Going public

Finally, I have the courage (and sufficient articles) to make this blog publicly accessible. After more than a year keeping it private. And I have to admit that my choice of date is not incidental, as this date bears some personal significance to me. =)

I am not sure though how long this blog can last, but I hope that throughout its lifetime, I will always bear these sayings by the Prophet PBUH in mind:

“I warn you against excessive speech. What meets your needs suffices you. Surely a man will be asked about his excessive speech just as he will be asked about his excessive wealth.”

“God is present at the tongue of every speaker. Therefore let a person be mindful of God and know well everything he utters”

And also of this saying by Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas:

“Do not talk about things that do not concern you, and leave much of what does concern you. And do not argue with fools or clement people. Only mention your brother in ways that you would love to be mentioned.”

Wallahu’alam.

Health care for the poor

This article from MalaysiaKini caught my attention: Flogging a white elephant http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/107096

I might be digressing a bit from the gist of the article. But the focus of my article is really of the following paragraph:

Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud said in his winding-up speech to the state assembly on June 23, 2004: “In the health sector, we are now focusing on the tertiary services through setting up SIMC which will position the state to become the centre of excellence for tertiary medical training and services as well as tapping the potential for health tourism.”

I find it frustrating that a lot of the public funds have been used to build an expensive hospital to attract health tourists when the health care of the state barely meets the needs of its citizens, particularly the poor. One of my Sarawakian friend once told me that there are only two oncologists serving the whole of Sabah and Sarawak. And once, she met a patient who came all the way from Miri to see the oncologists in Kuching, only to be asked to return home as the oncologist had to call it a day and there was no bed in the hospital to accommodate her for the night. I understand that the reason behind this health tourism is to allow money to come in from foreign investors, and with this extra income, better services can be delivered to the citizens. A reason I’d say that has been too often quoted to satisfy the greed of the rich while little has trickled down to those who are really in need.

How I wish that we could learn more from the sirah of our most beloved Prophet PBUH. When the persecution of Muslims in Makkah was getting worse, the Prophet approached Walid, the chief of the Makhzum clan in the hope that Walid would at the very least intercede and stop the persecutions. But while the Prophet was trying to win the support of Walid, he was interrupted by a blind man who had recently embraced Islam and was asking the Prophet to recite some surahs for him. The Prophet eventually became irritated with the blind man and turned away from him so that he could continue to present his arguments to Walid. Following this incident, Allah reproached the Prophet in the following verses:

He frowned and turned away, because the blind man came to him. But what can you tell but that perhaps he might grow in purity? Or that he might receive admonition, and the reminder might profit him? As to one who regards himself as self-sufficient, you attend to him, though it is no blame to you if he does not grow in purity. But as to he who came to you striving earnestly, and with fear of him, you were unmindful. By no means (should it be so)! For it is indeed a message of remembrance. Therefore let who will, keep it in remembrance. (80:1-12)

The Prophet, in seeking protection from the rich and powerful, has neglected a poor, blind man, apparently of no significance to his cause.  But Allah has taught us through this incident and the verses that we should never turn away from the poor, but to serve and love them. And yet the poor in our country is continuously forgotten, always being pushed to the margins to allow space for the rich. Little do we take heed!

It is also worth noting that this transgression can come in various guises, even in the name of Islam! Some people thought that by building an impressive hospital equipped with the latest technology and put ‘Islam’ as part of its name, will  elevate the status of Islam in the eyes of the world and perhaps attract people to the religion. I think they are treating Islam as if it is a trophy that needs to be polished to be put on a pedestal and be admired by everyone. They seem to forget that Islam is a way of living. That the only way to uphold it is to live up to its teachings. And serving the poor is among the fundamentals in Islam and has been taught in the early years of the revelation. Just because the hospital employs only Muslims, built according to ‘Muslim architecture’ and the corridors strewn with frames of verses of the Quran, does not necessarily mean that it can be called Islamic, for the definition of Islam transcends forms.

If I can choose a hospital that fits my definition of Islamic, it will be the Heart Institute of the Caribbean. The following video is a talk by the hospital’s founder and he explained the ideals behind this hospital.

I look forward to see such a hospital in Malaysia. Perhaps, with the will of Allah, I will be one of its founders.

PAS vs SIS

If you’re in a fight, and your opponent is armed with a sword, it is fair that you should be armed with a similar weapon. To choose a gun as a weapon will be unfair to your opponent and might even reflect cowardice on your behalf. But to remain unarm will merely mean stupidity; unless you believe that being vulnerable would earn you God’s blessings and a place in paradise should you die in the fight.

When PAS declare SIS as its opponent, they should also identify the NGO’s weapon in this ‘fight’. And from their good will and sense of fairness, the political party should arm themselves similarly. And yet, when SIS has opted for intellectual discussions and research as their main instruments, PAS decided to slay their opponent with an unworthy show of authority by calling for the ban of the organisation – an act which is not only unfair but also show cowardice.

