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PRIME MINISTER Anwar Ibrahim has said that one of the most profound moments of the Israk and Mikraj was the direct command for Muslims to perform the five daily prayers, describing it as a core pillar of Islamic life with far-reaching implications beyond personal devotion.
He said prayer should not be seen merely as a routine act of worship, but as a practice with deep and wide dimensions that shape not only individual character, but also families, society and the nation as a whole.
Elaborating on this, Anwar referred to the renowned Nusantara Islamic scholar Syeikh Daud Al-Fatani, noting that his classical work Munyatul Musolli goes beyond the technical aspects of prayer to address questions of governance and ethical leadership.
“In the chapter ‘Tatmim al-Fa’idah’, Syeikh Daud touches on the practice of prayer but goes further by linking it to the principle of justice,” Anwar said in a Facebook post on Friday night.
“Justice is about balance and exists in parallel with the phenomenon of global convivencia, a condition in which humanity lives together in a culture of peace,” he said.
The prime minister stressed that the pursuit of justice is a shared responsibility of both Muslims and non-Muslims in order to realise universal humanitarian goals.
He urged all parties to continue safeguarding peaceful coexistence, while rejecting prejudice, false stereotypes and narratives of hostility that could undermine social harmony.
“At the same time, we must remain tawaduk and humble, because we may not have the right answers. Even if we do find answers, we should not be too hasty or rush to regard them as final solutions,” he said.
In a separate matter, Anwar said improvements to the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, or SARA, programme were introduced with strong commitment to ensure that Malaysians can meet their basic needs in a more structured, targeted and sustainable manner.
In another Facebook post on Friday, he said the move reflects the Madani Government’s resolve to ease the cost-of-living burden faced by the public, with 3.1 million single individuals now benefiting from SARA through direct crediting into their MyKad beginning Friday.
He said the initiative goes beyond cash assistance, providing fresh momentum to the local economy by expanding the participation of small retailers in the SARA network.
“The participation of small shops in the SARA network has been expanded to 10,000 premises nationwide so that the nation’s wealth does not circulate only in central hubs, but flows back to small traders in cities, towns and villages,” he said.
Anwar added that the Madani Government remains committed to ensuring no citizen is left behind or marginalised in meeting basic living needs.
“This is the spirit of Madani — we stand as equals, move forward together and build the nation’s future based on justice, prosperity and well-being for all, in line with the aspirations of the Madani Economic Framework,” he said.
Under the scheme, eligible single recipients will receive up to RM100 a month credited via MyKad starting Friday, which can be used to purchase essential goods at registered supermarkets and shops.
The SARA Monthly 2026 disbursement began on Jan 9 and involves five million recipients, comprising 3.7 million households and 1.3 million elderly individuals without spouses.
Overall, SARA Monthly 2026 will benefit 8.1 million recipients with an allocation of RM8 billion, an increase from 5.4 million recipients and RM5 billion in 2025. - January 17, 2026