Thought leader: Sultan Nazrin (right) gracing the Seventh World Conference on Islamic Thought and Civilisation, flanked by Anwar. — Bernama
IPOH: Amid rising global conflicts and the increasing gap between the richest and the poorest countries, there is an urgent need for unity among the global Muslim community, says the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.
He said the “ummah” (Muslim community) is not standing together, where some thrive while others suffer from dreadful hardships and deprivation.
“In light of the United Nations’ Human Development Index trends and the terrible conflicts, the focus should once again be on humanity,” His Royal Highness said in a keynote address at the Seventh World Conference on Islamic Thought and Civilisation here yesterday. Sultan Nazrin said the theme for this year’s conference is “Together We Stand: Muslims and Global Humanity’.
“I want to focus on that first word: ‘Together’.
“I want to reflect on how we can help some of the most vulnerable members of our international community in particular: those living in poverty and hardship as well as children from all backgrounds.
“We must not leave a single member of our global community behind.
“Indeed, it is our duty to help, as the Quran teaches us.
“If anyone saves a life, it will be as if he had saved all of humanity”, His Royal Highness added.
Sultan Nazrin said action must be taken to help vulnerable Muslims and non-Muslims before it is too late.His Royal Highness added that across the globe, whether in Gaza or Sudan, Muslims are in pain.
Non-Muslims, too, are suffering in other conflict-torn places like Ukraine.
Sultan Nazrin said help should also be extended to vulnerable groups of children as global humanity depends on them.
Children of all faiths and backgrounds are disproportionately affected by poverty as well as humanitarian crises and conflicts, His Royal Highness said.“There are currently four million children in Sudan facing acute malnutrition and 3.5 million children living under severe to catastrophic levels of need, while in Gaza, half of the 1.7 million people displaced from their homes are children.
“These children are losing their families, their homes, their loved ones and, all too often, tragically, their lives.
“Even those who survive conflict and famine are at risk of losing their futures as they do not have access to education,” His Royal Highness said.Sultan Nazrin said the scale of the destruction is such that scholars worldwide have now coined a shameful new word – “scholasticide”.
His Royal Highness said despite global progress on achieving gender parity, there is still a disproportionate number of young girls missing out on education in conflict regions especially.
“May this motivate us to reach out our hands and help others to be on their feet, so that we can, at last, all stand together on the brink of a brighter future,” said Sultan Nazrin.
The conference was attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
