Political Islam

As a Malaysian and a Muslim, I’m ashamed at the lynch mob mentality of *some* fellow Muslims in Malaysia. Think about it, the level of thinking of some of today’s Malay Malaysians are in the same level as Americans who a few hundred years ago who in groups accused people of performing witchcraft and who then were subsequently burned at the stake.

I blame this solely on the UMNO propagated education system that deviates a lot of Malays from true Islam. Instead they are force fed garbage churned out by UMNO linked NGO’s and religious bodies. In order to push "Ketuanan Melayu" (Malay Supremacy), they needed to push "Ketuanan Islam" (Islamic Supremacy) to the Malay masses.

While Islam says you have to be fair and just to everyone, these mob push the idea that in Malaysia, because Islam is the "official religion of the federation" – as a Muslim they get to do whatever they want even if this violates Islam. Muslims must not be seen anywhere near a pig. Heck, its even censored from the movies. But the cow, the holy animal for the Hindus can have its carcass proudly displayed in night markets. Islamic preaching can be heard demeaning non-Muslims through blaring microphone after prayers. Hindu temples get demolished while mosque spurt out everywhere, even in locations reserved for community playground. It seems that if you’re a Muslim in Malaysia, you do not have to consider anyone else.

“Islam is the official religion of the federation” is corrupted to mean “Islam supersedes the constitutional rights of Malaysians”. By giving Syariah courts credibility, they mock the long standing equality of the civil courts giving rise to a whole group of problems when Islam mixes with other religions.

Syariah law enactment and state laws furthered this "supremacy" but setting up rules and regulations for non-Muslims. Because Syariah law is sold as "God’s law" in Malaysia – non-Muslims fight a losing battle from the beginning. These laws give religious enforcement bodies to pretty much whatever they want to do and not even the police can question them. Even constitutional rights of a citizen does not matter to these mob for as far as they are concerned, they are Muslim, they are Malays and that gives them the rights to pretty much rape the system!

A few days ago I was told that religious enforcement officials were citing an Indian curry house because they had their deities in the shop. The reason : Because Malays cannot enter the shop to eat! Such feudalistic approach to religion is borders blasphemous to Islam itself. These so called religious officials are rewriting Islam to suit Malaysian political needs – and Malaysia is paying the price for it.

All one has to do is look though the publication of IKIM etc to see that these organisations have not one ounce of credibility. They portray Islam being fair and just but feed the opposite to the Muslim community. For a Muslim, it is wrong to be come a munafiq (hypocrite) but these Islamic Political Opportunists are pretty much breeding munafiq Malay Muslims. A fine example is this the Allah Issue. Some how, Malaysian Islamic laws is opposite of how the rest of the world practices!

As a Muslim, I am now at a crossroads. I find that I can no longer trust what is preached by these religious officials. In fact the more I discuss Malaysian Islam with Muslims from the Middle East, the more I’m convinced that we have it wrong here. Just a few days ago there were reports that Malaysian religious bodies are giving lectures and warning the Muslims there is going to be a civil war over the Allah issue. Just when you think that these UMNO goons cannot possibly sink any lower – they surprise you by showing how slimy they really are…

The problem is, we are a multi racial country. Muslims fail to fathom that for this country to prosper we need everyone – to work together. If Malaysian Muslims keep pushing their will onto the non-Muslims, sooner or later even the most submissive will start to push back.

Allah in Context

Common statement : "It is a proper noun exclusive to the Islamic faith"

This is a not true. Allah is an Arabic word for God. Its used very widely in the Middle East. It was not "created" in the Malay language but "borrowed" from Arabic.

Prophet Muhammad was an Arab. His language was Arabic. The Angel Gabriel spoke to Muhammad in Arabic and Allah conveyed his message initially to Muhammad through Gabriel.

So in what way all this is specific to only Islam ? Not all Muslims speak Arabic for one and isn’t Allah’s revelation is for all of mankind ?

Besides, if Allah is the name of the God of the Arabs, why are some Malaysian Malays making a fuss over it ? As far as I know, Malays are not Arabs. Even the Arabs seems to be happily going with their business with their Christian brethren over centuries without a fuss – why are some Malaysian Malays ?

All over the world, with any language with some roots with Arabic, like Persia and Punjab, Allah is used to mean God.

Hence no one in Malaysia can "copyright" Allah.

By seeking to "copyright" Allah in Malaysia, it is the most deviating from Islam because in Islam, Allah is universal and supreme. There is no such thing in Islam that says Allah belongs to Malaysian Muslims.

This is why even our most religious Muslims in Middle East did not seek to "copyright" Allah. In fact Quran specifically says that Allah is for "people of the book", the followers for Abrahamic faith. So are Malaysian Muslims changing the Quran now ?

A lot of people talk about "context of usage" when it comes to Allah. But Allah isn’t about context. As a Muslim we should know that if not we are munafiq. What does this mean ? It means just because we technically pray five times a day, fast etc doesn’t make us automatically a Muslim.

Being a Muslim is about understanding. Islam is about brotherhood. We stand united in prayers because of this. But aren’t all people bothers ? Allah created them too. So what right do we have to destroy Allah’s creation if we disagree ? Aren’t we disagreeing with Allah then ? Islam is about charity. Why then do we look at only to serve Muslim needs in Malaysia. Why not help all our brothers. Islam is about compassion and servitude. Why is it then we talk about being Malay more than being a Muslim ? Is being a Malay is more important than Allah ?

Remember, rejecting Christianity means rejecting the Quran as well as Quran talks a lot about Jesus. We were blessed with the Quran for the benefit of all mankind. Not only for Muslims.

As Muslims, we have to open our arms and trust in our faith. If we think that the moment someone says Allah, our faith will erode – that makes us munafiq.

Allah for all.

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