Lawyer asks if Malay-Muslims are entitled to better rights during Ramadan - a response

I refer to Syahredzan Johan’s articles published on the Star newspaper, which alleged muslim insensitivities of other non-muslims citizens of this country. It appears to pile up the blame on muslims who offend non-muslim, be it in everyday life or on especially occasions like during the fasting month. He forgets to mentioned that some local muslim workers and muslim workers from foreign countries are often denied to pray during Friday, and in spite of that, Christians are given a full holiday to attend church during Sundays! He also forgets that, while a muslim must work on Fridays, even though they can attend Friday prayers, but Hindus and Buddist have their own public holidays in Thaipusam, Deepavali and Wesak day. He also forgets to mentioned various female muslim workers were asked to remove their headscarf, before being employed, in a non-muslim controlled company, such the case of Rosyam Noor’s daughter who was asked to remove her headscarf before securing employment in Toy R’ Us. Not long ago, Utusan Malaysia did report a female Chinese muslim convert who was asked to remove her headscarf when she was enrolled in a Chinese vernacular school. And UKM has reported that muslim Malay undergrads are less likely to secure employment in companies run by non-Malay muslim, which is fact a religious discrimination. He also forgot to mentioned incidences where pig-heads were left outside mosque compounds, which is a sign of disrespect for muslims. I expect an even reporting from a lawyer, not biased reporting which provide fuel for Islamophobic newspapers like the The Star. I would urge the lawyer to look into more insensitivities committed by non-muslim against the muslim majority.

Farah Ann Hadi semi-nude attire and indecent performance

Around 50 years ago NBA basketballers wore short trousers, but now players can wear long shorts which cover their knees and still play the game very well. Now, the women beach volleyball wears very skimpy bikinis that show their buttocks and shapes of their genitalia. Is it because it is simply "beach" volleyball? Who said that a person has to wear skimpy bikinis when swimming? Swimmers now wear full suit like scuba-divers. It's only the fashion designers who dictate such styles and most of these designers have no respect for women's modesty. And women wear it foolishly. Farah Hadi's parents should have advised her against that attire. Her pictures are so immodest and provoking, especially when she had to spread her legs wide apart in her semi-nude attire. Doesn't she have any shame at all, when her photos are seen by many? What is the point of winning medals to do the nation proud, at the same time exposing her legs wide, as if she wants to advertise her v***** for her future husband. The prosecution of two semi-nude couple models in a main-street in Ipoh, was it because they fail to deliver gold medals? Why do male gymnasts could dress in full attire, with their singlet and long pants performing in the pommel horse and ring disciplines, while female gymnast must be dressed to expose their bare legs and thighs, their shape of their genitals and buttocks? Winning gold medals is no compensation for immodesty.

The ordinary Brazilians were not interested on their country hosting the World Cup last year in 2014. There were mass protests before the tournament began, asking the government to increase spending on healthcare, clean water and housing. The only people who were interested are those who profited from the tournament such as construction companies, security firms, media, hotel owners, transportation companies etc. Some land clearings to make way to new stadiums, with the expense of housing slums, this increased the people dissatisfaction against their own government. Yes, this happened in Brazil in 2014, the country with the most World Cup titles. People often cheer their sport teams to win a competition. The euphoria happens only in the sport arena, or in front to the TV, but disappears after that. You get excited, happy and feel the sense of national pride when your favourite competitor wins a competition, but when they are all over, your problems are not solved. Sports personalities like Messi and Ronaldo are multi-millionaires, but most the people who support them and who are their fans, are not. Focus on more important issues such as reducing corruption, crimes, unemployment, living cost and increasing the quality of life. Those are more important issue to be solved, not winning gold medals or football matches.

Only in Msia – Gold medalist slammed for showing ‘aurat’ - sexualization of sports.

When competitors compete in their respective events, they actually gather different attentions. First from people who admire their talents, and second, media and personnel who exploit their sexuality. Anna Kournikova might not have won any tennis Grand Slams, but her sexy images is exploited every pages of men magazines. Wikipedia: “Sports Illustrated is an American sports media franchise owned by Time Incorporated. The magazine has over 3 million subscribers and is read by 23 million people each week, including over 18 million men”, especially in its swimsuit issue which publishes images of sexy female athletes. And wonder why women beach volleyball is the most watched events in the Olympic games? Then you also have the top sexy categories such as “Top 20 sexiest female athletes” or “top 10 sexiest female swimmers”, or “top 10 hottest female gymnast” and even “top hottest male athletes” and “top 10 hottest footballers” coming out every year. Does a fly prefer to feed on covered meat or exposed meat? Does a mosquito prefer to bite someone with clothes on or without clothes? If a competitor competes in the aforementioned events, i.e. events which require them to expose their body parts, they must be aware of the risks, and should not blame those who make fun on their sexuality. These liberal systems are so decadent and so exploitative.

Sex on the back of a camel, why not? - a failure to understand Arabic idioms

Many people fail to understand the Arabic language or its idioms. One cannot simply take the literal meaning upon translating to other languages.


One hadith mentioned about “into the lizard’s hole”


The prophet (S.A.W.) said, "You will surely follow the ways, steps, or traditions of those who came before you, span by span and yard by yard (very closely) even if they entered into a lizard's hole you will enter it." The companions asked, "O prophet, you mean the Jews and Christians?" He replied, "Who else!?" [Reported by Imaam Bukhaari]

The hadith does not mean literally “enter the lizard hole”, rather do whatever other people do, even stupid as it may seem, like entering the lizard hole.

