KUCHING: Sarawak Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Idris Buang has urged Muslims to embody the values of patience and compassion as taught by Prophet Muhammad, following an incident involving a mentally ill man at a mosque in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
The man, reportedly a non-Muslim in his late 20s, allegedly trespassed into the mosque during Subuh prayers on New Year’s Day, causing a commotion.
A 2-minute-46-second video of the incident, which has since gone viral, showed one of the congregants calming the man before his family members escorted him out. The man was later handed over to the police and taken to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, where it was confirmed he had a history of mental illness.
Commenting on the incident, Idris stressed the importance of responding to such situations with wisdom and calmness.
“Our Muslim brothers’ reaction should reflect Rasulullah’s teachings of being patient and avoid harshness or violence.
“There was no need to punch or kick him. Just talk nicely and let the whole thing be resolved wisely and calmly,” he said in a statement.
Idris expressed concern that the actions of some congregants, as seen in the video, could lead to unnecessary scorn and disdain toward the Muslim community.
“Islamic values should triumph in the end, not through aggression,” he said, adding that the man appeared to be of unsound mind and was easily overpowered.
