Umno, PAS must find common ground on Islam

(Bernama) – Umno and PAS have to sit together to overcome ideological differences and find common ground for the sake of Islam, said Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.

The chairman of the Cordoba Initiative, a United States-based non-governmental organisation said in general, the differences in political ideologies had contributed to the major problem in the Muslim world yesterday.

“Both parties are Muslims, Malays and both are (of the) Shafie Mazhab, yet there is a huge divide. The ideological factor is the divisive factor.

“If we can bridge it in Malaysia, Egypt, Tunisia and some other Muslim countries, it will be an important healing as we are one ummah that worship the same God,” he said.

He was speaking to the media after delivering a public lecture titled ’Constructing an Islamic Government and Rule of Law Index’ at the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia, here yesterday.

Imam Feisal had served as Imam of Masjid al-Farah, a mosque that is 12 blocks from Ground Zero in New York City, from 1983 to 2009.

He founded the Cordoba Initiative that seeks to use religion to improve Muslim-West relations and provide innovative solutions in those areas where conflict between Islamic and Western communities undermined local and global security.

He has written three books on Islam and its place in contemporary Western society including ‘What’s Right With Islam Is What’s Right with America’.