Sultan Nazrin: Malay community, Muslims facing adab crisis

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malay community and Muslim ummah are facing a crisis of adab, with discussions and debates increasingly descending into disputes marked by hostility, says Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

As chairman of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia, he said unverified information was being circulated without regard for its consequences, while people's faults and private failings were exposed and differences of opinion turned into hostility.

"The Malay community and the Muslim ummah are facing a crisis of adab," he said.

Sultan Nazrin also expressed condolences to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his family following the death of Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.

"Yesterday, the nation was shrouded in sorrow over the passing of Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, an individual who made many sacrifices and rendered significant service and contributions to the nation and its people," he said.

He said the 75th National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia meeting conveyed its condolences to Dr Mahathir and his family.

Sultan Nazrin prayed that Dr Mahathir and his family would be given strength and fortitude in facing the test, and that Dr Siti Hasmah's soul would be showered with divine mercy and placed among the righteous.

He also called on those present to recite Surah al-Fatihah and dedicate the spiritual reward to Dr Siti Hasmah.

Speaking at the 75th National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia meeting, Sultan Nazrin said the issue should not be taken lightly as the decline of a society often began with the erosion of its values and moral character.

"It is therefore vital that our people and the Muslim ummah cultivate the discipline to listen before responding, to understand before judging, and to verify before sharing," he said.

He said the ability to differ without hostility reflected the importance of shura, or mutual consultation, and adab, or ethical conduct.

Shura involved deliberation and the exchange of views before decisions were made, while adab required people to listen respectfully, consider differing views and seek decisions that served the common good.

"True strength does not arise from uniformity of opinion. It lies in our ability to differ without hostility, to offer correction without humiliation, and to make decisions together with integrity and a full sense of responsibility," he said.

Sultan Nazrin said adab extended beyond courtesy and good manners, encompassing people's relationship with Allah, fellow human beings, the natural world and themselves.

He said it also required people to value knowledge and honour their teachers, describing adab as the outward expression of knowledge, safeguard of freedom and foundation of harmony.

"When adab is upheld, differences can be managed. When it is neglected, even knowledge and power can become causes of division," he said.

Sultan Nazrin said shura created space for differing views, while adab ensured those differences were managed with respect, courtesy and wisdom.

He said the principle also required leaders to remain humble, listen to differing views, accept correction and consider advice with an open heart.

He said that shura was not a licence to speak without restraint or adab.

"Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to insult.

"Differences of opinion are no justification for accusing or belittling others, much less for insulting or slandering them," he said.

Sultan Nazrin said shura practised with adab would lead to wise decisions, just leadership and a mature society.