Not the language, but substance that matters — Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos

DECEMBER 7 — I was actually smiling with grateful amusement when I read calls being made for Islamic State to be called “Daesh” and no longer “IS”.  I believe this move is to be more politically correct and to distance IS from Islam and probably the concept of an “Islamic State”. 

I found it amusing because I lived to see this after telling my Muslim brothers and sisters for more than 30 years now not to be mesmerised by something simply because it is uttered in the Arabic language. Arabic, like any other language, is a language and does not become sacred by itself.

However, this is not so in Malaysia and in many non-Arabic speaking Muslim majority countries. The Arabic language itself takes on some sacred aura like how Sanskrit has in Hinduism.

In the Arab-speaking countries, however, this is not so for the simple reason that there are Christian, Muslim and even Jewish Arabs. They all speak and understand Arabic and hence, it is common for example to find the Bible in Arabic. I observe that it is in the non-Arabic speaking countries that the Arabic language has become so intertwined with “Islam” and “Muslimness” to the extent that some Arabic words which also have “Islamic” connotations have been banned for usage by non-Muslims. In my humble view, this completely disregards the universal usage of a language by any person who wants to.

Allah has stated clearly in the Quran why Arabic was chosen as the language of the Quran – the honourable prophet was an Arab speaking to an Arab community (Quran 41:44). This is logical and common sense for those who chose to think. 

I am not in any way downplaying the role and importance of the language. I chose to learn Arabic on my own by using dictionaries, lexicons and finally private tutors because I wanted to be able to understand the Quran myself without being totally reliant on existing translations and interpretations. I also engage a special tutor for my son to learn Arabic because I do not want him to be duped by bearded and robed men who flaunt their Arabic and pretend to be divine graces.  

So, coming back to “Islamic State” or Daesh, let me explain why I find the call to use Daesh instead of “Islamic State” amusing in a sense. (I am not denying, however, that calling it “Daesh” does to a certain extent distance it from being perceived as being linked to Islam in the public sphere).

Firstly, Daesh is an English acronym for the Arabic “Al Dawla Al Islamiyah Fi Al Iraq wa Al Sham”. However, if we were to translate the Arabic, it would mean “The Islamic State of Iraq and Sham”. This is exactly what IS call themselves — an “Islamic State” or “Al Dawla Al Islamiyiah” in Arabic. Obviously, most Muslims do not condone the activities of IS as representative of any of the Islamic teachings. 

However, in an objective analysis of IS, one must not pretend to overlook a few important points so that we can all learn how easily the label of “Islam” and words in Arabic can be wantonly abused to gain power, influence and wealth. This is important if the Muslims want to correct any misunderstanding of Islam by both the Muslims and non-Muslims.

Firstly, the Muslim communities themselves must admit that IS professes to be a branch of the sunnah wal jamaah branch of Islam, which most Muslims in the world are. All along, the adherents of this branch have always been perceived be peaceful compared to the Shias. Hence, with the mutation of IS, this raises the eyebrows of many Sunni Muslims as to how this is ever possible. This is the first issue that I believe Muslim scholars, thinkers and educationists should address.  

This exercise may involve and require a bold inquiry into the kind of Islam that we are teaching and propagating because it is a fact that quite a number of Muslims were influenced by the “jihad” of IS. It is too simplistic to dismiss it by saying that “Islam is Islam” when the reality shows diverse interpretations. 

Second is the inquiry into what exactly an “Islamic State” is and whether there is such a specific entity other than a concept experimented by the scholars? The idea of an “Al Dawla Al Islamiyiah” has been floating around in the Muslim theological circles and academics, especially since the Iranian revolution. Even in our country, there is an increasing number of Muslims who seem to propagate the establishment of an “Islamic State” according to their own interpretation and based on other scholarly writings and scholarly views.

The question may very well boil down to — is there such a thing as an “Islamic State” or is there a “State with Islamic values”? And what are “Islamic values?” These are issues that ought to be discussed in public not just by scholars formerly trained in Islamic studies but by Muslim thinkers, too. 

I would expect for example a party like Umno ought to have the intellectual capacity and visionary leadership to discuss this issue of religious extremism in the name of Islam in its forthcoming assembly. This is important because it concerns the safety and general welfare of all citizens, security of the nation, protection of the supremacy of the Constitution and the image of Islam. Umno, as the most dominant Muslim majority party, should be responsible and courageous to tackle this issue head-on instead of white-washing itself with ritualistic ceremonies.

For me, IS is a timely reminder from Allah that a brutal and extreme definition and structure of an “Islamic State” can arise if the Muslims are not careful and allow themselves to be led without thinking. 

We have to learn to stop being afraid to think for the betterment of our community.

* Jahaberdeen is a senior lawyer and founder of Rapera, a movement that encourages thinking and compassionate citizens. He can be reached at [email protected]

** This is the personal opinion of the individuals and organisation in whose name the reaffirmation is issued and does not necessarily reflect the views of Malay Mail Online.