Selangor Journal
Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah speaks at the 7th World Conference on Islamic Thought and Civilisation (WCIT) 2024 at the Casuarina Convention Centre, Ipoh, on July 29, 2024. — Picture via X/BERNAMA

Perak Sultan urges unity among ummah amid global conflicts, economic disparity 

IPOH, July 29 — Amid rising global conflicts and economic disparity, there is an urgent need for unity among the ummah, said Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah.

He said that since October 2022, two major conflicts affecting Muslim-majority populations have broken out — the Sudanese civil war and the conflict in Gaza.

“The war in Ukraine, which began in early 2022, has continued into a third year, inflicting significant and prolonged hardship on the country’s citizens.

“Across these global conflicts, innocent civilians of many faiths — Muslims and non-Muslims — including thousands of women and children, are bearing the brunt of the suffering; killed, wounded, forced out of their homes, and, in many cases, now facing intensifying food shortages.” 

Sultan Nazrin said this in his address at the 7th World Conference on Islamic Thought and Civilisation (WCIT) 2024: Together We Stand: Muslims and Global Humanity, here, today.

Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

Sultan Nazrin said in light of the UN’s Human Development Index (DHI) trends and the terrible conflicts, the focus should be on humanity.

“This year’s theme, as you know, is ‘Together We Stand: Muslims and Global Humanity’. In what remains of my speech, I want to focus on that first word, ‘together’.

“With the gap between the richest and poorest countries growing, and with international conflicts on the rise, it is clear that, even as a global Muslim community, our ummah, we are not currently united in a shared experience.

“We are not standing together. Some of us thrive, while others, even at this very moment, are suffering dreadful hardships and deprivation,” His Royal Highness said.

Sultan Nazrin hoped that via the conference, the panellists could share how the Muslim community can help some of the most vulnerable members of the international community — in particular, those living in poverty and hardship, as well as children from all backgrounds.

“As Muslims, we are enjoined to help everyone to stand together, and to stand together with everyone. So we must take action, and soon, to help vulnerable Muslims and non-Muslims alike, before it is too late.”

Meanwhile, Sultan Nazran said Muslims need large-scale and coordinated efforts to truly eradicate the acute, multidimensional poverty being suffered around the world, noting that Muslim-majority populations are still vastly overrepresented among the world’s poorest.

“And, just as concerning, studies indicate that even in countries with very high human development, Muslim populations are often living with deprivation. In the United Kingdom, for example, around half of Muslims are estimated to be living in poverty, compared to only 18 per cent of the population as a whole.

“It is not right that so many of our Muslim brothers and sisters around the world are living without the resources to cover their basic day-to-day needs. We cannot stand together if some of us are fighting to simply survive.” 

Sultan Nazrin said the countries with the greatest need have the least access to the resources they require to alleviate their suffering.

The Perak ruler urged Muslim countries to do more to mobilise funds raised through Islamic social finance mechanisms, but expressed delight that there is already momentum in this area.

His Royal Highness said more digital and fintech platforms are enabling Muslims around the world to channel their compulsory zakat and voluntary sadaqah donations towards the causes that matter most to them.

“This, I hope, will lead to an increasing redistribution of funding to support those most in need,” he said.

— Bernama

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