06/01: Substance over rhetoric

Posted By: Raja Petra

I don’t think we can look at so-called religions for the answer. And with respect to the Muslims, we have to reject most of what we have been told as the rules and regulations have been handed down by dictators and rulers with their own agenda.

Most of you may have had trouble accessing our site the whole day yesterday. That was because we were hit by massive DDOS attacks which practically rendered our site inaccessible to all. We were trying the whole day to block the attacks and at the same time trying to trace the source of the attacks which came from a Singapore data-centre. The previous attacks, which closed us down for about six to seven hours a day, almost the entire week, came from Europe.

I am beginning to suspect that some very unhappy people are trying to put us out of business. Rest assured, however, we have put in some new hardware with a completely new database system around Christmas last year to pre-empt further attacks. I know many of you do not like this new layout but it is necessary in the interest of security. We are still working around the clock to strengthen our security system and we hope the frequent interruptions will soon be a thing of the past.

Now, onto the next subject, the current controversy surrounding the use of the word 'Allah'. On Wednesday, Malaysia's Cabinet ruled that those not of the Muslim faith are prohibited from using the word 'Allah' in reference to God. This is to avoid 'confusion”, whatever that means. I can only assume this is to avoid Muslims from thinking that Muslims and non-Muslims share the same God or that we all pray to the same God. Or maybe it is to prevent Muslims from praying to the 'wrong' God, the God of the non-Muslims. (And I was led to believe that there is only one God who made all of us).

In Passion of the Christ that starred Mel Gibson, 'Jesus' was shown as speaking Aramaic and he used the Aramaic word 'Alla' to address God. Allah, in Arabic, is rooted in the word Ellah, which means a god (any god). The word 'Allah', therefore, simply means 'God', be it in Judaism, Christianity or Islam. 'Allah' was also the word that Arabs during the pre-Islamic period used in reference to God. Therefore it can be said that 'Allah' is a word that all religions share, including those considered pagans, and is not exclusive to Islam, which in the first place 'lifted' the word from others.

Muslims appear to focus more on rhetoric rather than the substance of the religion. This is not only true for Malay Muslims but inflicts Muslims the world over. Take this news item below as an example.

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Row over abortion right for rape victims in Egypt

By Ramadan Al Sherbini, Correspondent

Cairo (1 Jan 2008): With an estimated 20,000 cases of rape annually, some Egyptian lawmakers are pushing for giving rape victims the right to abortion. According to the semi-official newspaper Al Ahram, an MP has presented a draft bill to the parliament demanding an amendment to the Egyptian law to allow pregnant women, who have been raped, to go for abortion. The aim, according to MP Khalil Qouta, is to curb an increasing number of children of unknown parents in Egypt.

“Any girl or woman, who is subjected to rape, has the right in Islam to have abortion at anytime, and she would not commit a sin for doing this,” said Egypt’s top Muslim cleric Mohammad Sayed Tantawi. Giving his blessing to the pro-abortion bill, Tantawi, who is the Grand Shaikh of Al Azhar, demanded that women given the right to abortion should have done their best to resist the rapist.

His fatwa (religious edict) has drawn opposition, though. “Endorsing the right to abortion in the cases of rape has several risks,” said Fawzia Abdul Sattar, a professor of criminal law. “In the first place, this bill deals with the aftermath of the crime, but not the crime itself,” she told Gulf News. “Legalising abortion for rape victims may well encourage immoral behaviour on the part of girls involved in illicit affairs, who would manipulate the code and claim they were raped.”

Abdul Sattar also warns that some 'unscrupulous' medical professionals could take advantage of the bill to perform illegal abortion on immoral women. “Rather, we need to promote ethics and religious piety in order to encounter the crime of rape,” she said.

Pro-life supporters like Mohammad Rafaat, a professor of Sharia (Islamic Law), believe that abortion for the raped women should be conducted only in the first days before a foetus forms. “There is a consensus among Muslim scholars that the abortion is not permissible 120 days after the conception occurs.” Rafaat urges the government to set up medical centres to treat victims immediately after they are raped. “This can help remove the effects of rape before the foetus is formed,” he said.