I could understand PAS’s exasperation with the increasing influence of SIS both locally and internationally (even more so). No doubt that the NGO has done some good to the women of the nation, like their offer of legal counsel to women whose divorce cases remain pending for so long in court. And they have effectively identified the issues that seem to be the closest at the hearts of Malaysian women. However, the questions that they have raised together with these issues are contentious and raised discomfort among our conservative society. Plus their call for a ban of something that is clearly lawful in our religion is easily seen by many as blasphemous. I, for one, am uncomfortable with their attitude towards the works of traditional Islamic scholars and the present Islamic scholars as I see it as a sign of arrogance, and to a certain extent, foolishness.

Yet, despite the ‘blasphemy’ of SIS, I strongly feel that PAS’s call for the banning of the NGO is wrong. Why opt for power when the use of discussions and research has not been fully utilised by PAS and other Islamic organisations? It is time that such Islamic organisations begin to encourage their members to be intellectually equipped. They should be able to discuss an issue constructively and not merely in a defensive manner that leads nowhere but to the conclusion that the works of past scholars have been extensively researched and hence should not be questioned. Because while SIS is over-daring in their argument, other Islamic organisations are overly cautious. The latter should acknowledge that a lot of current issues warrant a revaluation of past teachings, not to question the validity of traditional scholarly works but to ensure that the higher principles of Islam will remain alive in these contemporary times.

This issue of banning of SIS also raised several other questions which I believe PAS must be able to answer if they really are serious in their intent to rule Malaysia justly.

(i)      The right to freedom of speech

PAS has so long been in the fight for freedom of speech as under the rule of BN all dissenting voices against their ruling are harshly quieten with the use of the atrocious ISA and the infamous Akta Pencetakan.  If PAS has been such a strong advocate of freedom of speech, why then deny SIS’s right to freely voice their opinion? Is PAS only promoting aspects of this basic right that will benefit them?

I acknowledge that this right has its limitations. For example, this right is not a ticket for one to spread lies that will tarnish another’s reputation. The right comes with responsibility and liability. It is important then for PAS to identify the limits of this freedom so that they will not be seen as another bunch of autocrats should they replace BN in the future.

(ii)    Who has the authority to define Islam?

While SIS seems to deny the involvement of Muslim scholars (or ulama’ in the conservative’s definition of the word) in their research, PAS and other Islamic organisations seem to deny the involvement of non-ulama’ in their discussions pertaining religious issues. Should a formal education in Islam (with at least a degree in Islamic studies) be the only criteria for one’s opinion on the religion be accepted? At a time when the issues are getting more complex, not only knowledge of the sacred texts is crucial, but contextual expertise should also be sought out.

The development of social sciences in the West has been tremendous. Muslims should be willing to embrace this development just as they have well-embraced Western’s contributions in the natural sciences. Hence, discussions on issues relating to Muslims and Islam should involve more variety of people without limiting the criteria to their background education.

One thing I find interesting about PAS is the party’s willingness to learn. Perhaps the ‘usul’ to ban SIS has been a mistake. But it also offers a lot of learning points for the party and flags several other issues that PAS should be able to tackle on their road to leadership of the nation. And if they’ve learnt well from this issue, insyaAllah should they rule Malaysia one day, their ruling will be seen as rahmah of Islam, and not a fitnah to this beloved religion of ours.

The Beauty of Words

It is not wrong to enjoy poetry, for the Quran itself is an epitome of linguistic beauty. In the exquisite choice of words and alluring sentences, the darkest of hearts can be stirred. Has it not been the enticing power of language that turned Umar from a fierce opponent to a fearless companion?

I’d like to share a poetry recital by a Turkish girl. The poem is about the life of the Prophet, and I am sure it will bring tears to its listeners.

Renewed Intention

It’s been a loooonnnnngggg while since I last wrote in this blog. And this is due to my over deliberateness in producing a written piece, which in turn arose from my want of perfection in every single article. Perfection in both originality of thought and eloquence of discourse.

For the want of perfection in form, I have overlooked the actual purpose of starting this blog, which is to share and learn. It strikes me that perhaps my actual intention may not be as innocent as I want it to be. Could it be that this deliberateness of mine indicate that my actual intention all this while is to impress? If it is, I seek forgiveness from Allah. How easy it is for this soul to sin!

“Ya Allah, aku berlindung denganMu dari menyekutukan Engkau dengan sesuatu yang aku ketahui, dan aku memohon ampun dari menyekutukanMu dengan sesuatu yang aku tidak ketahui.”

