I came to learn of Dr. Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin’s arrest by JAIS from my male confidante during our chat yesterday. I immediately surfed the net for more information. I wanted to know why we are reviving back the olden culture of persecuting Islamic scholars. My brief research stint led to a few reasons- each one just as dubious as the other.
One-he is an uncertified Mufti who at the moment is worryingly spreading Wahhabism among elites and university students through his lectures. Two- the authorities had this fear that his activities will further divide the ummah in Malaysia especially since Malaysia’s Muslim community is practicing Sunnnah Wal-Jamaah. Three-this was also the direct implication of his refusal to accept the offer to head YADIM and the subsequent protest from the Islamic NGOs over the offer. Four- Dr. Asri is a stubborn lad. He had issued opinions that some found are controversial and unwarranted for. He stood up for the right to privacy on the issue of “tangkap khalwat”. He criticized on how the “Kursus Perkahwinan” is not up to the mark or how “Kursus Haji” are profit-oriented. He spoke his mind on yoga and the use of Allah in Bible and also had the nerve to question the need for the Fatwa Council to convene and discuss trivial issues like the use of decorative henna paint on the hand.
In short, he was just doing his job.
On the other hand, the Selangor Exco is under fire again and they claimed that Islamic matter is certainly not under their jurisdiction or purview. The action by JAIS and MAIS is beyond their control.
So, my question is; what’s the problem if he is a Wahhabi?
This brings me to the infamous list of cults and deviant teachings banned in Malaysia. Let me share my observation on how Shi’ah is treated in the country and relate it to Dr. Asri’s arrest.
If you check the JAKIM’s Gazetted List of “Ajaran Sesat”, you will realize that Shi’ah is also on the list, amusingly in the same league with Ajaran Anak Rimau and Ayah Pin. (There are a few Tarekat on the list as well, that my friends who I believe are more learned than me in this area has over the years qualified as not “sesat” but merely a result of diversity in approach.)
But then, I realized how we are selective in the ways we responded to school of thoughts other than Sunni. Check out this simple example – During a public rally opposing Israel’s aggression in Lebanon, I find it amusing, to see posters of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah party, being paraded by the demonstrators. It seems to me that we eventually are able to brush aside our differences and lend our support to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Lebanon during that conflict.
THAT or maybe we did not know Nasrallah is a Shi’ite.
We also forget, I guess, when we arrest Dr. Mohd Asri, that we also send Malaysians to perform their hajj in a country that approved and adopt Wahabism (read: Saudi Arabia). As much as we claim that these examples do not implicate our internal policies or approach to Islam, but did it not reflect poorly on our worldview that diversity of Islamic thoughts and sects would divide the ummah and in the end, threaten national security and social harmony?
The thing is in Malaysia, it isn’t the flourishing of Wahhabism or Shi’ah sect that divide us. We have institutionalized racism and unjust distribution of wealth to thank for. We need not go through all the drama and arrest a scholar to manifest our commitment to national unity of the ummah. We also have people who trade religion to preserve political interest or maintain status quo. Politicians, who would not think twice to perform ablution in front of the camera for cheap publicities or undertake the swearing ceremony to prove their innocence…well, albeit a reluctant Imam. Wouldn’t these characters be more detrimental to our efforts towards a better understanding and appreciation of Islam in the society?
I think what the system feared the most about Dr. Asri is that he is a non-conformist. A rebel, who if not silenced, will further challenge the structure. One of those mice that when asked by its leader whether it would volunteer to tie the bell around the cat’s neck, would most probably answered, “lets implant a nano GPS in his tail so that we could track his whereabout”.
As our wealth of Sirah has illustrated, it is easier to burn bridges, to let blood be drawn or tears be shed because of our different thoughts, ideas and understanding of our religion. Islam is dynamic and time has changed. Must we still succumb ourselves to ignorance, power and ego?
If he is uncertified, tell us how did he become the Mufti of Perlis in the first place? By way of a religious Big Bang? If the allegation is true, wouldn’t such allegation reflect poorly on how our religious institutions are managing its affairs?
Lesson that I learned from this incident, as a Muslimah and also a mother is the urgent need for us to start recognizing that there is no such thing as 1ISLAM but only ISLAM. As we embrace universality in the ways we conduct our political, social and economic affairs at the local level, we also need to open our eyes and mind to diversity. I don’t want my only daughter to grow up a dogmatist as she witnessed Islamic scholars, whose intellectual and freedom of thought are being stifled without further dialogues or debates in a healthy democratic forum, that will greatly benefit the people.
We have enough of religion extremism in the world today. We have enough. So, please put off the fire and rebuilt from whatever left from the ashes of hatred.
*Picture taken from this blog .
