PUTRAJAYA: The scope of understanding Islam needs to be expanded more comprehensively, as society is currently only exposed to basic principles of worship involving haj, zakat, and fasting, said national-level Tokoh Maal Hijrah Datuk Seri Hassan Ahmad.
In this regard, Hassan said he aims to broaden Islamic teachings comprehensively, noting that its proper scope is far wider.
"In most cases, people are only exposed to those three aspects, whereas Islamic knowledge has increased in areas such as economics. However, these have yet to be directly discussed, like fiqh muamalat in fiqh texts, which are not taught to the public.
"In fact, many people confuse the terms borrowing and debt, assuming they are the same. In fiqh, many other fundamental aspects should be delved into, such as the principles of marriage, judicial knowledge, and governance, which collectively provide a narrow view of Islam," he said.
In addition, International Union of Muslim Scholars president, Professor Dr Ali Muhyiddin Ali Al-Qaradaghi from Qatar, was announced as the international-level Tokoh Maal Hijrah.
Director-General of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), Datuk Hakimah Mohd Yusoff announced the awards at the celebration held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here today.
Hassan, 82, a native of Permatang Sungai Dua, Seberang Perai, Penang, and former Mufti of Penang, holds a Master's Degree in Usul Al-Fiqh from Al-Azhar University, Egypt.
He expressed his gratitude for the government's recognition of him as the national-level Tokoh Maal Hijrah but believed his contributions do not match the award.
However, he said he will strive to assist the government in implementing the Malaysia Madani concept.
Regarding caution about acquiring knowledge from social media, Hassan said people need to ensure the reliability and authenticity of the source, besides not turning religious sentiments into a divisive issue among Muslims due to inaccurate and unverified religious information.
"People need to pay attention to the source of knowledge, especially if it is from unclear origins, as it can lead to negative effects and perspectives on Islam," he said.
Meanwhile, Ali Muhyiddin, 75, expressed his gratitude for being awarded the international-level Tokoh Maal Hijrah.
He also expressed his readiness to impart his knowledge and services to Malaysians.
Ali Muhyiddin was born in Qaradagh, Sulaymaniyah District, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and is a citizen of Qatar.
In 1980, he earned a master's degree in comparative law from the Faculty of Sharia and Law at Al-Azhar University.
He later obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Sharia and Law from Al-Azhar University in 1985, focusing on contracts and financial transactions.