BOOK: Islam in Malaysia- Perceptions and Facts

This is the English edition of Dr. Asri’s Mengemudi Bahtera Perubahan Minda, a compilation of his articles which originally appeared in Mingguan Malaysia. 

This is the most important book to be read for each Malaysian. I cannot stress this further but the Islamic influence on the daily lives of Malaysians seems like eating chicken rice without the chicken. However, many of the concepts and what we perceive to be Islamic are not right at all. I have became a fan of Dr. Asri's ideas which are basically a new presentations of the ideas of Al-Quran and Hadiths. Mind you, it is not the ideas but the way they are presented and narrated to fit today's situations.

"Dr. Asri believes Islam in Malaysia is in dire straits and needed to be rescued yesterday. Not necessarily rescued by political leaders or religious figures though as the good doctor argues that in many cases it is those authorities who are the most responsible for pulling Islam down to where it is now in Malaysia. No, everyone who considers him or herself a Muslim (regardless of social status) must take responsibility and practise Islam as it was practised by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In order to do that, Malaysian Muslims must totally shed the (mostly racial) prejudice, the superstitions many have associated with Islam and the attitude that the ustaz knows best and he must not be questioned."-The Malaysian Reader

The Chukai Insider highly recommends this book to ALL MUSLIMS AND NON-MUSLIMS ALIKE.-The Chukai Insider

READ: Of Fictions and Politics

*This article is about the mixing of religion and politics.
I've read Orhan Pamuk's The Museum of Innocence before and this is my second time reading it. I'm halfway. When others might say fictions do not make you think or be informed of things, I reject the notion. It happened so because you do not think of the message portrayed in the fictions. 

My friends and I might or might not get a position in politics but there are certainly interests on our part to be very interested in it, not for in the name of politics itself but in the name of the our beloved Malaysia. Even reading a novel like this makes me think of politics and how do we compare the subject in a wider sense. It shows vividly how does promotion of secularism in a Muslim society could bring more harm than good. 
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Ulul Albab: Those possessed of understanding

*Lately, The Chukai Insider has lots in his minds and hence the boring articles. Dia sedang berusaha membiasakan diri supaya tidak kekok menulis dalam Bahasa Melayu sebab dia kurang pandai menulis dalam lenggok bahasa yang tidak skema kerana pada dirinya hanya Bahasa Melayu Terengganu yang paling selesa digunakan namun ramai yang tidak faham kot!

Few weeks ago, a friend of mine mentioned the concept of Ulul Albab and since I come from Terengganu, he made the effort to mention about the concept being implemented in the state. Tahniah kepada Terengganu!

Why should we say Tahniah to this lovely state of mine?

I've been reading Dr. Asri's Islam in Malaysia: Perceptions and Facts for these couple of days and found out about the concept of Ulul Albab. And Alhamdulillah, even Dr. Asri mentioned about the concept being applied in the education system of Terengganu.

Why would this Ulul Albab being so special? Why should I bother writing about it?

In his book, Dr. Asri puts forward the fact that The Noble Quran itself champions the term Ulul Albab- it is not an invention of the ulama, or a motivational speaker or a political leader. The term Ulul Albab itself appears 16 times in the Al-Quran (Asri, 2010) and it is therefore the one that we should be striving for.

Ulul Albab means those who are 'possessed of understanding'.

“Sesungguhnya dalam penciptaan langit dan bumi dan silih bergantinya malam dan siang terdapat tanda-tanda bagi Ulil Albab (orang yang berakal)” AlImran :190

Those who possessed understanding therefore should have mature minds and accurate judgements. Let us strive for these and fulfil the concept of Ulul Albab instead of championing other slogans which are just not as complete as the Words of Allah SWT. 

Apabila kita berusaha untuk mencapai tahap itu, maka seharusnya perangai dan kata-kata kita berubah. Bagaimana? Ilmu menjadi jawapan untuk kita mendidik diri ke arah kecemerlangan diri. 

Sebelum kita bertempik dan meraung mengharapkan perubahan orang lain dan perubahan dalam negara, seharusnya kita merubah diri sendiri dulu. Tidak guna jika kita berkumat-kamit mengenai Ulul Albab tanpa berusaha untuk menjadikan diri kita salah seorang daripadanya. Dan ingat, bukan tugas kita untuk menentukan adakah kita Ulul Albab atau tidak, namun usaha yang kita buat perlu diambil berat.

Untuk memenuhi seseorang yang 'possessed of understanding' kita seharusnya bertindak bijak dan matang. Menjawab 'tukar je kerajaan baru' bukanlah jawapan kepada masalah sosial di negara ini. 

I cannot stress this further but changes in the country starts with you- not the country. 

“Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)” 13: 11

I know many of us have heard this before and those speaking about politics are  mostly the ones who heard it mostly but ignore to these Words of Allah SWT the most. It is true what my friend said to me when I ask 'should you involve in politics' and she answered 'only if they are smart enough'. The Ulul Albab generation therefore is therefore the right ones who can get involved in politics. And hence, politics will be clean and Bersih. No Seksualiti Merdeka, no corruptions, no grafts, no leaders who cannot cover aurat properly, no poverty, no people putting other thing than what Allah SWT has ordered to be more important.

Let us be of the Ulul Albab, and not those of slow thought. -The Chukai Insider

Kepandaian dan Politik

Seandainya anda melihat sebuah negeri di Malaysia yang buat waktu ini boleh saya katakan paling maju, anda mampu melihat urus tadbir yang bagus. Namun jika anda berada di sebelah sokongan yang membangkang perkara ini, anda mungkin tidak mampu melihatnya. People see what they want to see. Dalam kes ini, sudah tentu yang membangkang akan terus membangkang. Ini adalah perkara paling bodoh yang berlaku dalam sistem politik negara apabila semua yang salah perlu dijadikan sat benda yang betul jika berada di pihak kawan, namun semua perkara betul perlu dikatakan salah jika berlaku di pihak lawan.

Dalam kes negeri paling maju di Malaysia ini, saya akan merujuk kepada The Pale Blues dan The Reds. Jika anda tidak memahami perkara ini, terdapat banyak blog-blog lain yang boleh membicarakan hal ini dengan lebig terbuka. Saya masih tertakluk di bawah satu akta sebagai seorang pelajar.

Gaji Minimum

Dalam bajet dan polisi negeri maju ini, saya amat kagum dengan ketegasan Pengetua Negeri (harap faham) yang mewakili The Pale Blues. Sementara Kerajaan Belly Button ('belly button' bermaksud 'pusat' di perut anda) masih bergelut untuk melaksanakannya, beliau sudah berjaya melakukannya. Gaji minimum RM1500 itu memberi maksud besar untuk golongan berpendapatan rendah. Mengapa ini perlu dibangkang? 

Surplus dalam bajet 

Perkara ini adalah yang paling penting. Saya begitu berharap negeri Makang Ikang saya beralih seketika untuk melihat pengurusan kewangan negeri paling maju ini. Bukan saya mahu negeri Makang Ikang ini bertukar kerajaan (bertukar Pengetua amat saya harapkan, tapi bukan parti) namun tolonglah lihat ke arah negeri paling maju ini. Surplus, yakni lebihan atau keuntungan dari pendapatan memberi maksud pengurusan kewangan yang cekap. Surplus di negeri maju ini menyebabkan simpanan (reserves) di negeri ini berada pada tahap RM918 juta pada tahun 2010. Pada masa yang sama, negara berada dalam keadaan defisit. Defisit adalah antonim kepada surplus.

Cuba tanya negeri Makang Ikang berapa jumlah simpanannya. Janganlah berharap duit royalti minyak sahaja, carilah sumber pendapatan lain. 

Bilakah anda bekerja untuk rakyat?

Untuk semua ahli politik dari semua parti, soalan yang perlu ditanya ialah- Bilakah anda bekerja untuk rakyat? Jika anda bekerja untuk rakyat, perkara yang baik perlu anda sokong. Kita belajar dari sekolah rendah untuk menjustifikasi mana yang betul dan mana yang salah, bukannya parti mana yang betul dan parti mana yang salah. Jika anda memperjuangkan agama, mengapa perkara yang baik untuk agama (meningkatkan taraf hidup, rezeki) perlu anda halang? 

Perbandingan

Jika dibandingkan Pengetua Negeri yang menghina hamba Allah SWT yang lain dengan memberi batang penyapu dan seorang Pengetua Negeri yang meletakkan gaji minimum RM1500, sudah tentu anda tahu yang mana lagi baik. Satu lagi perbandingan, seorang Pengetua Negeri yang kontroversi dengan rumah banglonya (The Chukai Insider- How do you live your life, Mr Khir Toyo) dan seorang pemimpin yang menguntungkan negeri, mana satu anda mahu? 

Ciri-ciri korporat

Pengetua Negeri paling maju ini bekas tokoh korporat yang memegang jawatan tinggi dalam sebuah syarikat berkaitan kerajaan dulu. Apabila masuk dalam arena politik, beliau tentulah bergelut untuk memuaskan hati penyokong bawahan yang juga termasuk The Rockets. Sudah tentu, The Reds yang sentiasa membangkang walaupun mereka tahu mereka kurang pandai untuk melawan beliau. 

Saya berdoa negeri Makang Ikang saya mendapat seorang Pengetua Negeri yang boleh membawa Ulul Albab ke negerinya dan bukan sekadar pandai memberi duit percuma kepada rakyatnya. Sekian.-The Chukai Insider

*The Chukai Insider really wants his state to be led by someone of a corporate-like and maintains Islamic concepts held by most citizens of the state. He does not normally write in Malay. Forgive him for sounding skema and unnatural.

