Malaysia Stands Firm Against Islamophobia Through Knowledge and Engagement

Strategic Insights -

Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has emphasized the importance of addressing Islamophobia through education, engagement, and the dissemination of the Quran rather than outrage or condemnation. He highlighted that ignorance is a major driver of hatred and misunderstanding of Islam, both in the West and in Muslim societies themselves. Anwar stressed that Islamophobia has become institutionalized in some cases, with the influence of right-wing parties and governments shaping national narratives that are hostile toward Islam. To respond to this, Malaysia is taking a stance to promote Islamic values through engagement, knowledge, and understanding.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that Malaysia will address Islamophobia through knowledge, engagement, and the dissemination of the Quran, rather than outrage or condemnation.
  • Anwar highlighted that ignorance continues to fuel hatred and misunderstanding of Islam, both in the West and in Muslim societies themselves.
  • Islamophobia has become institutionalized in some cases, with the influence of right-wing parties and governments shaping national narratives that are hostile toward Islam.
  • Malaysia is taking a stance to promote Islamic values through engagement, knowledge, and understanding.
  • The One Million Copies of the Quran Project was launched in 2023 in response to the Quran-burning incident in Sweden, with the goal of publishing and distributing translated copies of the Quran in 60 languages over the next three years.
  • The project has already published and distributed translated copies of the Quran in 29 languages, including English, Tagalog, French, Hindi, Hausa, and Spanish.
  • The launch of the 30th translation of the Quran in Russian marks a significant milestone for the project, with plans to add 30 more translations in foreign languages in the next three years.
  • The initiative aims to ensure that the message of the Quran reaches and can be appreciated by people of different nations and communities around the world in line with the mission of rahmatan lil alamin (a mercy to all creation).
  • Anwar also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the production of Mushaf Ummah al-Jami', a scholarly collaboration by qiraat experts from around the world, supervised by renowned scholar Dr Ahmad 'Isa Al-Ma'sarawi.

Statistics:

  • Over the past two years, the One Million Copies of the Quran Project has published and distributed translated copies of the Quran in 29 languages.
  • 60 translations of the Quran are planned over the next three years, with a target of half a million copies of Mushaf Ummah al-Jami' to be published.
  • 30 translations of the Quran in foreign languages will be added in the next three years, in addition to the 30 languages already covered.
  • The project aims to distribute one million copies of the Quran in 60 languages over the next three years.

Sources:

  • BERNAMA News Agency, 08 Aug 2025
  • "Malaysia remains firm in addressing Islamophobia through knowledge, engagement and the dissemination of the Quran rather than outrage or condemnation, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim"