Referring to Zamihan’s call on Mahathir to quit politics and spend time in prayer, IRF director Farouk Musa said the preacher had shown that he believed one could earn heaven only through such devotional practices.
Zamihan made his criticism in a recent interview with news portal Watan Online. He did not mention Mahathir by name, but the reference was obvious. He said an old man who had been in power for 22 years should enrol in a madrasah and spend time in prayer instead of questioning the leadership of his successors.
Farouk questioned whether Zamihan knew that preventing or fighting wrongdoing such as corruption would also be an act of piety.
He quoted a verse from the Quran, which reads: “Do not incline towards, nor rely upon, those who are bent on evildoing, lest the fire ( of the hereafter) touch you.”
He said this could be interpreted as meaning that Muslims had a duty to fight evildoing, including corruption.
“The principle that must be adhered to by all Muslims is not to be collaborators with evil doers and I believe that to fight against a corrupt leader, even if he is a Muslim, is among these noble endeavours and an imperative in the Quran.”
He added that Zamihan had shown how “rude, impudent and insolent” he could be.
International Islamic University Malaysia lecturer Maszlee Malik said he believed every able-bodied Muslim must fight corruption.
“If Mahathir believes Barisan Nasional is corrupt, then it is compulsory for him to fight against the coalition regardless of his age as long as he is strong enough to do his part,” he said.
“It is a jihad.”
You’re old and about to die, Zamihan’s thinly veiled attack on Dr M