Oct

22

Are Malaysian Muslims confused?

October 22, 2008 |

If not for the fact that the writer that I am about to quote is an Arabic Muslim of some international repute, I would probably be charged with sedition for insulting Islam. I have previously quoted Abd al-Rahman Azzam in one of my earlier postings.

The book that I am reading was found in a bargain bin and the title is “The Eternal Message of Muhammad”. I was reluctant to buy it because it was still not cheap despite the hefty discount. However, the benefit of hindsight tells me that my instinct was right.

Anyway, I am sharing the following passage with my fellow Malaysians because:

1. most Malaysian non-Muslims far too often have a misguided impression of what Islam is; and
2. the political stand of many Malaysian Muslims, especially in regard to racial equality, is contradictory to the faith they profess.

Here’s the passage:

“… Muslims in Africa and Asia are still confused and disturbed. They have known for a long time that they have a faith, a revealed Law, a society, and principles which call for a state that is neither secular not theocratic but possibly both, and that is neither autocratic nor demagogic. Muslim society is based on the freedom of the individual and the equality of everyone. Muslim society is in its essence a free, classless society. It is classless not on the basis of any economic theory but on the basis of its egalitarian laws and its refusal to recognize distinction and honor except through piety and submission to the revealed Law, whose fundamental principles are universal, humane, and democratic. Nothing that is preached by the East or West is new to the Muslims. Reason is essential in judging even their dogmas and matters of faith, just as independent reasoning is one of the four sources of their jurisprudence.”

I must say that the misguided impression of Islam that non-Muslim Malaysians have is actually quite understandable. We are like deep-sea fish that do know the meaning of salt water until we are out of it.

Whatever it is, all Malaysians ought to try harder to understand their own religion and those of others.

Salam.


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2 Comments so far

  1. shazl on November 24, 2008 6:31 pm

    Islam is religion that need to be seek, religion which guide to journey of eternal truth. It is a journey with enormous steadfastness to improve ownself in life and become realise the meaning of life. It is gradual process of one self to to now where he had started, where he heading and what will the be end. So its ok for the follower to be confused or bogged down , importantly move on with the journey and keep on searching…

  2. Jonson Chong on December 2, 2008 5:19 pm

    After reading this posting on From Malaysia to Scandalasia, I believe I’m not too far off the mark when I ask if Malaysian Muslims are confused.

    I ask not out of hate or malice, but to query my fellow Malaysians whether they are aware of the tenets of their own faith. If one is not clear about one’s own faith, then how can we be sure that what we think, say and do are correct?

    Indeed, I have the utmost respect for the Islamic faith. I consider it a very enlightening and practical religion. However, I strongly believe that many Malaysian Muslims don’t know what they are missing.

    Salam.

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