[Watch] Sikh Doctor Lectures In Bangsar Mosque, Causes Uproar
The Sikh doctor gave a talk on how to quit smoking.
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Mosques usually invite ustaz or religious preachers to deliver lectures and talks.
However, the Saidina Abu Bakar As-Siddiq Mosque in Bangsar broke the norm when it invited a doctor of Sikh descent to deliver a talk on one Friday.
The doctor was invited to share knowledge about quitting smoking.
Netizens have been discussing it after a Twitter user @saifyakhtar posted a video clip showing the doctor, who was wearing a red turban, lecturing the congregation at the mosque.
Lectures in mosques is nothing out of ordinary, but usually the topics lean on religious values.
— Saify Akhtar 🇲🇾🇸🇬🇵🇰 (@saifyakhtar) April 11, 2023
Last Friday’s lecture reminds me of the golden age of Islam where mosques are also repurposed as a palace of knowledge.
@saifyakhtar said lecture topics in mosques are not unusual and are often based on religious values.
He noted that the lecture by a Sikh doctor reminded him of the glory days of Islam, where the mosque was also used as a place of knowledge.
The video went viral with 78,000 views and counting.
Opinions Divided
Netizens praised the mosque’s efforts to educate its congregation by inviting a non-Muslim to deliver his talk there.
They also hope the experience would encourage the doctor to receive ‘hidayah’ (guidance) and convert to Islam.
Yang ajak datang utk bg ceramah kat masjid tu bukan orang sikh tp AJK Masjid tu dan sebut sahaja AJK Masjid sah2 dah orang Islam itu sendiri jd apa masalah saudara jgn komen jika saudara sendiri pon mungkin bukan 'kaki masjid ' jd biarlah AJK Masjid itu uruskan yg terbaik ❤️🇲🇾 https://t.co/AdXBazVnsd
— warDina awatif ❤️🇲🇾 (@AwatifWardina) April 12, 2023
The Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisations (Mapim) president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, said the mosque would have informed the state religion department, in all likelihood.
Maybe it’s the Health Department that chose the doctor, and it happens to be a non-Muslim. In any case, we support the health topic as it benefits the people.
Mapim president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid to TRP on whether it was appropriate to invite the Sikh doctor to give a talk.
He said the sensitivity issue is hard to avoid and suggests the mosque consider minimising such problems.
Meanwhile, criticisms continue to mount.
Some said it is not appropriate to invite a non-Muslim to give a talk in a mosque, even if the subject is not related to religion.
They also pointed out that the doctor, being a non-Muslim, could have given his talk elsewhere.
Others said the mosque committee owed the public an explanation, while some stated it was an affront to Islam.
They also described the incident as a result of the spread of secularist liberalism.
At the same time, they want churches and temples to start allowing ustaz to come in and preach about the ills of gambling and alcohol.
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