The principle of moderation is key in preventing Muslims all over the world from being dragged into extremism, said Malysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin..
He said the principle was not created by man but Allah had described the Muslims as a special being as mentioned in the Quran and that Islam opposed all kinds of extremism, according to Bernama News Agency.
"Elements of extremism exist at least in two forms, that is the stream that considers Islam as being loose to the extent of disposing off its originality and identity, while another stream understands Islam as being very rigid to the extent that its followers appear to be rough and old-fashioned," he said when opening the Malaysia-Indonesia Conference of Ulama and Preachers 2015, in Jakarta, on Thursday.
Muhyiddin said both extremist streams had deviated from the true teachings of Islam and had divided Muslim solidarity besides forming the wrong perception of the religion to the extent of creating the Islamophobia at the global level.
He said Islam had never promoted or supported any form of violence or terrorism because this was a crime whereas Islam was a peaceful religion and brought prosperity to man.
The deputy prime minister suggested that the scholars and preachers in Malaysia and Indonesia look at the aspect of formal Islamic education based on the ideology of the 'Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah' as a vehicle to spread preachings and tackling extremism.
Source: MENA