Similarly, “onto the camel’s back” does not mean literally riding on the camel. The meaning for the Arabs at that time is “while travelling”, as camels were used as a means of travelling. And on the camel’s back means while travelling, be it on a cruise ship, on wheeled vehicles including stoppage at some fancy hotels and rest houses, before reaching the destination.

And last and not least, camel toe does not mean the toe of the camel, it means something else. So be careful about the camel, this animal has so many idioms that people often forget.
To begin with the Arabic language, do not take its literal meaning.

Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others beside them whom ye know not. [TMQ, Pickthall translation, al-Anfaal: 60].

In this verse, it mentions horses, for the army to gather their horses of war, to strike fear against the enemy. Horses were used as a mobile vehicle in the time of war, in the time of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as much as tanks, armoured vehicles, jet-fighters used now in modern warfare. 

This verse does contain references to horses as a mobile vehicle, but in modern warfare, this is not acceptable. Any modern army will not resort horses as a means of weapons, the use of horses will not inflict fear on the hearts of the enemy. Therefore the use of “horses” in the verse cannot be taken literally, as “on the camels’ back” must not be taken literally. For those who have no knowledge on Arabic language, despite the zeal to use the Arabic word “Allah” in the Bible text, the effort to study the Arabic language is simply absent

Under house arrest on Fridays – a rebuttal

The writer, attacks and frowns upon the punishment of those muslims who skip Friday prayer, and suggests that those who do must remain under house-arrest. He does not include the divine text which supports these punishments of individuals who skip Friday prayers, it is unsure whether he is aware of this, or otherwise.

Islam is a complete system, it has punishment systems which its adherent must obey. Just as a secular country, who implement punishment systems to whoever who transgress upon it. If anyone found guilty of possession of dangerous drugs, is punishable, and these laws established in a secular-surrogate institution, i.e. parliament, which gives human the authority on how to run society.

Missing Friday prayers, is punishable according to Islamic divine rules, because it is an act of mungkar. Those who fail to enjoin the punishment is also committing an act of sin, as they do not enjoin the right and forbid the mungkar.

“Those who when we establish them (in authority) in the earth they establish the Salah, collect the Zakah, enjoin all that is Ma.roof and forbid all that is Munkar, and to Allah belongs the return of all matters..” (TMQ al-Hajj, verse 41)

“Nay, by Allah, you have to enjoin the ma’roof and forbid the munkar, and hold at the hand of the tyrant, and force him on the truth and restrict him to the truth.” [Reported by Abu Dawud and Tirmizi].

Ahmad narrated on the authority of Abu Bakrah that the messenger said: "If the people see the Munkar (evil, wrong doing) and they do not change it, Allah will take them with a punishment".

“He who amongst you sees a Munkar should change it with his hand; and if he has not enough strength to do so, then he should change it with his tongue; and if he has not enough strength to do so, (even) then he should change it with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith.?” (Reported by Muslim on the authority of Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri) This honorable hadith obliged any Muslim who sees a Munkar to change it with his hand; if he is unable to do so, then he should change it with his tongue; and if he is unable to do so, then he should change it with his heart, and that is the weakest degree of faith. Hence, any Muslim who is able to carry out the highest degree of faith should not resort to the weakest one.

The Qur’an mentions some of the main characteristics of the believers: “(Triumphant) are those who turn repentant (to Allah), those who serve (Him), those who praise (Him), those who fast, these who bow down, those who fall prostrate (in worship), those who enjoin the right and who forbid the wrong and those who keep the limits (ordained) of Allah…” (At-Tawbah 9: 112)

Just as the Ever-Glorious Qur’an praised those who enjoin Ma`ruf and forbid Munkar, it also dispraised those who fail to do so. Almighty Allah says, “Those of the children of Israel who went astray were cursed by the tongue of David, and of Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they rebelled and used to transgress. They restrained not one another from the wickedness they did. Verily evil was that they used to do!” (Al-Ma’idah 5: 78-79)

The Muslim is not merely a righteous human being who does good actions and forsakes wrong ones, while living in his own circle, paying no attention to the decrease of good actions in his world and the sharp increase of evil actions around him; the real Muslim is the righteous human being who is keen to rectify others and help them to be righteous. He is the one depicted in the following Surah of the Qur’an: “By the declining day, Lo! man is in a state of loss, Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance.” (Al-`Asr 103).

And so judge (you O Muhammad SAW) between them by what Allah has revealed and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they turn you (O Muhammad SAW) far away from some of that which Allah has sent down to you. And if they turn away, then know that Allah's Will is to punish them for some sins of theirs. And truly, most of men are Fasiqun (rebellious and disobedient to Allah). [TMQ” al-Maidah: 49]

Therefore, muslims must judge their lives on the Quran and Hadith of Rasulullah, and must not follow the vain desires of those (such as the secularist authors of Malay Mail Online,) who wish to delude from the obedience of Allah.

References:

http://wiemasen.com/fiqh-and-rules-of-enjoining-maruf-and-forbidding-munkar/

http://islamicsystem.blogspot.com/2006/05/transcript-enjoining-maruf-forbidding.html