I write because I want to grow. And I want to grow not to outgrow others, to stand out and be praised. I want to grow to be home to more birds, to be shade to more children playing under my bough and to bear more fruits for the hungry.

I hope that this article brings with it a renewal of intention. And may this article be the beginning for more articles, each written with the sole intention of seeking pleasure from my Most Beloved Lord.

A Wave to Look Out For

In the Gaza strip, Israel continues to lay siege. Power supply to the 1.5 million Gaza residents is cut back, leaving them without heat and lighting in the middle of winter. Many patients are left to die as hospitals could not run essential machinery like incubators without electricity.

 

            In Pakistan, the American-influenced President Musharraf has thrown his country into a political turmoil. The tumult that began with the storming of the ‘Red Mosque’ and culminated with the assassination of Bhutto has claimed hundreds of Muslims’ lives.  

 

            Back home, the generation of young Malay Muslims is facing a moral degeneration. They form the largest proportion of drug addicts and sexual offenders. Worse still, the numbers are increasing, uncontrollably.

 

            These are the common issues that are often propagated to depict the current situation of Muslims worldwide – foreign occupation, inter-Muslim friction, poverty, moral crises, terrorism and women oppression. With such a bleak picture, is all lost then for Islam and its followers? Perhaps not. For somewhere in the horizon, a new light is starting to fall on the 1.61 billion Muslims worldwide.

 

            The 20^th and 21^st centuries witnessed a wave of Islamization that has swept the world, and I am not referring to the 11^th September attack or its likes. In this positive development, Islam is making its presence more felt in both the personal and public spheres. Across the globe, more Muslims are admitting Islam as their main source of identity. The cohesion in the Muslim societies is becoming less of bonds of solidarity and loyalty, but more of voluntary association. Observance of ritual practices is increasingly due to personal choice, and not from external imposition. Nowhere in this world has this ‘Islamization of Individuals’ been greater than in Europe. The young Muslims no longer see integration as a process of losing their culture and faith to adopt those of the majority. Instead, an increasing number of them have chosen to wear the hijab or observe other Islamic practices publicly, without detaching themselves from the rest of the non-Muslim community.

 

            The effect of this wave is greater in the public sphere, where Islam has begun to crop up into politics, economics, education and legal institutions. Interestingly, the groups of Islamists that fight for a greater definition and implementation of Islam (which they define as more than a set of beliefs and traditional rituals), are very different from the stereotype violent and fanatical individuals portrayed in mainstream media. Instead of using explosives and missiles, these groups are turning to ballot boxes to propagate the universal message of Islam. In Africa, Turkey and Middle East, Islamist movements (which often consist of middle-class and highly educated Muslims) have become first-ranked oppositions to the incumbent leading parties. A few, like Refah Party in Turkey, have even managed to win seats in the elections. And it is not just a matter of democracy helping Islam; it is the other way round as well. The Islamist movements have increased the population’s mobilization in political process. They introduced free assemblies, mass petitions and political association of men and women not connected by kinship for purposive furtherance of political change.

 

            The wave of Islamization has also rejuvenated the role of ijtihad as to cope with the new realities faced by Muslims. It promotes Islam that does not try to remove the causes of the new fear, but to address them. Among such issues are those related with women’s rights and gender relations. Gender equality is stressed not only in matters of piety and worship, but also in education and employment. As more women are going out to work and study, Islamic activists and intellectuals call for reinterpretation of the Quran and as-Sunnah about the model of a Muslim woman. The result can be observed in Middle Eastern cities and universities in the form of decent women, covering their hair with headscarves and wearing loose garments. There is an increase in the number of professional Muslim women. Women are also becoming more visible in the council of Islamic organisations, writing and speaking out for themselves on women’s issues.

 

            Despite little visibility in the media, these groups of modern Islamists are clearly making their presence felt by the day. Following the mass’s frustration on nationalism, capitalism, socialism and other man-made ideologies, the Islamists are putting forward a new and exciting alternative that not only appeals to Muslims, but increasingly to the non-Muslims as well. It is a wave that is growing bigger and getting harder to be sidelined. Naturally, the question would be: Will we be only spectators when the wave makes its biggest impact, or will be among the many small waves that will one day join together to form a tsunami? I will leave the answer to the readers.

For the Love of the Prophet

Recently, my sister was forwarded a link to sign a petition to remove an image of which is claimed to be that of the Prophet (PBUH). My scroll down the list revealed hundreds of ardent Muslims who signed the petition as a show of their faith.

 

I then ask my sister a question; a question that I’d like to ask my readers as well. Why do you want to sign the petition? Is it because you feel offended by the picture? Or do you do it because the Prophet forbade us of any imagery of himself?

 

I will address the first motive later. If the second is your reason, I would like to ask another question: Why do you think did the Prophet forbid the imagery? Is it because he felt that any imagery is an offence to him and the religion? Or because he did not want the image to be an object of worship among his followers?

