Muslim scholar: Use another term
Published on: Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: A Muslim scholar has suggested that Malaysians stop using the term "non-Muslims" to refer to people whose religion is not Islam.United States-based Dr Mohamed Elsanousi said it is more appropriate to refer them collectively as people of other faiths instead, or by their respective religion."The term non-Muslim itself has a negative connotation."
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"In the Unites States, we Muslims don't call them (people of other faiths) non-Muslims. Yes, one can argue they are in fact non-Muslims but we must always be mindful that they too have their own faith," he said.Elsanousi is the Director of the Secretariat of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, a global network initiated by United Nations Mediation Support Unit, UN Alliance of Civilisations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Religions for Peace, KAICIID Dialogue Center and Finn Church Aid.He was also the director of Community Outreach and Interfaith Relations for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), and is the Founding co-chair of Shoulder to Shoulder. He served on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of State John Kerry's Taskforce on Religion and Foreign Policy Working.
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He stressed that by referring people of other faiths as non-Muslims can create a perception that Muslims are superior than them.He said this should not be the practice in a multi-religious and multi-racial country like Malaysia, even though Islam is an official religion.
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"The people must always send out a message of mutual respect, and that no religion is superior than the other. That way, there'll always be peace," he said.Elsanousi also called for a stronger inter-faith coalition and movement in Malaysia to promote better religious understanding while at the same time counter any form of religious extremism.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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