Undilah: A baffle to minds

It is too late to write about this. But it is never too late to convey the positive message brought by a campaign through Youtube recently. I could not grasp the fuss with the Government for banning the video. Is it because the sometimes-stupid Namawee was in the project? Well, I could accept that and many of us cannot because to some, he said the 'real thing' although what the 'real thing' hit them right them (the supporters) in the nose.

However, banning the video on mainstream media would be a much stupid political act, I would say. We are not even trying to go down the streets to protest (in which I don't support either), but this is a simple act of calling others to do the 'Must-do-thing' for the nation. We should give credits to those who have worked hard to make the campaign. 

The video tries to convey the message to encourage as many voters to do their right as a citizen of this country. And yet, the Government banned the video. I know this campaign came at the right time since my close friends are all not registered although qualified to become one. Hence, to put it simple why does the Government 'curbed' this movement of doing the right thing to Malaysia. Not everyone can become Nicol David to become the world's No.1 player but still they want to contribute to the nation. One of the ways is to encourage others to Vote. How was that wrong still baffled my mind. 

Do not say that the Government already has campaign on their mind since what they are doing with the 'Mari Mengundi' ads made by Jabatan Perfileman Negara was one of the campaign programs that made some of us say 'euww'. The ads should go to the list of the worst ads ever. I do not know how to make the Jabatan or any Government's Jabatans to change with today's 'changes' except with that kind of harsh criticisms as previous constructive criticisms were like going down the drains.

One thing that we are sure of is that even Ku Li was present in the video and that was significance in encouraging Malaysians to cast their vote especially the young ones. Do not say that what am I saying is illegal as I am still a student. How about the rights of me as a Voter? Don't you think that it is a kind of contradicting when they want us to register as voters at the age of 21 but asked us to stay away from politics. You shut up, just register! Woo..

Instead, the Undilah.com website is actually a good ground for the short-message Twitter generation. Here are some of the contents (in which the video was banned!):

Who shall I vote for?

In a democracy, you are entitled to your personal political preference. We don't care who you vote for as long as you do vote.

What do I need to do to vote?

You need to be a Malaysian citizen over the age of 21. You also need to be a registered voter.

How do I register myself as a voter?

There are many voluntary organizations, NGOs and political parties who regularly promote voter registration in public places and events. You may register through them. You may also register at any post office. Just bring you identity card and ask at the counter. It is very easy and takes about 10 minutes.

When should I register?

You may register at anytime. However, if you intend to vote in the coming general election, please register yourself as soon as possible. The Election Commission imposes a voter registration cut-off period counting back 3 months from the date of the election. In other words, you are only eligible to vote if you had registered at least 3 months before the date of the general election.

My friends, you know you have responsibilities to your nation. I have registered myself as a Voter. How about you? It is hypocritical to talk politics when you are not registered as a voter when you are legally qualified to become one. Undilah!-The Chukai Insider

At least we are exposed to English. And understanding comes straight after that.

I was educated in a daily school in a place where urbanisation transcends the village-look of the district. Worth to mention, that my place is located in a state in which education is a very serious thing. Another thing worth to mention, the parents of most of the students are not educated in the sense that majority of them only pass primary school level. As in the case of my father. 

More importantly, it is a stupid thing to mention again and again that when we want to apply for high-income jobs (which could eradicate poverty of the parents),  they interview and ask for your level of proficiency in English. Well, I was born a Trengganu, with minimal-educated parents, never speak English at home, exposed to Sesame Street as a kid (but failed to understand most of the words, except for One, Two, Three and A, B, C, D, E ...). Then, in what sense will I get exposed to English so that my Trengganu tongue is flexible enough to say 'the' the correct way? Or flexible enough to say 'What is your name?' instead of 'Wak is yor neng?'. 

Some quarter of people say you cannot master the English even you are exposed to the language through Science and Mathematics. Boo ya! 

I made efforts to understand the language so that I will not be left behind in those subjects. Only Allah SWT knows how many Goosebumps I read when I was in Form 1 just to build up my confidence in the language. When others read the books when they were in Primary school, I crawled when reading them. 

My parents made efforts to make sure that I really focused on my studies. And surprisingly they are very very supportive. And so was other parents. Because they know the importance of English. To them, this is their access for their children to be 'on-par' with the children of the West Coast. To them, most parents in West Coast speak English to their children, and so the language is really their Second Language. To us, there was only One Language.

Teachers made tremendous efforts to master their teaching in the language, although some failed but their efforts were shown, and the students felt the urge to study and even become better than their teachers in English. Most importantly, we did not learn English. We learn sciences and mathematics, but our mind was set in English and hence, words of 'increase, decrease, set instead of sex' came out of our mouths. Even to those who were 'considered' back-class students (students kelas belakang). Oh, maybe because of your school, it's located in an urban area where most of the people can speak English. Boo ya! This is Chukai where most parents don't speak English, and do not allow their children to be exposed to excessive entertainment (hence less English language exposure!), no English ads whatsoever but they are made in Jawi!

