Don’t be mere preachers, but be community leaders, Na'im tells religious leaders

7 months ago

Religious leaders should not be mere preachers within houses of worship but should play the more important role of community peacemakers, says Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) said this in his welcoming speech at the Second International Summit of Religious Leaders 2025 on Thursday (Aug 28), which was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

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Transcript

00:00Distinguished Delegates,

00:03This conference is of great importance as it brings together religious leaders from diverse backgrounds

00:12to deliberate on how we may collectively translate the values of compassion,

00:20e-extensions arising from conflict,

00:23and unites communities of different races and faiths within the spirit of unity and vision by Islam.

00:34Conflict has never yielded benefit.

00:37It leaves wounds, sows resentment, and destroys hope.

00:44Here lies the responsibility of religious leaders,

00:47not only as preachers within houses of worship,

00:51but as peacemakers in the heart of our communities.

00:56We are reminded to be a community that embodies mercy.

01:01Allah declares in Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 107,

01:07وَمَا أَسَّلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ

01:10And we have not sent you, O Muhammad, except as a mercy to the universe.

01:18This verse affirms that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was sent as a mercy for all creation.

01:30That mercy extends not only to Muslims, but to all humankind, to every creature, and to the environment.

01:39Undeniably, the voice of religion is the one that most gently touches the heart and speaks to the deepest conscience of humanity.

01:52We must recognize that the voice of religion is the voice that touches human heart most deeply.

02:03When spoken with wisdom, it has the power to cale hatred, awaken compassion, and revive the fading values of our shared community.

02:14It is expressed through faith that saves, through law that protects love's interests, and through ethics that perfect our relations with one another.

02:28As this Ummah, it is our duty to continue this mission by upholding justice, rejecting oppression, fostering social harmony, and preserving the balance of the natural world.