FEB 14 — “Infidels who do not have faith and do not believe in the fact of Allah the creator, will not know how to be grateful. That is the cause of tension happening in this country.” — Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman
I would like to apologise and disappoint Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia, but unfortunately we are a nation of infidels.
A nation that is willing to condone hate and ignorance all in the name of God. A nation that is not able to articulate with reasoning but instead with emotions and hate. A nation that calls for peace but at the same time threatens to kill.
If infidels are to be blamed for the rising racial tension then we are all infidels for allowing fringe groups to use Islam for their narrow political agenda. The only attack against Allah and his name is not by non-Muslims that use it for worship but by Muslim individuals that use it for political expediency. Allah used by groups plagued by hypocrisy and blinded by their own lies.
There have been calls for the moderates to come to the fore and save Malaysia. But when a few do come out, they are often ridiculed and their characters questioned by fellow ‘pious’ Muslims.
Hence, can the moderate Muslims really be considered as the majority? A silent majority that is willing to wait and let the country implode by itself? A silent majority whose voices can only be heard on Facebook and Twitter but not on the streets? A majority that is so silent that it is non-existent? Where is this majority that I do not see?
Or are this ‘silent’ majority no longer in touch with the real majority? A silent majority that cannot even converse in their mother tongue but expects their community to understand. A silent majority that talks about a utopian world when families struggle to feed their children. A silent majority that drives continental cars while a family of five rides on a single motorbike. A silent majority that only talks about faith when others only have faith to keep their stomachs full.
If we are not the majority then where does that leave us? We can only understand a problem through its cause. We should start understanding where has a country gone wrong to become what it is today.
We can be a leader in the global movement of moderates and a practitioner of Islam Hadhari but if the foundation of this nation remains crooked then we will forever be astray. A foundation that allows racism and bigotry in government institutions meant to serve the people regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, and class.
ntil and unless we have a leader who is able to give a Muslim and non-Muslim child equal fundamental rights, the concept of justice as taught by Prophet Muhammad will remain a mere anecdote in history.
“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a White has no superiority over a Black nor a Black has any superiority over a White except by piety and good action.” — The Last Sermon
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online.