So, yeah we can learn from the environment! Boo boo ya!- bullshit that comes never end from politicians.

* My father's word- It does not matter what language they are teaching you, it depends on you to succeed or not. If others can do it, why not you? 


He was right, hence the issue of students dropping performance because of English, is stupid because they are not on numerical basis. Numbers cannot deceive. In common sense, if students cannot even motivate themselves to study in English, how much better they are motivated to study in Malay? For Trengganu, the so-called bahasa baku is sometimes different than our Mother Tongue. So, whatcha say?

Thus, it should be Dr. Mahathir that I should thank.

*Read the cat's line. You can find the message there. The Truth is always the best!

To those who said English dropped the student's performance, what can you say to the reports during my examination result that says 'student's performance increase' which implies 'PPSMI worked for students, even for the rural ones'. 

Where is the numbers? I thought previously you said
students are performing even the teaching
is in English.

There was no studies conducted and then BANG, you switched again. 

What's the fuss with English? Well, to the most uneducated parents of Trengganu, it matters.

They want their kids to get exposed to the language, because they cannot provide the environment, and they want them to get used to the language, and so they can get jobs which are high-income from Shell, Schlumberger, Petronas, Exxon Mobil (from what they see in Kerteh probably) which requires you to SPEAK, WRITE, LEARN ENGLISH. 

Barbers, farmers, fishermen, pembuat keropok lekor, satar, otok-otok, pembuat lemang Kijal will ask their sons and daughters to do this "Gi wat keje mu, gi belajo" (go do your work, go study) because in their minds that is the only way for their sons and daughters to succeed and help them later on. Hence, if you educate them the wrong way, don't you think that you deny their rights of access to good education? 

If you want to switch back, ask not international companies, but your local companies such as Petronas, Bank Negara, Khazanah or TNB to speak in Malay during their functionaries because so far as I can remember, they always say 'I will proceed in English because we are a multinational company and we have employees from many different countries' and not just that, even the companies which are confirmed to have most Malaysians working for them like the Bank, still English is the medium language.

How can you answer that Mister TPM M? I know, the same old crap we are strengthening the English teaching bla bla bla. 

Wait wait, where are the politicians' sons and daughters educated? I think PM's son was sent to an English school in UK and then sent to America. Why my Trengganu people cannot get that?-The Chukai Insider

A Country at the Crossroads

It seems like Malaysia has never been more open enough in terms of discussion of many things that involve principles, ideologies and beliefs. More divided than before, I would say. Or more concreted to each other as I would want to see it. And yet, while having these tonnes of issues which were considered 'sensitive' the proponents of freedom of speech still fighting for their cause. I think they like to oppose much until they forgot when to stop. Once born Opposition, you keep opposing without any judgements whether they are good or bad. All things are bad, according to you. Unless you are the ones making bad stuffs, no one can put the issues in their newspapers. Well Seputeh's, that's for you. Why did I say that? Do you remember when one of your fella 'rocket' members say our flag should be changed and you told the media to keep the thing off and move on. Oh, how dumber could you get when your leaned-towards-you media been bashing all things done by the other side.

I am not saying that I am on that side. It is just you do things so unpragmatic without credibilities and of course the right word is 'stupid'. Well, it's the rockets. I wonder what the White Moon on the Greens would say since the Rockets are their 'allies'. 

Well, the one with the big serban in Kelantan would just speak with his accent and things would be kept shut. He likes to keep others shut with his sharp and yet unconclusive words. I do respect him but never want him to become my leader.

The other side is no better. When Moderation is the key as they would say, the extreme championista are at their sides. I don't want a wife looks like having her time of life when his husband is the Project Manager (PM) of the country. More hairdo, huh? Make it bigger. 

When some people still do not understand hudud, and its application, the Project Manager straight away said 'NO' when majority of those who understood it thought he should not say that. It really shows that you don't understand the concept and yet you bring the Islamic notion to the international level. Aren't you ashamed? And while at the back, the Queen Bee still does not cover her hair. When could you say it's not yet time or so-called 'your rights', please remember that you are the slave of Allah SWT in this world, and you are not obeying His words. And yet, you tell others in the country to follow you while in my eyes, you don't even have the guts to adhere to your religion closely when it is of paramount importance.

One side is too much to the worldly matters, the other side is no better except in a different way. The opportunist rocket is watching. Still, The Chukai Insider is wondering why the Red Keris and The White Moon on the Greens cannot work together? If tarbiyah is the dogma of The White Moon on the Greens, then they should be acting like friends and not bashing the other side like you don't want to be friends. To the Red Keris, we all know most of you agreed with what The White Moon on the Greens fight for, but why the arrogance?

Everyone was brought up in different ways and so we have different opinions. However, we have always wanted the best in Malaysia. How do you define that is different again. Let's work on it. Yes, the Reds and Greens, please work on your relationship and we can move on, happily ever after.-The Chukai Insider

Did Malaysia mature when we were not looking?

