KOTA KINABALU: The beheading of Canadian hostage Robert Hall Monday in Sulu and the Orlando massacre in Florida was clear violations of one of the pillars of Islam.
With a week into the holy month of fasting, Federation of Sabah Industry (FSI) chairman Datuk Mohammad Basri Abdul Gafar said the heinous acts recently committed by extremists like the Abu Sayyaf Group and other suporters of IS were un-Islamic, inhumane and condemnable to the highest level.
He said Muslims here and abroad are deep in prayers as they observe Ramadan, and extremists killing innocent people during the holy month is totally unacceptable.
“Ramadan is a period when Muslims unite and stand up for what our faith rejects – attacks by extremists on innocent people in the name of Allah,” he said.
A strong believer of Islam, Basri said it was appalling that this holy month, we set aside for prayers and reflection had already been violated by extremists in other parts of the world as they waged violence in the name of the Islamic faith.
He said the Muslim community condemned the execution of Canadian Robert Hall and the Orlando massacre and calling those violations to one of the pillars of Islam, the chairman reiterated, adding that the Muslims were affirming their objections to extrimism.
“Killing innocent people is not Islam … Ramadan is a period for Muslims to unite and refrain from violating the rules of Islam.
“Some defend their actions based on the shalow understanding of the Quran. This is exactly why little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” Basri stressed.
“Islam is peace and this is what Muslims are praying for as they observe the holy month of Ramahdan,” he said.
Basri further said that the Holy Qur’an forbids murder, citing Surah 5:32… If anyone slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.
He said Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, said ‘do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well, you will treat them well, and that if they do wrong you will do wrong to them’.
In extending condolences to the families of the victims of the two incidents, Basri said there was no possible justification for such heinous acts committed by the extrimists.
On Monday, minutes after the families and Canadian government failed to comply with the ransom demand at 3pm, the Abu Sayyaff Group mercilessly beheaded its second Canadian hostage Robert Hall in the province of Sulu.
Five hours later, Hall’s head was found near the compund of Mt Carmel Cathedral in Jolo.
The Orlando attack in Florida also saw the killings of 50 people, including the gunman and wounding 53 others.
Towards this end, Basri reminded Sabahans and Malaysians in general, especially those embracing the Islamic faith, to be vigilant and outrightly reject extrimism.
“Let’s immediately report to the relevant authorities the presence of any extrimist group in our localities, if there is any,” he stressed, adding that it is also equally vital for all Muslims to solemnly observe the holy month of Ramadan.