Dr Mahathir, patron of the Islamic Information and Services Foundation which is going to distribute the translated Qurans, said that the “One Soul, One Quran” project was aimed at “lessening the misconception and alleviating fear of Islam amongst non-Muslims”. He attributed non-Muslims’ fear of Islam to the fact that there were many interpretations and teachings on Islam these days that were not actually based on the religion.

As a doctor, he should know that treating the symptoms of a disease does not contain or even eradicate the disease. It is the root cause that must be found and treated. He is clearly aware of the root cause of the non-Muslims’ fear of Islam – i.e. “there were many interpretations and teachings on Islam these days that were not actually based on the religion.”

So how will this be solved by distributing a million copies of the translated Quran to non-Muslims who are not the problem but victims of “the many interpretations and teachings on Islam”? Aren’t those Muslims who interpret the Quran to suit their whims and fancies that are the problem and that should be dealt with? Shouldn’t they be the ones to be given the correct version of the Quran, or taught its correct interpretation?

What then should be the correct formula to correct the non-Muslims’ fear of Islam? Again, as a doctor he should know that seeing is believing. When non-Muslims (and good Muslims too) see Muslims like the ISIS beheading and burning people alive, what does he expect the non-Muslims to think of Islam and how do the good Muslims feel about their religion of peace being portrayed as a religion of violence?