Sultan Nazrin: Malay community, Muslims facing adab crisis

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malay community and Muslim ummah are grappling with a crisis of adab, according to Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah. The National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia's chairman highlighted how discussions and debates often devolve into hostile disputes, fueled by unverified information and the exposure of private failings.

Sultan Nazrin expressed his condolences to former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his family following the passing of Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali. The 75th National Council meeting conveyed its condolences to Dr Mahathir and his family, praying for strength and divine mercy for them.

The Sultan emphasized that the decline of a society often starts with the erosion of its values and moral character. He urged the people and the Muslim ummah to cultivate the discipline to listen before responding, understand before judging, and verify before sharing. He stressed that the ability to differ without hostility reflects the importance of shura and adab.

Shura involves deliberation and the exchange of views before decisions are made, while adab requires respectful listening, consideration of differing views, and decisions that benefit the common good. True strength lies in the ability to differ without hostility, offer correction without humiliation, and make decisions together with integrity.

Adab extends beyond courtesy and good manners, encompassing relationships with Allah, fellow human beings, the natural world, and oneself. It also involves valuing knowledge, honoring teachers, and expressing adab as the outward expression of knowledge, safeguarding freedom, and fostering harmony. When adab is upheld, differences can be managed; when neglected, even knowledge and power can become sources of division.

Sultan Nazrin stressed that shura creates space for differing views, while adab ensures those differences are managed with respect, courtesy, and wisdom. True shura requires leaders to remain humble, listen to differing views, accept correction, and consider advice with an open heart. He reiterated that true freedom of speech does not mean the freedom to insult. Differences of opinion should not justify accusations, belittling, insulting, or slandering others.