Kuala lumpur: The Selangor Turath Islami Festival 2026 will bring together 23 renowned Islamic scholars from Malaysia and abroad in September, as part of efforts by the state government to promote Islamic heritage and broaden public engagement with Islamic knowledge.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the festival, which enters its fourth edition this year, will feature Islamic intellectual figures, including former Grand Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Professor Dr Ali Jum'ah and scholars from several countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, and Thailand.
He said the festival aligned with the state government's continued efforts to strengthen the role of Islamic turath (legacy) in developing individuals, nurturing values, and fostering a knowledgeable community. "The festival goes beyond being a religious event. It seeks to revive the tradition of learning through direct guidance from teachers (talaqqi) and preserve Islamic scholarship for generations to come," he said at a press conference today.
The annual festival will run for eight days from Sept 13 to 20, with Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah identified as the main venue, supported by several other sites around Shah Alam. Amirudin said the festival, expected to be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will focus on the theme Hikmah Warisan Islam, drawing on Al-Hikam Al-Ata'iyyah by tasawwuf (Sufism) figure Ibn Atha'illah As-Sakandari.
Among the activities lined up for the festival are more than 42 learning sessions, including dawn lectures, Islamic text study through talaqi, keynote tausiah (religious talks), qasidah (poetic composition) sessions, and a dedicated Islamic Book Festival. He said the latest edition would also feature the inaugural National Turath Scholars Dialogue, which aims to bring together Islamic scholars to discuss contemporary challenges facing the Muslim community and advance Islamic education in the country, which is in line with the state government's goal of making Islamic education a pillar in the development of a knowledgeable and ethical society.
He said the festival is expected to receive at least 50,000 visitors this year, the same turnout recorded in its last edition. He said the recently launched Shah Alam Line of the Light Rail Transit 3 (LRT3) is expected to be an additional factor in attracting more visitors, as access to Shah Alam has become easier through public transport, adding that the state government will look into providing connecting transport services, such as buses or vans, for participants taking the LRT3 to the programme venue.