FT mufti: ‘Religious exploitation’ more accurate term, not ‘riding on religion’, to describe misuse

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — The Federal Territories Mufti Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil has suggested that the phrase "religious exploitation" better captures the misuse of religion for personal gain, as opposed to the potentially misleading term "riding on religion." Mufti Fadzil emphasized that "riding on religion" could be overly generalized, leading to unfair judgments about religious figures like scholars and preachers who genuinely promote Islam.

By using "religious exploitation," Mufti Fadzil aims to emphasize both the perpetrators who exploit religion and the public deceived by such actions. This term more accurately reflects the power dynamics at play, drawing on Quranic verses from Surah At-Taubah and Surah Al-Baqarah that condemn religious exploitation. The Prophet Muhammad also cautioned against individuals who use religion to deceive others for material gain, a warning echoed in hadith narrated by al-Tirmidhi.

Mufti Fadzil urged the public to be cautious and conduct thorough investigations before trusting anyone who uses religion to further their own interests. He also called on religious leaders to uphold sincerity and integrity in their roles, serving Islam and Allah's pleasure above all else.