MUSLIM SCHOLARS SHOULD FOCUS ON SPREADING ISLAMIC THINKING - TUN M

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 24 (Bernama) - Muslim scholars have been urged to focus on
spreading Islamic thinking for the good of mankind and the world, said former
prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said new methods and approaches were needed to challenge Western ideas
and theories that controlled and infleunced world thinking.

"Western theories and conventional approach have at times, failed to provide
the best solution," he said after being conferred honorary Phd in Economy &
Muamalat Administration by University Science Islam Malaysia (USIM) here
Friday.
The Phd was conferred by USIM Chancellor Tuanku Najihah Tunku Besar
Burhanuddin at a special convocation at Putrajaya International Convention
Centre.

Dr Mahathir said the world is facing a moral, social, political and economic
crisis because it is bound and restricted by Western ideas and theories.

"We now realise that what was inherited and taught by our religion is
unsuitable and outdated," he said.

Muslims also felt inferior when facing theories of Western thinkers, most of
whom did not base them on religion.

"They created theories and ideas that were accepted without question by
Muslims," said Dr Mahathir.

He said free thinking and individual freedom spread by Western theories
would make Muslim society lose direction and objective in life.

As such, Muslim scholars should come up with alternative thinking and
solutions to world crisis.

Muslims should get out of the world culture of rhetoric to find a more
meaningful and practical approach to solutions.
-- BERNAMA