Why such a ruckus over hudud law?
Ever since PAS Vice President Husam Musa said that PAS and the Pakatan Rakyat would have enforced the hudud and qisas if Pakatan Rakyat were to take over the Federal Government of Malaysia, there has been a stream of oppositional reactions voiced by many leaders of many political parties. All of those leaders are from political parties that mostly represent the non-Malay ethnic in Malaysia, including DAP from the oppositional Pakatan Rakyat, as well as Gerakan, MIC, and MCA from the ruling Barisan National.
It is most interesting to wonder why these leaders from the parties that purportedly represent the non-Malay people of Malaysia would make such a ruckus about PAS’ intentions of enforcing hudud law. It is most interesting to wonder why because hudud law, if implemented, will only be enforced upon the muslims and not the non-muslims. This is because Islam does not forcefully enforce laws to people of other religion – it recognises the freedom of these people to practise their own religion. The non-muslims are free to choose the laws as have been implemented today. Hudud law, if implemented, will not caused them much effect. Why then do they make such a huge noise about it?
Secondly, the hudud law itself does not do injustice to the people upon which it is enforced, be it muslims or non-muslims. It is a law that is formed to bring benefits and protect the welfare of each member of the society. One such example of this is the ruling against fixed interests charged by financial institutions to their customers, which are to protect both the lender and the borrower from any injustice. Why then, do these leaders make such a noise about it?
Another interesting observation, though to my regret, is that there is no single malay or muslim leaders in Malaysia that have made a comment on this issue ever since. Husam Musa retracted his statement a day after he delivered it. The other malay and muslim leaders in Malaysia seems silenced. Perhaps this is done in the interest of inter-faith and inter-racial harmony in Malaysia, that by openly criticising the other non-Malay leaders will probably heighten racial tension. But is being silent really the best choice to take? Or are we simply too scared to voice out our opinion?
It is ironic that the prospect of implementing of the hudud law receives such a huge ruckus by those people who will mostly not be affected by its very implementation. It is even more ironic when the Article 3 of the Constitution of Malaysia – the highest law by which the very foundation of the nation is built upon, written by the spirit of understanding between the leaders of the major races in Malaysia – clearly states:
Article 3
1. Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.
Leave me some thoughts.
4 comments
Amirul said
January 9, 2009 at 8:21 pm (UTC 12)
say yes to hudud and qisas!!
rise for islam!!
Emkay said
January 9, 2009 at 8:21 pm (UTC 12)
Well,i supposed the non-muslims do not even know about tht.
Heh,if Husam has a gut to give any extreme opinion, he might as well being kick into the jail under Internal Security Act.
They are a lot of non-muslims comments that contradict the reality especially about Islam.For example,about Kelantan Administration act upon suing woman who reveal their body parts(not sure bout this,but at least this is what the blogger said), n also about the outcry regarding Avril Lavigne concert.In their perspective,of course this is extreme.
Their religions dont ban it, it is ok to wear revealing clothes,and it is ok to hav entertainment tht way.
Ths has become a hindrance for them from viewing an issue from other group’s perspective, to judge it from both/several positions.Of course,people do become ethnocentric,you know.
So,basically,they do not understand it.That is why all the muslims’ actions seems weird and just not suitable for them.
We cannot entirely blame them,bcoz as muslims, it is our responsibility to explain it to them.But you know how Malaysia is, no extreme statements which might stir the peace of this so-called harmony cooking pot can be said.
Hmm,this is just my opinion.I apologize for any sweeping statements that I have made.
Shaza Hakim said
January 12, 2009 at 8:06 pm (UTC 12)
I will not comment about Hudud because I’m not a learned observer about that. What saddens me is to read the first comment of this post.
I think Malaysia is looking inward too much nowadays. We’re easily one of the countries with most enforced (note I didn’t say interpretive) Islamic rules where anything and everything deemed religious must be shout on top of our lungs in the spirit of “holier than thou”.
I think Islam is so much bigger than what most Malaysians are capable of understanding at the moment. For some, it is a religion of inheritance, much to do with community moral compliance. On the other extreme, it’s a religion of do’s and don’t. While we’re busy sorting out who falls into which category and infusing Arabic terms in the false hope that it will sound more “Islamic” and thus accepted with no questions asked – we fail to grasp the real underlying spirit of Islam.
At the very least, the religion is about preserving everything God had entrusted to man. Nature, the environment and all living things supported by it. We also have the responsibility to nurture relationship between us all – regardless of our beliefs and faith.
Islam does not need to rise because it has never wavered. When we strip down all political and pro-racism motives from the religion, we have teachings so unique and basic that unlike other religions, we don’t need to be represented by a school of religious clergies in order to converse with God. History has shown us that Islam suffered most not in the hands of non-Muslims, but by its own political clergies who benefit from religious doctrines they enforced to discredit competition.
For me, Islam is exemplary when we stop shouting our creed hoarse and go back to the basics of doing good. Islam is not about hudud or qisas or petty political issues raised on its name. It is a religion of peace, a religion of meaning. As a Muslim, it’s morally wrong of us to focus too much on ourselves when we have bigger existence crisis at bay.
Having said that, I cannot say that we should ignore the preaching of an adolescent. However many times than not, their message are merely an echo of bigger political agendas imposed on young and impressionable minds.
lind said
March 17, 2009 at 10:33 pm (UTC 12)
i feel fascinating after read the second and the third comments.. =)
especially the third comment, ‘Islam does not need to rise because it has never wavered ‘ , i strongly agreed with it..
‘Islam is exemplary when we stop shouting our creed hoarse and go back to the basics of doing good. Islam is not about hudud or qisas or petty political issues raised on its name. It is a religion of peace, a religion of meaning. As a Muslim, it’s morally wrong of us to focus too much on ourselves when we have bigger existence crisis at bay’ , if everyone understand it..it will be great..
you guys made me believe that, not everyone has extreme thinking..
thanks.. =)