This article is taken from The Malaysian Insider, 31st October 2011. The article can be found here.

OCT 31 — The flurry of Malay organisations making the news in Malaysia bodes well for the country, whether or not these group together extreme rightists, opposition voices, concerned students or professors, or green or human right activists.

The matter has now become too obvious to be denied, which is that the Malay community in Malaysia is like any other community anywhere in the world. Its collectiveness, like anyone else’s, is pragmatic and contingent. This is how it should be. They are not an entity whose extremely diverse and individual needs, thoughts and aspirations can be articulated through one single political party.

The myth is broken. What will take its place is a cacophony of noises or a symphony of tunes, depending on one’s politics and disposition.

That powerful party, Umno, is the oldest in the country, founded as it was just one year after the Second World War. It has dominated Malaysian politics to this day, but now rightly fears that it will lose power in the very near future.

When the party started, its slogan was “Hidup Melayu” — Long Live the Malays. Only after changing that to “Merdeka” in March 1951 did it begin to make serious headway into the popular consciousness.

From the very beginning, Malay political consciousness went in many directions. There were pan-Indonesianists, communists and other leftists, monarchists, Fabian socialists and republicans. The British, with their reputation lost through their defeat by the Japanese, favoured conservatives who were willing to work closely with the nine sultanates. This entity was Umno.

The amazing diversity found in the Malay community — as in all communities — was obvious from the onset. Those more concerned about religious values broke away to form PAS in 1951, while Umno itself split around the same time when its president, Onn Jaafar, left with his group of followers to form the Independence of Malaya Party (IMP).

Umno gained the upper hand through co-operation with the Malayan Chinese Association, formed at the instigation of the British to draw Chinese support away from the communists. This coalition managed to gain independence in 1957 for the country after its electoral successes saw the British abandoning the IMP, which they had favoured since its founding.

Even after 1969, when the so-called Malay agenda could be applied fully through the New Economic Policy, internal fighting continued within Umno, leading to outright splits in 1988 and 1998.

Today, when more and more Malays are urban and well educated, and make up an increasing portion of the population, the expression of diversity within that community — the breaking of the collective myth — should be seen as the coming into being of Malaysia’s modern citizen, largely determined by the Malays.

Opposition from other communities since 1969 has been generally weak, and based on the activism of certain individuals. The propaganda that had served Umno for so long, that the Malays are in danger of extinction, does not work anymore.

This became most obvious when the group Himpun recently demonstrated with a cry against purported Christian threats to Islam.

Despite the claim that a massive crowd of one million would turn up, the Umno government granted the permit. Only 5,000 people showed up, indicating quite clearly that Malays in general cannot relate to the old idle logic any longer.

The Malays continue to decide the national discourse, as they have done since the beginning. But most hearteningly, diversity is taken for granted, and a lot of activism is done in collaboration with non-Malays.

The Malaysian citizen has come into his and her own right.

There is no longer any doubt that the Malays will “hidup”; and Merdeka was won a long time ago. What seems to be the problem now is, how quickly will the death of the old myth mean the fall from power of Umno?

Instead of 1 Malaysia, Umno’s latest slogan, to be correctly reflective of the government’s concerns, should be “Hidup Pemimpin Umno” — Long Live Umno Leaders. — Today

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

Again on Hudud

This is a simple article just to make my stand on Hudud issue clearer. 

1. It is a matter of choice of Muslims in today's conditions. Not in the context of today's 'world' as Al-Quran is relevant throughout the time. Today's conditions means the situations do not allow us to implement it due to many reasons- unfair institutions, elitism, separation of powers between the leader and the people, unequal distribution of wealth etc. And this matter is already agreed by neutral and unbiased Islamic scholar like Dr. Asri since we are not yet able to provide an adil situation in which all basic conditions of human be met (easy marriage is an example). To put it simple, work on to eliminate those things to implement Hudud. Yes, this goes to you too the Greens. 

On this basis, Hudud law cannot be implemented now. (The Chukai Insider's stand)

2. If you believe that Al-Quran is the Allah's sayings to the Muslims, and you yourself are in efforts to become a Muslims (the lowest level of iman) then you should be in effort to make hudud laws as a way of societies' lives. But never to the point where you implement the whole hudud law but the societies are not yet ready for it. Then, what is the purpose of hudud law if the believers don't even believe in the reasons behind the laws. It would be extremely stupid and very wrong on your side.

3. Hence, priorities should be given to educate the law to the people- not bashing each other on the basis of which one is right. For a wise Muslim, it is the ultimate goal to go with Allah's sayings (decree) and hence we must understand the reasons behind the law. We do not just publicise the law to the public and just say that we should do this and this. It is stupid to implement something in which even the people (rakyat) still do not get to understand and practice. 

