KUALA SELANGOR: The Muslim community must maintain good morals during the election period and carry out their responsibility to vote for leaders are knowledgeable, have integrity and have the ability to make the country prosper.
That was the gist of the last Friday sermon at all mosques across Selangor today, before the 14th General Election (GE14).
Imam Masjid Darussalam, Kampung Bukit Kuching, Jeram, Mohamad Saleh Siran while reading the sermon titled The Responsibility of Choosing the Leader said it was compulsory for the people to vote on May 9 to determine the future of the country for the next five years.
He said choosing a leader was an obligation in Islam which needed to be fulfilled and a responsibility entrusted by Allah.
“Therefore, we are responsible for choosing the best leaders who will bring good to the religion, the community, the country and Muslims as a whole,” he said.
Also present, were BN candidate for the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat, who is also UMNO Supreme Council member, Datuk Seri Irmohizam Ibrahim, who performed Friday prayers with some 200 locals.
Mohamad Saleh said to find a good leader, one must first choose the leader.
“The Quran teaches us about the characteristics of good leaders including the one who can uphold the religion and is able to administer the world based on Islamic principles.
“A good leader must be knowledgeable, physically fit and must possess high integrity,” he said.
Islam strongly emphasises morality even against enemies in war, what more during competition in a democratic election.
“The democratic system was established so that people can compete in harmony, without the need to use their energy and weapons.
“They have the opportunity to argue and come up with their own manifesto,” he said.
Thus, people need to be courteous during campaigning and do not let ourselves be consumed by hate towards each other.
“Do not cheat or slander, make provocative remarks, use foul language, offend people during campaigning.
“This strategy is contradicts with characteristics of a leader. Do not take this lightly, the weight of sin is hard to bear,” he said.