Muslim group schools FT mufti, tells Anwar to cancel invitation to 'devilish' Trump

A Muslim intellectual group has joined the chorus of condemnation against the Federal Territories mufti's defence of the government's red carpet welcome for Donald Trump, stating it would be "nothing less than a betrayal" of Muslim brotherhood to invite a "devilish figure" who has openly supported the Zionist war machine.

The Kuala Lumpur-based Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) also called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to cancel his invitation to Trump to attend the Asean Summit later this month.

"There is no greater betrayal to the Palestinian cause than to welcome in our land the greatest ally of their oppressors," said IRF founder and director Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, in a rebuttal to Federal Territories Mufti Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil's call for Muslims to welcome Trump. [Read full article here].

Fauwaz, who is the younger brother of a senior Amanah leader, had accused government critics of being clouded by "emotions and radical sentiments", and argued that opposing Trump's visit was against the goal of preserving peace and civilisational progress as espoused in maqasid shariah, a branch of Islamic legal theory that seeks to achieve the higher intent of Islamic laws for the public good.

Farouk, an award-winning medical surgeon and Islamic scholar who has previously been targeted by past administrations for his criticism of Islamic authorities, reminded the mufti of Trump's plan to "clean out" Gaza.

"Trump is a symbol of arrogance and a diabolical figure. His vitriolic anti-Muslim rhetoric is widely known. His unwavering support for the Zionist regime of Israel has translated into billions of dollars in military aid supplied during his administration.

"He has been the greatest ally of a regime responsible for the deaths of countless Palestinians, including more than 20,000 children over the course of the ongoing war.

"Why then should we, as an Islamic nation, invite such a devilish figure?" he asked.

He said it was "misplaced" for the mufti to invoke the concept of maqasid shariah to justify the invitation to Trump.

Instead, he referred Fauwaz to the principle of "al-wala wal bara" (loyalty and disavowal), which is based on the Quranic prohibition of taking the enemies of Muslims as allies.

"To the Muslim leaders of the Madani government: it is the principle of 'al-wala wal bara' that must guide us. It is this pristine concept of Tawhid that defines us as Muslims, and it stands firmly against any form of alliance or collaboration with the enemies of Allah."

He urged Muslims to reject Fauwaz's call to accept Trump's presence.

"Instead, we must uphold our 'izzah (honour and dignity) by standing against tyranny and despotism embodied in one individual: Donald Trump."

"Islam calls for brotherhood. Shall we now abandon that brotherhood for a despicable person like Trump?" he asked.

Farouk said Muslims have become "numb" to the suffering of other Muslims.

"The blood of Muslims is no longer regarded as sacred. Thousands of Palestinians have been massacred; their homes bombed and demolished; food and water cut off mercilessly.

"Our leaders, blinded by greed and worldly interests, fail to stand up for justice."