4. No example could be better than this- 'some' Saudi Arabians on plane already took off their covers (tudungs/jilbab) once they are outside the country. Does this show that once they are outside the law, they can go against it? This shows lack of deep understanding (fahmuddaki') on their believes. The same thing could happen in Malaysia. Or if it is allowed in the Constitution to implement it in some states, many will fled out of them. And it is not their fault that they feel scared since they don't understand the law. Politicians on both sides argued who is better but everyone wants to be accepted in Allah's views. Perhaps. Hence work together to make sure the conditions where Hudud law can be implemented be realised. 

5. To the championista of Hudud law, it is the responsibility of the Muslims then to support the efforts of going for Hudud law. But the most important thing is education to the people. It is extremely stupid to implement without people understanding it. Even Rasulullah SAW took 13 years to educate and to the level that is far better than today's. I doubt even in Kelantan the leaders can provide the same conditions that Hudud may be implemented in the near future. 

6. This is the truth- in Kelantan or Terengganu. There is always a stark difference between those who are the religous and not. But the vocal ones are the religious person (in this context, practising Muslims) but please do educate others first before you chanting Hudud to the public.

7. I never saw an imam approaching the mat rempits (it may happened but I do not think so since I never saw one approaching the latter) and at least try to converse with them and then make them interested with the religion. When you implement Hudud, what will happen to this cluster of people? They were not educated the proper way and not even acknowledged the reasons behind the law and then get punished.- When you later on say that this group will get scared after the law is implemented, then will they do nothing and be kinder? No, you must remember that there is a possibility that they will get worse and flee away. So, you leave the states full with so-called good people and let others do their bad things somewhere else? Think!

8. Who do you think they will blame?

9. When da'wah is the branch of politics (I saw this with the Greens) then it is hard to make people understand about it. Ilmu as mentioned in the first Surah of Al-Alaq should be given the highest priority to make people understand Hudud law-even to the so called a Muslim columnist championing the human rights. How about the rights to practise my religion- in this case Islam and Hudud? Can you answer that Z Anwar?


 Educating those in power should be prioritised. However, it is so sad to see that even those wearing kopiah on top of their heads saying bad words and 'trying' to educate the less-educated the wrong way and they call themselves the 'knowing' and 'holding Allah's trust as khalifah on this earth'.

There is no point you post pictures of people under punishment of Hudud law if you want that to happen. You must go deeper to yourselves and reflect on how do you understand the law in the first place. I have lots of friends posting photos of Hudud law implementation but fail to make others to understand the law but keep their friend distancing themselves from understanding the law. Maybe your niat is good but the way you transmit the message could not be more wrong. The key word is: educate. Educate yourself first then others.

10. Hudud is a must. Education to understand it is much much more needed.-The Chukai Insider

Hudud Issue: How about you?

Have you heard the brouhaha about Hudud issue in Malaysia? Yes, for only Allah SWT knows how many times have this issue being raised to the public discussion and fall to deaf ears months after that. Like a crab in holes of the sand at the beach, it will come out to the surface of the public's mind by any means but ultimately by one of the so-called Islamist party of Malaysia- The Greens. 

If you consider yourself a Muslim, you should not take this as something brought up by a political party. Believe me, even me who are really anti of the political dinosaurs of the Greens think that we should never take this as a political games or ploy. We the Muslims either on  the Reds and the Greens must take this seriously. So are the young of this time!

Again, be grateful to Allah SWT that in His barakah and opportunities that we are able to come across with this issue when we are still in early twenties or younger. Don't you think it is a sign of a better world for Malaysians?

If they do not raise the issue in public, would you ever give a damn about Hudud? Nay.

I would not go to the details of Hudud as I am not an expert but I AM A MALAYSIAN and have the right of expressing opinion under the Constitution. 

First and foremost  I think Mr.N said one of the dumbest thing when he said 'No hudud in Malaysia' as he already put a dot on the issue. While a Malaysian Project Manager (PM) must become the mediator in most cases, and then rolled out his stand, he did the opposite thing. How dumber could it be?

When you said that, it gives the impression even you don't understand the concept of Hudud itself and you yourself say you are a Muslim and the leader of a Muslim country and yet what Allah SWT says are denied by you. Yes, we are not able to do it since the current situation will make it worst (more of that here) but in mu humble opinion, we should strive to bring the society towards there. Being a Malaysian Project Manager does not mean you have the word to go against your God. In that sense, you against the trust of the people and you took an oath before. Nay?

It is ubiquitous nowadays to see the so-called I-am-a-Muslim-too and yet they translate the religious issues on literal basis without Quranic verses and interpretations. Yes, to Non-Muslims reading this, you do not have to worry about not understanding Hudud (and) most of the time you get misled by the wrong authority since it will not bring harm to you (we do not stone you to death if you don't want the laws).You always get misled by the wrong people. Even Muslims themselves don't understand it. Even if they understand, they already set their mind that Hudud is 'uncivilised' and therefore cannot be implemented. For example- THIS ARTICLE. What do you mean  by 'No hudud please, we're Malaysians'. No offence, but I still think if you do not even care to wear enough fabrics to cover your aurat, I don't think you have the capacity to even deny about it. Furthermore, you misled others. Isn't that asking Muslims to have bad impressions on their own religion? Even worse, you play around with the issue and make it a laughing matter. One obvious stupid thing you did- referring rape as adultery while in fact it is not. You should read this.

