Temple Visit Was For Trained Religious Teachers Says Minister

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Religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar said the course used an inter-civilisational dialogue approach, as part of the training of Islamic preachers. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: A federal minister has defended an Islamic religious course in which participants made a visit to a Hindu temple, saying it was part of a series of training sessions aimed at enhancing the understanding and skills of ‘dakwah’ (preaching).
Religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar said the Dakwah Harmoni course was a closed programme specifically designed for selected religious teachers from the Perak Islamic religious department.
He said the course, through its inter-civilisational dialogue approach, had been successfully conducted for the past five years, Bernama reported.

This regular programme is part of a series of training sessions aimed at enhancing the understanding and skills of ‘dakwah’ (preaching), with the goal of improving the expertise of religious teachers so that they can provide accurate knowledge about other religions and their comparisons to the community and younger generation, he wrote.
He dismissed claims by a politician that the course would pose a threat to the faith of the nation’s youth.
Na’im said the accusations were intended solely to tarnish the government’s image and its commitment towards strengthening the position of Islam.
He said the course was a closed programme specifically designed for selected religious teachers. During the guided visit, there was no involvement in religious ceremonies as the programme was not open to the public. The visit also provided an opportunity for religious teachers to engage in dialogue.

Our country needs more knowledgeable and highly skilled religious teachers with religious knowledge and its comparison to preserve the faith and character, especially among the younger generation and the Muslim community, he said.
A video clip showing a delegation visiting the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Kampung Kasipillay, Kuala Lumpur, recently went viral. The visit became controversial after a statement made by a female participant caused misunderstanding and sparked heated debates on social media.
The Perak Islamic religious department said earlier today that the visit, by 32 selected participants from across Perak, was part of the course content designed to train and boost participants’ confidence in conducting dakwah, especially to correct many misconceptions about Islam, including hatred due to Islamophobia. - FMT

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