While supporting the right to abortion for raped women, Nehad Abul Qumsan, the chairperson of the Egyptian Centre for Women’s Rights, balks at the suggestion that abortion can be carried out at any time. “Many women give birth to premature babies in the seventh or eighth month after conception. Should they be allowed to have abortion at this time?” she asked. “I think the issue should be resolved from the beginning and abortion restricted to cases when the foetus is not formed,” she said.

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Yes, while 'liberal' Malaysia argues whether non-Muslims should be allowed the use of the word 'Allah' in reference to God, those in 'liberal' Cairo (where drinking liquor is not frowned upon and some smoke during the month of Ramadhan because they consider that smoking does not nullify the fast) are arguing whether abortion for raped women should be allowed in the event 'immoral' women use this 'loophole'.

Yusuf Estes rightly said that he loves Islam but he hates Muslims. Many prominent converts to Islam in fact share his view. And I, who in a way 'converted' to Islam later in life though I was 'officially' born a Muslim, do not differ in this view. Who in heaven's name, you may ask, is this dude Yusuf Estes? Is he someone important or an authority on Islam? Well, let me put to rest any anxiety you may harbour on who this dude is.

Yusuf Estes, PhD., is an American convert to Islam and Chairman of The Muslim Foundation International, an Islamic promotional and missionary organisation dedicated to spreading the message of Islam. He was brought up as a Protestant Christian and was a member of The Disciples of Christ.

From 1962 until 1990, Estes had a varied career as a music minister, preacher, and the owner of the Estes Piano and Organ Company. He was born in 1944 and lived in Texas and Florida. In 1991, Estes 'discovered' Islam and converted to Islam that same year along with his wife, father, and step-mother. He has since pursued Arabic language and Quranic studies in Egypt, Morocco and Turkey.

Estes has been regularly appearing on Peace TV, which is a 24/7 Islamic channel broadcasting to many countries around the globe. Estes' Islamic activities include:

1) Volunteer Imam in a Texas military installation.

2) National U.S Chaplain for the Federal Bureau of Prisons since 1994.

3) Delegate to the United Nations Peace Summit for Religious Leaders in August of 2000.

4) University guest speaker.

5) Television preacher, syndicated television programs on satellite and cable networks.

6) Maintaining Islamic websites.

Estes is also well-known for his website motto which he regularly uses at the end of his speeches and interviews: 'Visit Islamalways.com. We're open 24 hours a day and there's always plenty of free parking'.

Another prominent convert from the West sent me this e-mail which I thought I just have to share it with you. Unfortunately I do not have permission to identify the writer so the person will have to remain anonymous. But rest assured that this is a genuine message from a prominent convert whom I personally know and have met.

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I am writing you today as I have read 'Fruit From A Poisonous Tree Will Be Poisonous' and wanted to give you my take on the matter.

You ask, how can a good religion make people bad?

To answer this question we have to understand what religion is. Religion is man-made. If we look at the early generations of Muslims, the first two Caliphs for instance, we see a pretty just system. But from there it goes downhill. We have Muslim fighting Muslim, rules and regulations implemented based on frail human understanding and often with less than pious motives, and we see Muslims seeking power rather than Imaan.

Islam is no different from Judaism and Christianity in this respect – they have all lost their way as 'religions'. Faith is one of the most powerful motivators – it can lead men to murder, to corruption and to all sorts of horrific acts, and it is often used by tyrants to accomplish these things. But at the core of it is one human trait that we must always struggle to suppress and that is our desire to be better than others.

We all want notoriety and often 'religion' is used as a way of separating us, as making us think we are better than others, that we somehow are the 'chosen' ones. Look at the division within the Muslim Ummah and the fights over who is the 'saved sect'. Is there a man on earth who really knows for sure how to secure a sacred place in the hereafter?

I don’t think we can look at so-called religions for the answer. And with respect to the Muslims, we have to reject most of what we have been told as the rules and regulations have been handed down by dictators and rulers with their own agenda.