As a humble slave of Allah SWT, I encourage you to think about this issue. It is not political, trust me. It is your life and it goes back to you and your life. I still think that Hudud cannot be implemented YET in Malaysia (and even in one of its states) but the efforts to bring the people towards the level of Hudud-ness (my own term) must be done. 

What I mean by this is mentioned in by Dr Asri in his website:

Nabi s.a.w sebelum menegaskan tentang hudud, baginda mewujudkan suasana keadilan yang menyeluruh dalam masyarakat yang diperintah oleh baginda. Pemerintah dan rakyat sama setaraf di hadapan undang-undang. Tiada diskriminasi keturunan dan latar belakang. Suanana kebajikan; bantu membantu, tolong menolong antara masyarakat yang kukuh. Jaminan hak rakyat yang diberikan. Suasana halal yang mudah; mudah berkahwin, talak, fasakh, khuluk dan selainnya. Tiada alasan untuk lelaki ataupun wanita berzina. Sementara suasana haram yang diketatkan; sukar mendapat dan menebusi perkara haram. 

And yet we still do not have that. This is what I referred to as going for Hudud-ness.

Hudud-ness refers to the conditions in which all of the environments, laws and leaders provide the base for Hudud to be implemented. 

Simple question: As good a law could be, if the implementers are as bad as today's, what will happen? 

Again, the name of Islam will be used to against it and thereby putting bad impressions on the religion.

To the columnist who wrote 'No hudud please', please understand the law carefully first and don't make yourself look 'SO DUMB' to the millions of readers of the newspaper.-The Chukai Insider

Hudud is a matter of choice for Muslims

This Opinion is taken from The Star Online. 

It is a must-read if you care about your faith even you are not a Muslim. It is an essential for every Malaysian to read this. Even the Muslims themselves don't understand this issue as I may suggest by what a columnist in The Star wrote last week. In one word-shameful. This is written by Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, Member of Parliament for Kota Raja, Selangor.

I AM writing this in response to Zainah Anwar’s article “No hudud please, we are Malaysians” (Sunday Star, Oct 2), where she presented her objections to the implementation of hudud law.

I understand that she sees herself as a “modern, democratic and progressive” person and, as such, has great difficulty in understanding why there exists to this day people who are “stuck in medieval times”.

I know that her views with respect to hudud and perhaps the Islamic legal system is shared by some Muslims and this is why I am responding to her article. First, I believe a brief explanation on what hudud law is about would be relevant.

Hudud law refers to those specific crimes and their related punishment which have been categorically mentioned in the Quran. As such, there are only a few crimes which fall under the purview of hudud law. Given that these laws are directly derived from the Quran, to the Muslim who believes that the Quran is the word of God, its implementation is a matter of faith.

The crimes which cannot be charged under hudud fall under the purview of ta’zir wherein the punishment and mode of proof is open to discussion and debate.

It has also to be understood that the implementation of hudud laws is subject to very strict and stringent requirements. Due to the stringent punishments which are to be meted out, the requirements to necessitate the implementation of these laws are also equally stringent.

The case of adultery

The question of four witnesses in the case of adultery and the subsequent qazaf punishment should the accuser fail to bring forth the four witnesses is frequently scoffed at but it is an example of the strict and stringent requirements for conviction in view of the stringent punishment to be meted out. To meet the requirement of four reputable witnesses makes conviction almost impossible.

Perhaps some may then question that if it is nearly impossible to get a conviction in the case of adultery, why then the need for such a law? The answer is to maintain the status of adultery as a heinous crime in the eyes of the public. No one will then brag of having had illicit affairs in public.

The social implications of adultery is obvious for all to see. Abandoned babies, divorces and such are clearly on the increase. We speak out against the stringent punishment for adultery but who speaks out for the dead baby found in the trash bins?

The purpose of this requirement is also to ensure that such accusations are not made irresponsibly and rumours pertaining to a person’s moral uprightness are seen as something unacceptable by the general public.

The case of rape

In relation to the issue of rape, it has also to be explained, in the event some people still do not understand, that rape and adultery are two different things. The law pertaining to adultery is not applicable to rape. An accusation of adultery is made by a third party wherein the act is done by other consenting individuals.

An accusation of rape, on the other hand, is made by the victim herself, not a third party, and it is far from being consensual.

Given the situation, the requirement for the four witnesses is not relevant to rape as it is to strengthen the accusation of the third party in the case of an accusation of adultery. In the case of rape, conventional items of proof can be used such as DNA to secure a conviction.

It is to be noted that in the case of rape, many rapists get off scot free as they allege it was consensual sex. This is more so in “date rapes” or cases when the rapist is an acquaintance of the victim.

