To my brothers (and sisters) with the cow head.
My brothers recently marched with a cow head to protest the building of a temple near their houses. In this protest, they exhibited much hate and anger. Today, I hear and read others respond with much disguised hate and anger. All this is rather nostalgic to me, really. Years ago, my neighbours and I had a similar experience but the outcome was rather different mainly because we were led by religious people, not politicians.
Many many years ago, we were told that they were going to build a church on a piece of land across the road from our housing are; an area not more than five meters away from the fences of the houses nearest to the property. Certainly, a number of my neighbours reacted much the same way as you are doing today. Admittedly, there was no talk of cow heads, it would not have been relevant because cow heads are quite insignificant in Christianity. There was much talk going to and fro between the neighbours. A few of the more hot-headed ones threatened much the same things you are doing today. Some approached the politicians but to no avail.
Then a few of the other neighbours who had not said much began to talk and today, their words echo in my mind when I read about your cow head football escapade. I will summarize what they said here without the references to Quran and Hadiths and other texts they used back then. This is because, quite simply, I am not a religious scholar and I may get them wrong. These people I am talking about were, and still are, scholars of Islam, mostly. A number of them taught at UKM and a few other institutions. As you read this, please bear in mind that I am condensing the words of about 20 people over the period of about six months more than twenty years ago.
Here’s what they said, in summary.
What are you afraid of?
The government has given these people permission to build a church across the road and more importantly, we do not own that piece of road, so that church will probably get built. After all, our Christian neighbours need somewhere to pray too. What concerns me is our reaction to this. Why are we, some of us, behaving as if we are afraid? Are we afraid that because there is a church across the road we will be converted to Christianity? How weak is our faith anyway?
If you read the Quran, you will find a section that asks if we think that we will be allowed to call ourselves Muslims and pave our way into paradise without our faith being tested? Now here we are acting like we are afraid for our faith just because there is will be a church across the road. Is our faith so thin that we have already given up before the tests even come?
A person become a Muslim and remains a Muslim because of Allah’s hidayah not because there are no churches nearby. There are people who have been in one religion all their lives, they may even become leaders and religious scholars in that religion but later converts to another religion. It is hidayah, perhaps the closest translation would be guidance.
What should we do then? How should we behave? The answer is simple: go back to Islam. Go back to the guidance that Allah has given us in the Quran and the Hadiths. Live as Muslims, with your heart, your soul and your actions. If the Non-Muslims tell us of their religion. Listen politely and then tell them of Islam. If they still refuse to believe then so be it. After all, the surah Al Kafiruun does end with, “you go with your religion and I shall go with mine”.
So today, they are saying that they will build a temple near your houses. That may be a golden opportunity. It will be a place of worship for our Hindu neighbours. What this means is that many Hindus will come there to worship. Why not then turn your houses into centres for daqwah Islamiyah. Teach those who visit that temple about Islam. Through your actions and your deeds show them what being a true Muslim really means. Perhaps they did plan to build the temple there because they had hopes of spreading their religion to you, perhaps not. What they are doing, also means that they will be providing you with an audience. Let them listen to the words of Al Quran. Let them hear the wisdom of our beloved Prophet. Teach them the simplicity and profoundness of ibadah.
The temple is not a threat. It is a reminder for us to be better Muslims. It is a reminder for us to be more active in our Daqwah. If you do not know what to do, this Ramadan approach our brothers and sisters active in our daqwah movements. Let them teach your what to do.
Just remember one simple lesson: the best way to enter into daqwah, is to first become true Muslims ourselves. All else will follow in time and with hidayah from Allah.
By they way, I wrote this because I received the following email.
--- In artisproactiv@ yahoogroups. com, Suzan Manen wrote:
>
> I feel the same way, Anne, & can but pray for God's mercy & forgiveness for these misguided people who are making a mockery of their religion!
>
> Was also disappointed to read in the latest issue of CAN (Catholic Asian News), that the Catholic Lawyers Association had postponed the handing over of a memorandum concerning the sacrilegous actions of the 2 reporters, because of the huge response & they did not want to make it a big thing! Don't you think we SHOULD have a protest or vigil of some sort (in the church premises if a permit is not issued) as many people who only read the MSM are totally unaware that such an incident took place. As more time passes, the powers that be will conclude that it is no big deal as only a couple of police reports were made!
>
> As it is, on Saturday, My Indian gardener did not even know about the cow's head incident which had taken place on Friday afternoon!
>
> This cancer has to treated immediately . . . but HOW?!!!
>
> We cannot rely on anyone in power for any justice. Their blatant disregard & double standards were clearly shown in Hisham's statement yesterday.
>
> We are a nation in distress & we badly need HELP . . . S.O.S.!!!
>
>
Followed by:
From: andre_goodbuddy
To: artisproactiv@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Friday, 4 September, 2009 12:24:25
Subject: Re: [APA] Meditation for the Malaysian hate mongerers
Furthermore, so long as the authorities do nothing other
than throw verbal rhetoric condemning such action or, as
in the case of our Home Minister, seeming to show support
for it, our Malay Muslims will continue to think they are
untouchable and have no reason to stop their activities.
I wonder what would happen if we spread ourselves out at
nearest Police Stations to make reports on these incidents
that are related to racial and / or religious issues.
Another example is the dozens of youth / working adults
who ride around major roads without motorcycle helmets
to and from Friday prayer. They do so, for example, on
Jalan Gasing / Templer / Sultan and Yong Shook Lin, even
right past / in front of the PJ Police HQ without concern.
