Muslim-Hindu dialogue a mature, positive step, says mufti

2026-03-19 - 02:41

Penang mufti Sukki Othman said Prophet Muhammad engaged with non-Muslims through wisdom, agreements, and mutual respect. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA: Penang mufti Sukki Othman has hailed the move to gather representatives of the Muslim and Hindu communities to find common ground as a positive and mature step for Malaysia’s diverse society. In a world often challenged by religious and ethnic tensions, he said that dialogue, discussion, and the willingness to understand one another demonstrated social maturity and a shared responsibility to preserve harmony. From an Islamic perspective, he said such efforts were consistent with the fundamental principle of human relations: to know one another, live together peacefully, and cooperate in doing good. “The Quran emphasises that humans are made into nations and tribes so that they may know one another, not to be hostile towards each other. “This shows that diversity is not a threat, but an opportunity to build understanding and tolerance,” he told FMT. He was commenting on the special session yesterday, organised between the Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association and Hindu temples, as well as the Malaysian Hindu Religious Associations at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. The event aimed to ease tensions sparked by recent statements and actions that had triggered heated debates on social media. Sukki said that interfaith dialogue was not foreign to Islam, noting that Prophet Muhammad himself interacted with non-Muslim communities through wisdom, agreements, and respect for each other’s rights. “Efforts to find common ground between religious communities continue these values, especially in a country with religious and cultural diversity. “Living together means respecting one another, not interfering with the religious practices of others, and cooperating for the common good,” he said. However, Sukki said such discussions must address core issues such as land status, ownership rights, legal approvals, and fairness to all parties. “Places of worship should be symbols of sanctity, peace, and justice, not sources of dispute or conflict. Without the right foundation, it will be difficult to build genuine harmony,” he said. He said the misuse of social media was the biggest challenge in building harmony. “There are parties that manipulate religious issues for certain interests, whether politics, popularity, or provocation. “Such actions not only undermine efforts for peace but can also escalate tensions in society,” he added.