PUTRAJAYA, Dec 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for improved English proficiency among Islamic preachers to facilitate better debate with those abroad.
He said a good command of the language will enable Islamic teachings to be presented more systematically and understood in depth.
“In Europe (for example) a strong grasp of the English language (is required) to debate with them (thinkers),” he said during the Ilmu Madani event here today.
Also present were the Cambridge Muslim College founder and board of trustees chair Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
Anwar also hailed the strength and wisdom of Sheikh Abdal Hakim, who used intellectual language to capture Europeans’ interest in Islam.
“Your strength is your ability to articulate brilliantly in the language of the Europeans of English. Different, for example, from a scholar of Islam, less ability or proficiency in the language to debate,” he said.
Anwar said Sheikh Abdal Hakim is a prominent public intellectual renowned for addressing challenges in the contemporary Islamic world.
“He can engage with Islamic tradition and Western philosophy and culture,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar called on university students and youth to read books or scriptures together with lecturers so the analysis can be understood clearly.
“I propose that university students and youngsters read scripture with lecturers or teachers. It offers deeper insights and a higher level of analysis from all thinkers,” he said.
— Bernama
