Let's Read The Quran Campaign Organizer's Media Statement

4 March 2016 

YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (DR) Hj. Harussani bin Hj. Zakaria

Pengerusi,

Lembaga Pengawalan dan Pelesenan Pencetakan Al-Quran,

Kementerian Dalam Negeri.

Assalamualaikum W.B.T. YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (DR),

LET’S READ THE QURAN CAMPAIGN 2016

We respectfully refer to the media statement uploaded on Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MOHA) website on 3^rd March 2016, entitled “Larangan Penerbitan Teks Al-Quran dalam Bahasa Lain Selain daripada Bahasa Arab”.

2.         Firstly, I would like to extend my deepest thanks for the advices of YBhg Tan Sri regarding the Let’s Read The Quran Campaign (LRTQ) 2016. I would like to take this chance to briefly introduce the LRTQ campaign. This campaign started in 2009. It garnered positive feedbacks from Muslims and Non-Muslims alike. For 2016, we aim to bring this campaign to a higher level and spread the message and teachings of the Quran to those in Malaysia and beyond.

3.         We agree with the Lembaga’s view that Quran which has been translated to other languages is meant to help those who do not read Arabic to understand Quran; the document is not the Quran but a mere “translation” or “interpretation” of the Quran. As an example, we would like to share an excerpt from chapter 2 of the fictional tale, ‘The Righteous Mufti’ that has been published on LRTQ’s blog. In this story, the character Ustaz Din is advising another character, Manfi, who is a young man, “Yes, we must read the Quran in Arabic, but it is also important to read the Quran in a language that we best understand, so that we can practice and apply the teachings of the Quran.” (To read the full article, please visit www.letsreadthequranlrtq.blogspot.com)

This is in line with YBhg Tan Sri’s statement in an article dated 20^th February from The Malay Mail Online, “Schools here should teach the Quran in both Arabic and Malay. “If you read the Quran in Arabic, you can already get rewards. If you read the Quran in Arabic and you can understand it, you get a bigger reward. And if we read it in Arabic, understand and practise the teachings, that’s the biggest reward.”“

4.         Our main objective is to encourage the public to understand the Quran in a language familiar to them, so that the message of the Quran can spread further effectively. This approach has garnered positive feedbacks not only by Muslims, but also non-Muslims. A lot of my Non-Muslim friends and readers have shared their feedback that they are pleasantly surprised at the wondrous and universal messages of the Quran.

5.         We are happy that not only Muslims have voiced their support for the campaign, but also the Non-Muslims. Our campaign poster features both Muslim leaders, such as YB Senator Dato’ Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and YABhg Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah but also non-Muslims leaders such as Archbishop Julian Leow and Chief High Priest of Malaysia, The Most Ven Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana who all shared their chosen verses from the Quran.  

6.         To encourage the public to join the campaign, we have also uploaded an e-book, Share The Quran, which includes 4 translations of the Quran, in Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil, Mandarin and English, to accompany the Arabic verses. This e-book can be downloaded at: https://issuu.com/juste-books/docs/share_the_quran_/1?e=05 .        

7.         We believe this campaign is a sincere effort to bring people closer to the universal messages of the Quran. We humbly hope to be able to continue it, and we more than welcome any advices from the Lembaga and MOHA regarding guidelines that we should follow, for the benefit of all.

8.         I would appreciate a chance to meet and discuss with YBhg Tan Sri on how we can continue with this campaign and adhere to the terms and conditions set by the Lembaga Pengawalan dan Pelesenan Pencetakan Al-Quran and MOHA.

Thank you. Wassalam.

Anas Zubedy

Organizer

Let’ Read The Quran Campaign