Asri: Solar-powered talking Bible claim insults Muslims

Former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has taken Selangor exco member Hasan Ali's claim that Muslims were turning apostate through a device called 'solar-powered handheld talking Bible' as an insult.

"Suddenly it is publicised that there are (Muslims) who took to Christianity just because of this device that reads out the Bible. This insults Muslims and Islam.

"It sounds as if Muslims who have listened to the al-Quran for so long, would suddenly turn after hearing the Bible.

"This is as if the power of the Bible is greater than the al-Quran," said Asri (left) in a statement today.

He added that in Malaysia, the al-Quran is disseminated through loud speakers, television, radio and at government functions.

"But we do not hear non-Muslims becoming Muslims after hearing al-Quran recitals daily."

Yesterday, Hasan revealed that the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) discovered eight ways through which Christian missionaries were spreading the Gospel, including the said device.

He added that other ways in which the 'Good Word' is being spread to convert Muslims embraces setting up welfare groups to extend financial and other forms of assistance to single mothers, the poor, elderly and others.

‘We can do the same’

Emphasising the need for discussion, Asri said Hasan's reaction was uncalled for especially for a government exco member living in the  technological era.

"If the claim that Christians are giving out such devices and other assistance for free to our Muslim brothers is true, then I suggest he (Hassan) ask to do something more beneficial."

"This can be done by handing out similar or even more high tech devices containing al-Quran verses and its translation as well as Islamic sermons delivered with wisdom," said Asri.

However, Asri added that the device should first get Jais' accreditation, in a sly dig at an earlier by the department move to charge him and several other religious figures with delivering unauthorised sermons.