Islam has no Pope. As Muslims, our relationship with Allah is direct. Instead, we look to scholars and leaders as if they have some inside track to God. In Pakistan and Egypt, the Muslims kiss the hands of the Sheikhs, throw money at them and elevate their status. While surely we can gain knowledge from learned men, we need to filter out personal motives and validate so-called 'knowledge'.

Travelling the world as I have, I can tell you that Islam in Malaysia and Turkey, for instance, is drastically different. Look at Saudi Arabia as another example. Women there are not allowed to drive. Yet, in Islam, women are equal and are not restricted from working or achieving skills! Many cultural things have found their way into the 'truth'. How can that be when there is only one truth? I conclude that much 'truth' is man-made!

I have great compassion for your current situation having gone through a similar thing myself. The more I understand, the more I reject organised religion. It seems to me that we are focusing on man-made details while totally side-lining the source of faith.

The Quran is a book for all time, as are the other Holy Books. Yet Islam, today, is based more on Hadith and the life of the Prophet (pbuh), Fatwas, Islamic precedence, cultural traditions, etc., than on the Quran. Let’s face it – you can get a Fatwa to justify anything these days. If we find a ruling we don’t like, presto – we find a Sheikh who will endorse it. We really have to make sure that our own arrogance does not cloud our vision, and that is something I am constantly trying to keep in check.

In Malaysia, the situation is more complex as there are religious differences and a hefty amount of racism that magnifies the differences. You have so-called Muslim leaders using their position to condone their own behaviour and condemn those they choose. And they do this in the name of religion. But the obvious question is - where is the justice?

Allah said do not take the Christians and the Jews as (CLOSE) friends. This only makes sense – it’s logical. Ultimately, a different faith will eventually limit those relationships but that does not mean we must abuse Christians and Jews or that all of them are 'evil' – that goes against what Allah tells us in the Quran. Allah tells us to wage war against the OPPRESSORS within His LIMITS and to respect the People of the Book but somehow we let this get twisted by men with personal agendas.

Brother, as a Royal son of Selangor, I think you have your priorities upside down. You have worked tirelessly for your country and I know the country’s problems trouble you a great deal and you put a lot of effort into trying to instigate change. This, no doubt, is also partly expected of you. But you cannot condone bad Muslim behaviour because you are Muslim and you cannot turn a blind eye to Allah’s justice because of your patriotism.

The world map is changing even as we speak and there is no guarantee that Malaysia, as we know it, will even remain. We need to hold onto those things that pass the test of time like divine truth and justice even if it makes us unpopular. Working tirelessly at deciphering truth will reap much greater rewards for mankind and in the hereafter.

I no longer take what other Muslims tell me as truth. I too am at the stage of my life where I see hypocrisy everywhere and, for me, I don’t buy a lot of the interpretations of Islam as they are now presented. I come back to the Quran and the guiding principles and contemplate these at the source. That often puts me at odds with other Muslims but I really think we must each travel our own path to truth. Is this not the purpose of life?

Faith is an individual journey, not a 'religion', and Allah gave us a brain, a conscience and freewill to choose right from wrong. I think we must focus internally before we act externally and we must be cautious that we don’t get caught up in the politics of the day or 'religious' trends that will be long gone tomorrow. Faith is not a coat we put on and instantly we are pious. We must come to know that we know that we know. It's a learning process.

There will never be peace without justice. We need to stand on the side of justice whether that is with the Muslims or non-Muslims, believers or unbelievers. We are so busy sweating the details that we often miss the real truth. We know deep down what is right as long as we let Allah be our guide, and once we are at peace with what is right, we need to act. Knowledge is useless unless we use it. We need to get our eye off men and onto Allah because with Allah we have hope, guidance and mercy and with man, our future is futile.

You are a very blessed individual brother. Allah tests those He loves – often relentlessly. It seems to me you have reached the point that Allah is requiring you to make a choice. Love of your country or love of Him. That does not mean that you will not be able to help your country nor does it mean that you have to stand with the so-called Muslims who are using Islam for their own purposes. Allah is asking you to put Him first. Our requirement is only to submit and leave the outcome to Him and let us never underestimate His capability. He’s got you covered!

That’s my two bits brother.

May Allah help and guide us. Ameen.

Wa salam.