Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent remarks on fasting aimed to highlight its recognition as a universal practice across various religions, says Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) director-general Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil. He explained that fasting during Ramadan was one of the pillars of Islam and obligatory for Muslims, while similar practices also existed in other religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, “Each religion has its methods, objectives, and conditions for fasting, such as to commemorate specific events, atone for sins, seek forgiveness, or achieve spiritual purification.” The statement was issued to clarify the position of fasting in Islam and its connection with fasting in other religions, based on the Prime Minister’s recent remarks on the practice.
The PAS Ulama Council (DUPP), in a statement, urged religious authorities to reprimand the Prime Minister over his remarks, claiming that his interpretation of fasting among past communities was inaccurate, particularly in the context of a Quranic verse. According to DUPP, the Prime Minister’s attempt to relate the fasting of non-Muslims, such as those in Christianity, Judaism, or Hinduism, should not have been linked to the verse.
Mohamed Azam said that although fasting was practised across various religions, what distinguished fasting in Islam were its conditions, principles, and objectives, with Ramadan fasting being observed with sincerity to attain piety before Allah SWT. “This explanation is also intended to strengthen harmonious relations among Malaysia’s religious communities by fostering mutual understanding of similarities while recognising boundaries of differences. Respecting diversity and practising tolerance can help prevent misunderstandings that could disrupt harmony and national unity.”
Meanwhile, Religious Adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali, said that the Prime Minister’s interpretation of the Quranic term ‘as it was prescribed’ aligned with scholarly exegeses, which explain that while fasting was prescribed for past communities, the methods and practices differed. “DUPP needs to be corrected for introducing a narrow interpretation by asserting that the fasting of ‘past communities’ mentioned in the Quran was only based on the syariah, ‘tauhid’ (monotheism), and adherence to Islamic teachings.”
The Duat Al-Falah Organisation, in a statement, noted that while some differences existed between the fasting observed by past communities and that prescribed for the followers of Prophet Muhammad-such as the duration and timing-similarities also remain. “Among these similarities is the requirement to refrain from food, drink, and marital relations, as prescribed. However, the fundamental purpose of fasting is to seek divine pleasure and strengthen devotion to Allah SWT,” the statement read.
Luqman Tarmizi, coordinator of Pondok Siyasah, said that after examining the actual remarks and referring to authoritative Islamic exegeses, there was no confusion or concern that the Prime Minister’s statement could “distort public perception of the obligation of fasting.” “The fact remains that fasting was indeed mandated by Allah SWT for all past communities, particularly the People of the Book, though later generations may have altered its practices,” he said in a Facebook post. Luqman also advised Muslims to prioritise good assumptions about fellow believers rather than seeking faults and exaggerating issues.