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Muslims Obligated to Prevent Wrongdoing, Says Preacher PU Riz
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Culture & Society

Muslims Obligated to Prevent Wrongdoing, Says Preacher PU Riz

From Utusan Malaysia · (14m ago) Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Malaysian celebrity preacher Muhammad Haris Ismail, known as PU Riz, stressed the obligation of Muslims to prevent wrongdoing.
  • He stated that any program with elements of sin must be stopped immediately, aligning with religious teachings.
  • Riz emphasized that a peaceful and prosperous nation stems from a society that shuns vice and prioritizes well-being.

As a prominent voice in Malaysia, PU Riz, a well-known celebrity preacher, has articulated a clear religious imperative for Muslims: to actively combat societal ills. His recent remarks, spurred by an incident in Bukit Bintang, underscore a deeply held belief within the community that inaction in the face of perceived wrongdoing is unacceptable.

As Muslims, we are taught that whoever sees wrongdoing, it is obligatory for him to change it with his hand.

— Muhammad Haris Ismail (PU Riz)Explaining the religious obligation to prevent vice.

The preacher’s message resonates with a segment of Malaysian society that prioritizes religious values in public life. He invoked the Islamic teaching that requires individuals to correct wrongdoing by hand, tongue, or at the very least, by heart, highlighting the spectrum of responsibility. This call to action is not merely a suggestion but a religious obligation, emphasizing the communal duty to uphold Islamic principles.

If not able, then with the tongue, and if still not able, then with the heart, and that is the weakest of faith.

— Muhammad Haris Ismail (PU Riz)Describing the levels of action required to prevent wrongdoing.

Furthermore, PU Riz drew a distinction between hidden and public sins, noting that the latter are considered more detestable in the eyes of Allah. This point serves to underscore the urgency and public nature of the issue he addressed, implying that the recent program in Bukit Bintang fell into this category. His admonishment against prioritizing worldly gains over eternal consequences is a common theme in religious discourse, urging a balanced perspective on life and its ultimate purpose.

Do not let worldly gain cause us to sacrifice matters concerning the hereafter. Balance is important.

— Muhammad Haris Ismail (PU Riz)Advising against prioritizing financial profit over religious principles.

From a Malaysian perspective, such statements often reflect a broader societal conversation about the role of Islam in public spaces and the moral fabric of the nation. The emphasis on preventing 'kemungkaran' (wrongdoing or vice) is a recurring theme, particularly when events are perceived to contradict Islamic values. The preacher’s concluding remarks, linking national prosperity and blessings to a society that shuns vice, reinforce a worldview where religious adherence is seen as foundational to societal well-being and stability. This perspective often contrasts with more secular viewpoints that might prioritize economic development or individual freedoms above religious considerations.

A good country is a country that upholds values and distances itself from wrongdoing. From there comes blessings in life.

— Muhammad Haris Ismail (PU Riz)Stating the link between a nation's adherence to values and its prosperity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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