In such cases, the victim has to prove that it was not consensual. In most cases the victim and her moral integrity is then put on trial. Under the Islamic system, consensual sex is not a defence for the rapist as in effect he would be admitting to adultery. The victim would be let off as she claims rape and her involvement in the sexual act was not consensual.

There are those who would argue that an unsuspecting male would then become the victim when a woman seduces him and she then cries rape.

To that, my response would be for the male to keep his pants on at all times. This in itself would be a deterent to the occurrence of adultery as the male would always be wary since he would have no escape route open to him should she intend to entrap him.

I do not deny that in some cases, there are those who insist that rape and adultery are the same. It has to be noted that such claims have no Quranic justification and can be taken as a misinterpretation of Islamic law by individuals who do not understand the difference between the two.

If this happens, I am sure the Sisters in Islam will be able to argue out the case for differentiating between the two cases.

Pregnancy out of wedlock

Similar is the case for women who become pregnant out of wedlock. All that needs to be done is to say that she was raped or forced to have sex and that would suffice as her defence. Anyone saying otherwise should bring forth four witnesses as they are then the ones accusing her of having committed adultery.

A case in point is an incident in the time of Umar Al-Khattab when an unmarried woman was brought to him after having given birth to a child. Umar wanted to punish her but when asked by Ali, she explained what happened some 10 months before when she was forced to have sex in exchange for a drink of milk while she was dying of thirst.

Given that explanation, Ali quickly retorted that she was a victim, forced to have sex and should not therefore be punished. She was then released.

It is to be understood that the spirit behind the implementation of the law is to find the accused innocent unless the evidence and proof are so overwhelming and all requirements have been met that it cannot be opined otherwise other than guilty.

It is not to be implemented with a blood-thirsty and overzealous attitude as what some may wish to portray.

Thieves and the cutting

off of their hands

In the case of theft and the cutting off of the hand of the thief, it has to be understood that in the first place, two righteous persons need to come forward as witnesses. They must have seen the thief stealing the item with their own eyes.

At the same time, the item stolen must be above a certain value, kept in a reasonably safe location and the reasons for stealing must be other than out of necessity.

Last but not least, the victim must insist on charging the thief or thieves in court knowing full well the punishment which will be meted out in the case of a conviction.

Should the victim choose to retract all charges, after having achieved an amicable out of court agreement, then again the conviction and thereby the punishment averted.

It must be always borne in mind that the purpose of the law is to act as a serious deterrent to all “would-be perpetrators” and in so doing, reduce crime significantly. It is not the objective to maximise the number of those punished.

Theft, especially one accompanied by violence, leaves traumatised victims in its wake. Victims of snatch thieves, dragged over a few metres, suffer serious injuries. Some have died. Pregnant women have been known to suffer miscarriage and even innocent bystanders have been known to have become victims of this crime.

While conviction is difficult, due to the requirements set by the hudud, its implementation will serve as an effective deterrent. Should, through its implementation, the occurrence of crime be significantly reduced, then we must say that it has achieved its objective.

If a single hand is in the end cut off, but through it a thousand incidents are averted, and with it also a thousand traumatised victims, would one not say that the law has been a success?

It has to be reiterated that in the event a case cannot be charged under hudud, due to it not fulfilling the explicit requirements, it can then be charged under ta’zir.

In the case of theft, this includes situations where there were no witnesses to the crime but the stolen material was found in the possession of the accused, or there was only one witness instead of two. In such cases the accused, if found guilty, will still be punished but not under the laws of hudud.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that much is not known about hudud law and how it works within the bigger overall legal system, particularly by those who wish to appear as champions opposing it. What should happen is for the proponents to present their case in detail first, before it is opposed based on the points presented.

Secondly, while the punishment for hudud crimes are quite explicit, the procedures for its implementation can be discussed and so designed so as to ensure that they will not lead to an easy conviction.

Third and last, it is up to Muslims to decide whether they wish for these laws to be implemented on them.

If that is what they wish for, understanding it to be a requirement of their faith, who then is Zainah to refuse them their choice? After all, is it not said that one man’s meat is another man’s poison?

For those who like to give the impression that when hudud is implemented there will be so many people walking around without limbs and there will be not enough stones to throw, they are admitting that there are many thieves and adulterers among us who would commit these heinous crimes unashamedly in broad daylight.

If society has come to this point, don’t you think that immorality in our society has reached uncontrollable levels and that hudud is imperative? Laws are not only to punish but to be a deterrent.

Allah SWT understands the nature of His creations better than we understand ourselves. It is our faith that Allah SWT knows best.

As Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Asri puts it precisely, as Muslim you cannot go against Allah’s decree (the Quran is the word of God) but you can question the enactments and their implementation.

Sisters, if you accept the word of Allah SWT, you would be doing a great service to Islam if you can sit down with the implementers to iron out what you may perceive would be unjust in the implementation of hudud.

DR SITI MARIAH MAHMUD,

MP Kota Raja, Selangor.