by Sukhbir Cheema
The Rakyat Post
Dec 6, 2014

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6, 2014: Malaysia should strike a balance between inclusivity and exclusivity of Islam to avoid the rise of extremism, a Muslim scholar says.

In stating so, National University of Singapore Prof Dr Syed Farid Al Atas said extremism was the failure of striking a balance of the two extremes.

Citing recent examples of extremist tendencies in the nation, Dr Syed said Malaysia had to develop a multi-culturalist and cosmopolitan approach in mitigating this issue.

Through education, Muslims , he said, must learn about other cultures, ethnic groups and other religions to develop a sense of admiration and respect.

“We should celebrate diversity by respecting the rights of others via achieving a balance between Islamic rules and spiritual experiences,” he told The Rakyat Post.

Dr Syed had earlier today spoken at the “Symposium on Countering Violent Extremism” organised jointly by the Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) and the Penang Institute.

Professor Ebrahim Moosa, professor of Islamic Studies in the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies of University of Notre Dame, said in order to curb the rise in extremism, a deepened understanding of Islam through literacy should be achieved.

The country, he said, should inoculate individuals with tools to understand the humanistic knowledge of Islam to have a broader and complex understanding of the religion.

Suggesting study groups, societal critiques as one of the ways, Ebrahim said Muslims should also have zero tolerance towards anything that does not follow the criteria of love, compassion and care.

“Malaysia was once an Islamic model for developing Muslim countries.

“However, should extremism not be curbed, it would come back to bite its society,” he said, adding that space to allow pluralism of viewpoints should be made.

Meanwhile, IRF director Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa said Islamic verses should not be taken literally.

“There should not be legalistic and literalist interpretation in interpreting Islamic verses, rather there should be an understanding of the syariah which holds a higher intention in achieving justice and equality in humanity.”