Quran memorising institutions do not spread IS militant ideology – association

KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor Association of Quran Memorising Institutions (PITAS) rejects the perception that such educational institutions (tahfiz schools) i n Selangor were involved in spreading the Islamic State (IS) militants’ jihad ideology in the country.

Its chairman, Ustaz Ashri Lateh Al-Muqril, said the 160 registered tahfiz schools in the state had never encouraged their students to join any militant group, including the IS.

“The militant group (IS) not only contravene the tahfiz education philosophy but has also deviated far from the true teachings of Islam,” he told Bernama yesterday.

He said there were about 10,000 students in 130 tahfiz schools affiliated to PITAS, while another 30 were not part of the association.

Those affiliated to PITAS followed the syllabus provided by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) and PITAS was constantly monitoring their developments, he said.

“Jihad in tahfiz studies is not about taking up arms and going to war, but seeking knowledge like memorising and understanding the Quran which is a bigger jihad,” Ashri said.

He added that tahfiz schools were to produce a generation of Quran students who were knowledgeable and wel l- rounded individuals, and were not training grounds for militants.

On a 14-year-old female tahfiz student who was arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport f or allegedly trying to join the IS group in Syria, Ashri said this was individual in nature and an isolated case.

The girl from Muar, Johor was reportedly a student of a tahfiz school in Shah Alam.

However, Ashri said, the girl’s case would be discussed at the PITAS annual general meeting next month while it would also discuss and seek ways to prevent the IS ideology from influencing and poisoning the minds of tahfiz students. – Bernama