Malay Muslim - The Disillusioned and the Murtad

Islam stands pure as the only religion with the blessing of ALLAH S.W.T that was brought to us by our Prophet MUHAMAD (PBUH) through the miracle of AL QURAN and the HADIS. Here lies the fountain of wisdom for all sciences and arts, and source of inspiration for every aspect of our lives.

Islam is a religion, and all Muslim are followers of Islam. ISLAM IS BEAUTIFUL RELIGION. IT IS THE CONDUCT OF MUSLIM THAT TEND TO TARNISH THE IMAGE OF ISLAM.

There is no limit in the wisdom of Islam and the Quran. The limitation lies in our capacity to tap them and our unwillingness to apply the values and wisdom in all aspect of our daily lives…... beyond just the Islamic TEXTS (for example reading of YASIN, AL QURAN, etc. and RITUALS (for example pray 5 times a day, etc) .

We were borne with very little abilities but endowed with the capacity to develop many of our abilities, including our ability to learn. Learning becomes effective when one begins to ask QUESTIONS. Other important learning enablers are HOME and the ENVIRONMENT where one is exposed to LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. Learning opportunities differ from home to home and from one environment to another. Thus the quality of the ANSWERS to the questions will also differ. Let’s use this scenario to analyze the issue of the disillusioned and the MURTAD.

We were borne as Muslim with the status of "Islam" being our religion. That status was formalized at the age of 12 when we received our identity cards. No formal "conversion" takes place. We are Muslim simply because our parents were also borne with the same identity. We embraced Islam as soon we learn to read the Quran, recited the DUA KALIMAH SHAHADAH and as we learned and started to pray. The quality of Islam among us differs according to the varying learning factors and exposures mentioned earlier. We were taught to read the Quran and pray five times a day. We learned the RUKUN ISLAM and RUKUN IMAN. We went through basically the texts and rituals of Islam.

I believe most Malays lack the awareness and understanding in the value and practice of Islam beyond the texts and rituals. Islamic teachings encompass guidelines that relates to FAMILY, COMMUNITY, ADMINISTRATION, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICS, GOVERNMENT, LAW and ORDER, HEALTH, etc. We tend to apply very little ‘Islamic’ in those areas. Which explain why we hear the insinuation that "There are places with many Muslim like Malaysia and Indonesia, but not much Islam", or "Places with not many Muslim like Japan, Germany, Denmark, but so much Islam".

At this point I am tempted to illustrate two interesting examples, one being our Muslim leaders who are dedicated to the text and ritual of Islam, but their responsibility to eradicate the ever increasing corrupt practices in our country become apparently difficult when they are seen to be implicated as well, like money politics, etc.

Another example relates to our religious front. Our mosques are very popular venues especially for Friday prayers and for learning the texts and other rituals. It is not a sanctuary where individuals seek consultation or guidance on Islam. Where do we go to seek guidance when we get disillusioned? If you read those case 'stories' from the MURTAD website, you would want to ‘puke’ at the questions and problems they were facing. The QUESTIONS they have and how they find the ANSWERS. But can those individuals find the answers and the support they needed at our mosque?? I very much doubt it.

Mosque is the most accessible and convenient place for any Muslim to visit. It requires no formality and opens to all, but for years that we had been in and out of the Mosque, we never had any moment when an Imam greet and welcome us. No matter how regular we were, we were just another statistic who comes in and out to perform our prayers. Not that it matters, but the point I am making is the 'impersonal attitude’ of our religious culture. In fact we may even be expected to be ‘reprimanded’ at times when Friday KHUTBAH directed 'scolding' and 'sarcasm' at those in attendance, which were actually meant for the absent 'truants'.

Mosques CAN become natural venues to establish helpdesks for our disillusioned. We have sufficient quantities that we only need to add qualities. There won’t be any need for the government to come up with another bonanza budget to put this helpdesk notion to work. The religious authority need only to provide the major mosques in all states with a network of experts both in coaching skills and the knowledge of Islamic fundamentals to champion each local helpdesk. The next layer will be another network which consist of support groups given the task of any follow up works that may be deemed necessary. The support groups may ideally be volunteers coming from local intellectuals. We are never in short supply of retired local professionals who patronize the mosques within their community. They will make ideal and willing candidates for such voluntary deeds. We need to educate the officials of the mosques regarding the current issues and problems faced by the local Muslim, especially the disillusioned. They need to be trained to be customer friendly in order to assume the role of first contact person to arrange further help that may be required.

We need to draw up the mission, effective strategy, clear objectives and communication in place to drive and guide the members of local helpdesks. When we have young and fragile brothers and sisters needing help, they can call or go to any dedicated local mosque and request for help. The official will arrange the coaching session in an effort to resolve their disillusionment about life....... and ultimately about Islam?

Our religious department officials need to reinvent themselves in the way they project their role and image of Islam to the public.

