ARAU: Mosque and surau management in Perlis are being urged to adopt proactive and innovative measures to draw the community, particularly the youth, closer to these places of worship.
The Regent of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail emphasised the importance of enhancing efforts to engage with the younger generation.
He stressed that engagement is crucial for imparting religious knowledge and shielding the youth from social ills and deviations in faith.
"Mosques and surau play a significant role, especially in shaping an educated and morally upright Islamic community.
Among their key functions are serving as centres of unity, education, and community support for the ummah.
"These houses of worship are not just for religious activities but also serve as platforms for promoting well-being, unity, and improving the community's standard of living," he decreed during the official opening of Surau Syed Sirajuddin Areeb Putra Al-Haj at Sekolah Tengku Budriah here today.
He said funds collected and donations received should be managed responsibly and used to bring tangible benefits to the community.
"A generation firmly grounded in religious values will have a strong sense of identity, which in turn will help cultivate future leaders of the nation.
"Moreover, this will prevent the spread of moral decay, which increasingly threatens our religion, race, and country," he added.