preachers, certified or otherwise in mosques, surau and surau diri Jumaat (surau where Friday prayers are performed).

"JAIPk actions are part of an improvement process and we should not create controversies to ensure that the public will not argue among themselves. It is better for us to be humble and follow the laws and regulations prescribed by each state.

"Perak is not the first state to implement this (improvement) as other states have done so earlier. We shouldn’t be surprised as some states have been doing it for four years now,” he said at a media conference today.

He said this after receiving the Perak-level Islamic Welfare Organisation of Malaysia (Perkim) religious figure endorsement letter at Dewan Annuar Mat Taib, Pusat Pendidikan Al Barakah which was presented by Perkim National Council member Datuk Mohd Najmuddin Elias.

Previously JAIPk director Harith Fadzilah Abdul Halim said the suspension was a result of the ongoing improvement process on the guidelines for the application of preachers and teachers at mosques and surau in the state.

He said the move was part of the effort to restructure the concept and methods of Islamic preaching and teaching to align with Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah of the Asyairah and Maturidiah creed.

The improvements that are being conducted are a result of the review made by the Perak Islamic Religious Teaching Supervisory Committee on the applications of foreign and out-of-state preachers to teach in the state.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Kazim advised individuals without teaching credentials not to blame religious departments or feel disheartened if they are not allowed to teach.

"We must understand that there are regulations that we need to adhere to, regardless of who we are. This suspension does not involve the regular Maghrib lectures conducted by religious teachers,” he said.

Mohamad Kazim said he believed that the suspension is not meant to hinder or inconvenience individuals who wish to teach, instead it is a preventive measure to fulfil the objectives of syariah (maqasid syariah) in terms of safeguarding Islam. - BERNAMA