And I added:
An excellent idea but it must be a fair deal. We must report ALL "incidents that are related to racial and / or religious issues" not only those committed by our Malay / Muslim friends while those that challenge rights of the Malaysa and try to soil the sanctity of the Islamic faith go either unnoticed or worse still supported and propagated in the name of free speech.
Many many years ago, we were told that they were going to build a church on a piece of land across the road from our housing are; an area not more than five meters away from the fences of the houses nearest to the property. Certainly, a number of my neighbours reacted much the same way as you are doing today. Admittedly, there was no talk of cow heads, it would not have been relevant because cow heads are quite insignificant in Christianity. There was much talk going to and fro between the neighbours. A few of the more hot-headed ones threatened much the same things you are doing today. Some approached the politicians but to no avail.
Then a few of the other neighbours who had not said much began to talk and today, their words echo in my mind when I read about your cow head football escapade. I will summarize what they said here without the references to Quran and Hadiths and other texts they used back then. This is because, quite simply, I am not a religious scholar and I may get them wrong. These people I am talking about were, and still are, scholars of Islam, mostly. A number of them taught at UKM and a few other institutions. As you read this, please bear in mind that I am condensing the words of about 20 people over the period of about six months more than twenty years ago.
Here’s what they said, in summary.
What are you afraid of?
The government has given these people permission to build a church across the road and more importantly, we do not own that piece of road, so that church will probably get built. After all, our Christian neighbours need somewhere to pray too. What concerns me is our reaction to this. Why are we, some of us, behaving as if we are afraid? Are we afraid that because there is a church across the road we will be converted to Christianity? How weak is our faith anyway?
If you read the Quran, you will find a section that asks if we think that we will be allowed to call ourselves Muslims and pave our way into paradise without our faith being tested? Now here we are acting like we are afraid for our faith just because there is will be a church across the road. Is our faith so thin that we have already given up before the tests even come?
A person become a Muslim and remains a Muslim because of Allah’s hidayah not because there are no churches nearby. There are people who have been in one religion all their lives, they may even become leaders and religious scholars in that religion but later converts to another religion. It is hidayah, perhaps the closest translation would be guidance.
What should we do then? How should we behave? The answer is simple: go back to Islam. Go back to the guidance that Allah has given us in the Quran and the Hadiths. Live as Muslims, with your heart, your soul and your actions. If the Non-Muslims tell us of their religion. Listen politely and then tell them of Islam. If they still refuse to believe then so be it. After all, the surah Al Kafiruun does end with, “you go with your religion and I shall go with mine”.
So today, they are saying that they will build a temple near your houses. That may be a golden opportunity. It will be a place of worship for our Hindu neighbours. What this means is that many Hindus will come there to worship. Why not then turn your houses into centres for daqwah Islamiyah. Teach those who visit that temple about Islam. Through your actions and your deeds show them what being a true Muslim really means. Perhaps they did plan to build the temple there because they had hopes of spreading their religion to you, perhaps not. What they are doing, also means that they will be providing you with an audience. Let them listen to the words of Al Quran. Let them hear the wisdom of our beloved Prophet. Teach them the simplicity and profoundness of ibadah.
The temple is not a threat. It is a reminder for us to be better Muslims. It is a reminder for us to be more active in our Daqwah. If you do not know what to do, this Ramadan approach our brothers and sisters active in our daqwah movements. Let them teach your what to do.
Just remember one simple lesson: the best way to enter into daqwah, is to first become true Muslims ourselves. All else will follow in time and with hidayah from Allah.
By they way, I wrote this because I received the following email.
--- In artisproactiv@ yahoogroups. com, Suzan Manen
>
> I feel the same way, Anne, & can but pray for God's mercy & forgiveness for these misguided people who are making a mockery of their religion!
>
> Was also disappointed to read in the latest issue of CAN (Catholic Asian News), that the Catholic Lawyers Association had postponed the handing over of a memorandum concerning the sacrilegous actions of the 2 reporters, because of the huge response & they did not want to make it a big thing! Don't you think we SHOULD have a protest or vigil of some sort (in the church premises if a permit is not issued) as many people who only read the MSM are totally unaware that such an incident took place. As more time passes, the powers that be will conclude that it is no big deal as only a couple of police reports were made!
>
> As it is, on Saturday, My Indian gardener did not even know about the cow's head incident which had taken place on Friday afternoon!
>
> This cancer has to treated immediately . . . but HOW?!!!
>
> We cannot rely on anyone in power for any justice. Their blatant disregard & double standards were clearly shown in Hisham's statement yesterday.
>
> We are a nation in distress & we badly need HELP . . . S.O.S.!!!
>
>
Followed by:
From: andre_goodbuddy
To: artisproactiv@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Friday, 4 September, 2009 12:24:25
Subject: Re: [APA] Meditation for the Malaysian hate mongerers
Furthermore, so long as the authorities do nothing other
than throw verbal rhetoric condemning such action or, as
in the case of our Home Minister, seeming to show support
for it, our Malay Muslims will continue to think they are
untouchable and have no reason to stop their activities.
I wonder what would happen if we spread ourselves out at
nearest Police Stations to make reports on these incidents
that are related to racial and / or religious issues.
Another example is the dozens of youth / working adults
who ride around major roads without motorcycle helmets
to and from Friday prayer. They do so, for example, on
Jalan Gasing / Templer / Sultan and Yong Shook Lin, even
right past / in front of the PJ Police HQ without concern.
And I added:
An excellent idea but it must be a fair deal. We must report ALL "incidents that are related to racial and / or religious issues" not only those committed by our Malay / Muslim friends while those that challenge rights of the Malaysa and try to soil the sanctity of the Islamic faith go either unnoticed or worse still supported and propagated in the name of free speech.
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