From Afrasheem

Dr Afrasheem was a charismatic, eloquent man who used his knowledge to educate others by often giving lectures at various platforms.

Most people knew him not as a PhD holder from a Malaysian Islamic university, or as a member of parliament, or as a politician; rather, he caught people’s attention and gained popularity as a scholar of moderate Islam.

Dr Afrasheem gave a religious speech on national TV moments before he was gruesomely murdered last night. Nobody could have imagined that last night’s would be his final speech. Even his final hours were spent sharing his knowledge with people.

Last night, Dr Afrasheem, along with the Minister of State for Islamic Affairs Gubaid spoke about Islamic faith on TV, and urged people to refrain from all activities that might weaken one’s faith.

“Islam is clearer and more complete than having to have a mediator when praying to God. God is all knowing. He listens to our prayers. So we should never involve a mediator when praying to God. All scholars are in agreement on this,” he said.

Dr Afrasheem talked about statements that he had made on previous occasions. He had justified his statements, but his views have often been heavily criticised. His views on issues such as listening to music and the length of one’s beard, often differed from the views of some other scholars.

“Sometimes things are misinterpreted, and people understand differently based on how things are said. A TV presenter told me back when I had just returned to Maldives, that people can become disbelievers due to minor actions. I had told him that that is not possible,” he said.

He explained that a person cannot become a disbeliever based on the length of his beard or the length of his trousers; they may be punished for minor actions such as these, but they do not become disbelievers.

“If a person is convicted of theft, the verdict may be that his hand is cut off. The sentence will not be that he becomes a disbeliever. What I’m saying is that a person who accepts Islam and says that he is a Muslim, nonetheless, should not think that everything is complete just by saying that,” he said.

Afrasheem apologised to all citizens if anything he had said had caused confusion due to misinterpretation.

“If I had said anything like that, then it’s due to my incompetence. I apologise deeply for that. Similar mistakes are made even by great scholars when they try to explain things. I must apologise from everyone for that,” he said.

Dr Afrasheem had been the victim of attacks motivated by politics or religion on two or three previous occasions, before he was stabbed to death last night.