The former prime minister, who has for decades opposed PAS’ plan to implement Islamic criminal laws including hudud punishments, said his views were condemned because he had used wisdom and the faculty of thought in understanding Islamic texts.
He listed out 15 verses from the Quran on the importance of thinking.
“The Quran does not forbid thinking, or tell us to just accept Islamic experts who say your understanding of Islam is not right,” said Mahathir in his latest blog post.
He said PAS’ interpretation of Islamic laws deviated from the spirit of the Quran when the party supported unjust and cruel forms of punishments.
“The eagerness of some interpreters in showing how harsh Islamic laws are while ignoring justice, depicts Islam as an inhumane religion. Whereas Islam is a religion that calls for justice, tolerance and forgiveness,” said Mahathir.
He gave as an example a draft of PAS’ shariah criminal law, which requires four witnesses to verify an alleged rape, adding that it victimised the rape victim.
“If she gets pregnant and delivers a child she would be convicted of adultery and would be punished by being stoned to death,” he said.
He also questioned PAS’ move to implement hudud including the amputation of limbs on Muslim offenders, saying it is unfair.
“Because it is not fair, it is not Islamic. It is PAS’ hudud,” he said.
Mahathir is believed to be responding to remarks by Universiti Utara Malaysia lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff, who questioned his understanding of Islam.
Kamarul, who was among panellists of a recent forum to discuss Mahathir’s age and suitability to lead the government again, had said in a Facebook post that the former leader’s “incorrect” perspective on Islam made him unsuitable to lead Malaysia.
Mahathir, 92, is Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for prime minister, should the coalition win the next polls.