 

I will answer the second question with an answer, and avoid frustrating the readers with yet another question. It is to my understanding that the prohibition is in the spirit of prevention is better than cure; it is to avoid worshipping of the Prophet that the man himself forbade any image of him. Looking back at history, at the times of Prophet Noah, the worshipping of other deities besides Allah began with the making of statues to commemorate the great people of the past.

 

If that is the reason, is the other reason wrong then? It is not the purpose of this writing to tell what is right and what is wrong – my purpose is to challenge the thought process that has led many people to the other reason (that the image is an offence to the Prophet and hence to the religion).

 

It frustrates me that a lot of Muslims have reduced the value of Islam to symbols alone. And this misunderstanding has caused much confusion to non-Muslims particularly and is one of the reasons for the backwardness of many Muslims.

 

To demonstrate my point, I would like to ask another question. Who is a greater offender to Islam: a non-Muslim who drew a humiliating cartoon of the prophet or a leader who proclaims to be a progressive Muslim but usurped his people’s money to buy an expensive private jet? I would opt for the latter.

 

Yet, how many Muslims are willing to kill due to the incidence of the ‘Prophet’s’ cartoons, and yet at the same time, remain quiet when Muslim leaders throw away the teachings of the Quran and that of the Prophet’s to implement man-made laws. As I have mentioned before, the significance of the Prophet and the Quran has been reduced to the Prophet as a person and the Quran as an object. We always mention about upholding Islam’s syiar but forget about its syariat. We forget, or pretend to forget, that Islam is not just about having ‘izzah’ in its symbols, but more importantly it is about implementing its substance.

 

Let us take a lesson from one of the Prophet’s companions – Hazrat Abu Bakar as-Siddiq. After the death of the Prophet, he continued one of the Prophet’s routines and that is to feed an old and blind Jewish lady. This lady never failed to pass bad remarks about the Prophet, but Abu Bakar continued to feed her without ever reprimanding her for the remarks. At another time, this gentle man waged war against a group of Muslims who refuse to pay the zakat. And yet, we, the ‘beloved’ ummat of Muhammad are doing just the opposite from what has been taught by this great companion!

 

Could it be that this reaction among Muslims is not just a misunderstanding of Islam? Because, surely, boycotting products from a country who published the degrading cartoons is easier than putting an X next to a candidate from a party which has pledged to uphold the laws of Allah. Why? For two reasons:

 

a)      In the former, the perpetrator is a non-Muslim, who many would see as an obvious foe of Islam. But in the latter, the other candidate might also be a Muslim, and shouldn’t Muslims be brothers and love each other? In a situation such as this, not many could tell white from black.

b)      In the former, nothing could be lost from the boycott. But in the latter, jobs could be lost if the act is to be discovered (especially when the votes are not confidential).

 

The message that I am trying to deliver here is that in a lot of our decisions and actions, our self-interest always comes first. While the companions were willing to sacrifice a huge part of their belongings in the way of Allah, many of us still hesitate to do so, even if it only means a potential, and not an actual loss of properties.

 

Let us stop deceiving ourselves and no longer blind ourselves to the acts of injustice that are surrounding us. The prophet did not ask us to revere him, but he told us to uphold and spread the word of Allah in our lives. And the word of Allah teaches us to be just, to be kind to the poor, to avoid bribery and corruption, and to not deceive people with false claims and promises.

 

I am sure that the Prophet would not feel insulted by the non-Muslim who drew the cartoon/image, but I am certain that he would be disappointed to see his ummah not standing up for what is right due to fear of others besides Allah. Let us make a change, in both perception and action. Let us make a change for the love of the Prophet.

 

Wallahu’alam.

A Short Introduction

I am a medical student. While medicine is my life passion, I also have interests in several other areas on which I will share my opinions in this blog. However, not at any time that I am writing this blog, would I like to pretend to be an expert in politics, economics, sociology, religion etc. My writings would most of the times be out of my own humble thoughts and scant knowledge rather than an extensive research on the written subject.

For me, this blog is as much about learning as it is about sharing. Therefore, I very much welcome criticisms for I believe that I learn more from them than from approvals. In fact, I would consider this blog a failure for the lack of the former. Writings that are agreed upon by everyone would be nothing more than to state obvious facts like ‘2+2=4′ which merit no debate. Only a discerning writer deserve a discerning critic.

I also believe that a writer should be liable for his/her writings. I won’t deny that I will be threading through some contentious issues. At the same time, I will try my best to ensure that none of my writings will yield unpleasant outcomes. If however, they happen, I apologize beforehand.

I pray to Allah that every word that I type would only be to seek His pleasure. I also pray that only goodness will come out of my writings and I seek His protection from all evil.