• They should not be seen as only interested at catching people doing wrong. Instead of projecting their punitive image, a more caring and educating programs would be more welcomed. They should not be too hung up about issue of cosmetics (for example head scarf, dressing, etc.) but engage more in educating the values. It will require more time and patient, but the effect will be lasting and secure.

• Not to be obsessed on the use of deterrents such as the issuance of summon since it was a method adopted from the colonial, and caning is a way of the pagan era. We need to move with time. Education takes time but effective since it will make the person to be self driven.

• Need to formulate strategy to make Islam attractive both to Muslim and the Malaysian public. That Islam is not just about HARAM. It is not about marrying four wives or allows the beating of ‘errant’ wives.

• Muslim scholars need to do less with one way CERAMAH on television or other media. More customized and personalized programs need to be initiated to suit the prevailing problems faced by the disillusioned Muslim. They should stop thinking that one solution fits all. They need to be relevant. They need to walk their talk.

• They should not just react to problem when problem arise. They need to establish the intelligence network on MURTAD cases and tackle the situation early.

Muslim need to work together in spirit and value of Islam, and develop the culture of practice that is educative, sharing, caring and always relevant with time.

Wasalam.

What say you ?

Using the text Allah

RELIGIOUS MATTERS ARE BEST RESOLVED THROUGH RELIGIOUS MEANS AND REASONING

Following the court decision allowing the use of the text ALLAH by the Catholic Weekly, the Herald, there had been so much controversy surrounding it. The world knew what happened since then.

In the face of this controversy the ensuing reactions were anger and calls to stop the Christian from using the text ALLAH in their practice, and in all forms of communicative display. There were even several outbursts within the wake of the anger that several churches were subjected to attempted arson, splash of paint, and other physical abuse.

Do we need to be belligerent towards the Christian over the usage of the text? As Muslim we believe that the Christian and others have erred in their religious paths and practices, but are they not also the creation of ALLAH, as they are being part of mankind? Isn’t ALLAH the only God and God to all mankind? We can be so concerned with the use of the text that we can also risk acting contrary to its meaning?

Do we want to distance ourselves from the non Muslim and always be suspicious of them? All that they hear from us is HARAM. JAIS had already banned them from using 25 texts. Do we not want others to be attracted to Islam? Most importantly, do we want to continue teach our Muslim brothers and sisters to communicate in the same manner? Say no to our non Muslim neighbors without communicating the rationale? I think we should start saying more yes and use the opportunity and tell them more about Islam. I think the Muslim should be taught more about Islam to able to communicate more positively. That way we can become more attractive to others. It will open up the way for us to be genuine leaders and take better control.

I think we should "allow" them use the text ALLAH and at the same time communicate to them the true meaning of ALLAH. Wouldn’t this be the most opportune moment to communicate to the Christian that it is alright to use the text, as long as they understand the need to embrace the true meaning of the text. We need to communicate with grace that, the Christian likewise, need also to handle the text with utmost care according to its true meaning. Such communication need to be handled by top religious authorities and Islamic scholars. The Christian should not take the text without reflecting its true meaning. To use the text without the true meaning will tantamount to its misuse and abuse. That will not be acceptable. If eventually they do accept it, then they will be many steps closer to our camp. That will be a great victory for Islam. If they don’t, and decided to instead use the texts “JEHOVAH” to mean Lord and “ELOHIM” to mean God, then it will be their choice. No love lost.

Religious matters are best resolved through religious means and reasoning, but at the time we must portray the grace, skill, patient and excellence in our leadership.

The rest of us need to learn from the communication. We must be united and clear in what we communicate. To tell the Christian that by allowing them use the text will only confuse our young generation is a very lame excuse. That it will hurt our feelings is pathetic. To quote past histories will only sound incoherent since the current generation hardly understand or feel attached to it. In the final analysis, it will only expose our weaknesses. Are we not confident of our parenting skills and religious education that our young children can easily be misled by the teaching of Christian? Is our religious environment so fragile and vague that our young generation can get confuse with what is Islamic right from wrong? We already have enough problems of our own doings to blame on. Our involvement in corruptions, domestic abuses, and serious crimes are sending the wrong signals to our young people about our commitment to the teaching of Islam. If those were our subtle admission, then the only way forward is to correct and consolidate ourselves.

We can choose to be perceived as fanatical, narrow minded and chauvinistic, or we can portray ourselves as most civilized and wisest of the lot. We need to initiate the communication and lead the way. We can show the Christian and others how the Muslim behaves in accordance to the teaching of Islam. We can win their hearts and followings only by our noble and exemplary behavior. This is the testing moment of our tolerance, sensitivity, wisdom and leadership.

Acting in contrast as we have demonstrated currently will only betray the very spirit of the text and meaning of ALLAH that we are passionately trying to defend in the first place.

The world is watching us. We can help change their negative perception about Islam. As Malaysian Muslim we can positively contribute to that by the way we treat our non Muslim brothers and sisters who in this instance happened to be the minority Christian.

Wasalam.