Kota Kinabalu: The development of a progressive and dynamic Madani Ummah (civil society) cannot rely solely on leadership but requires the commitment and responsibility of the entire community.
Head of State Tun (Dr) Musa Aman stressed that the Ma’al Hijrah celebration should serve as a platform for reflection and a starting point towards a more holistic future, with Islamic values and principles as the foundation for comprehensive development.
“Muslims must embrace the spirit of Hijrah as a catalyst for transforming our mindset, work culture and life direction.
“Being progressive means advancing in knowledge, economics, technology and thought.
“Being dynamic requires us to be agile in facing the challenges of the times and adaptable to global changes.
“However, true progress cannot be achieved by merely imitating other civilisations. It must be built upon the Islamic spirit in all fields – education, leadership, economics and human development,” he said at the State-level Ma’al Hijrah 1447H celebration, Friday.
Musa, who was accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Faridah Tussin, said change must begin from within before it can be extended to the family, community and nation, in order to raise a tech-savvy generation with strong morals and character.
He also highlighted that one of the major challenges in building a Madani society is the presence of radical attitudes, intolerance and moral decline among the younger generation.
“Character education must be strengthened, religious outreach (dakwah) must be delivered with wisdom and the misuse of social media must be controlled to prevent it from becoming a tool for spreading hatred,” he added.
Musa further emphasised that religious institutions, educational bodies and the mass media play a vital role in shaping the collective awareness of the Muslim community.
“Building a Madani Ummah that upholds values of justice, tolerance and mutual respect is a shared responsibility that must be shouldered by all, regardless of status,” he said.
