January 28, 2010.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Hokkien is my second language - An Interview with The Nut Graph
"Look, I think it is not technically wrong to say that the Chinese and Indians were pendatang in the past. But that was before 1957. We cannot call the current batch of non-Malay [Malaysians] pendatang. This is their home. How can you call them pendatang? Gila? It's spiteful...."
To read more click here
To read more click here
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
SISTERS & JAKIM - Why not have a thrash out session?
The High Court has lifted the ban by the Home Ministry on SISTERS’ book, “Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism” read here.
Now, JAKIM is worried that Muslims will ‘terpesong’ if they read such a book read here.
May I suggest having a session in the spirit of enquiry a thrash out session where both sides illustrate their points and ideas for the public in general and Muslim especially to decide for themselves? I offer to moderate (and those who have seen me moderating, I am strict, to the point and fair :) )
To make it kosher, all arguments must first and foremost be based on the Quran, since the Quran did say,
“Say: "What thing is most Weighty in evidence?" Say: "(Allah) is witness between me and you; This Qur'an hath been revealed to me by inspiration, that I may warn you and all whom it reaches. …..." (Quran 6:19).
"And we sent down the Book to thee for the express purpose, that thou should make clear to them those things in which they differ, that it should be a guide and a mercy to those who believe." (Quran 16:64)
Will JAKIM and SISTERS agree?
Now, JAKIM is worried that Muslims will ‘terpesong’ if they read such a book read here.
May I suggest having a session in the spirit of enquiry a thrash out session where both sides illustrate their points and ideas for the public in general and Muslim especially to decide for themselves? I offer to moderate (and those who have seen me moderating, I am strict, to the point and fair :) )
To make it kosher, all arguments must first and foremost be based on the Quran, since the Quran did say,
“Say: "What thing is most Weighty in evidence?" Say: "(Allah) is witness between me and you; This Qur'an hath been revealed to me by inspiration, that I may warn you and all whom it reaches. …..." (Quran 6:19).
"And we sent down the Book to thee for the express purpose, that thou should make clear to them those things in which they differ, that it should be a guide and a mercy to those who believe." (Quran 16:64)
Will JAKIM and SISTERS agree?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Zubedy-BFM Unity Series - What to do with 1Malaysia?
Jan 21st, 2010
Happy listening ! This coming Thursday I will be chatting about Race, Malaysia and Ketuanan Melayu :)
Happy listening ! This coming Thursday I will be chatting about Race, Malaysia and Ketuanan Melayu :)
Must Read - What is important in life?
A friend emailed me this and I would like to share it with you.
What is Important in Life
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. "Jack, did you hear me?" "Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him. "I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said. "You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away. The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time
The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture... .Jack stopped suddenly. "What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked. "The box is gone," he said "What box?" Mom asked. "There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it. "Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom.."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read.
Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside. "Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett.. It's the thing I valued most in my life."
A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most was...my time" Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked. "I need some time to spend with my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"
What is Important in Life
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. "Jack, did you hear me?" "Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him. "I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said. "You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away. The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time
The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture... .Jack stopped suddenly. "What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked. "The box is gone," he said "What box?" Mom asked. "There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it. "Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom.."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read.
Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside. "Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett.. It's the thing I valued most in my life."
A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most was...my time" Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked. "I need some time to spend with my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"
Sunday, January 24, 2010
A Genuine Problem Malaysia Must Fix - Good to read
JAN 24 – To Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, this is what I have to say in response to your statement about emigration by ingrates.
Sometime in 1980, when I was a final-year student in London, I had a very short telephone conversation with my father. In those days, there were no call cards, skype or the like and international phone calls were expensive. He had a very simple message – “Don’t come home, son.”
to read more click here
Sometime in 1980, when I was a final-year student in London, I had a very short telephone conversation with my father. In those days, there were no call cards, skype or the like and international phone calls were expensive. He had a very simple message – “Don’t come home, son.”
to read more click here
Kahlil Gibran on Government Critics
THE THREE GIFTS – from Gibran's The Wanderer click here
Once in the city of Becharre there lived a gracious prince who was loved and honoured by all his subjects.
But there was one exceedingly poor man who was bitter against the prince, and who wagged continually a pestilent tongue in his dispraise.
The prince knew this, yet he was patient.
But at last he bethought him; and upon a wintry night there came to the door of the man a servant of the prince, bearing a sack of flour, a bag of soap and a cone of sugar.
And the servant said, “The prince sends you these gifts in token of remembrance.”
The man was elated, for he thought the gifts were an homage from the prince. And in his pride we went to the bishop and told him what the prince had done, saying, “Can you not see how the prince desires my goodwill?”
But the bishop said, “Oh, how wise a prince, and how little you understand. He speaks in symbols. The flour is for your empty stomach; the soap is for your dirty hide; and the sugar is to sweeten your bitter tongue.”
From that day forward the man became shy even of himself. His hatred of the prince was greater than ever, and even more he hated the bishop who had revealed the prince unto him.
But thereafter he kept silent.
Note:
Of coz this is fiction. In reality there will be no head of state that is loved and honoured by all; many are not as wise. In Malaysia too, out government has a lot of shortcomings and in need of improving their policies and actions. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs a lobotomy.
Similarly the majority of our government critics do not need the 3 gifts. For one, probably none will need the flour as almost certainly all of them have enough to spare even after spending RM 10 for coffee at Starbucks.
However, there are a few who do need some soap and sugar :)
Siapa Makan Cili Dia Rasa Pedas :)
Once in the city of Becharre there lived a gracious prince who was loved and honoured by all his subjects.
But there was one exceedingly poor man who was bitter against the prince, and who wagged continually a pestilent tongue in his dispraise.
The prince knew this, yet he was patient.
But at last he bethought him; and upon a wintry night there came to the door of the man a servant of the prince, bearing a sack of flour, a bag of soap and a cone of sugar.
And the servant said, “The prince sends you these gifts in token of remembrance.”
The man was elated, for he thought the gifts were an homage from the prince. And in his pride we went to the bishop and told him what the prince had done, saying, “Can you not see how the prince desires my goodwill?”
But the bishop said, “Oh, how wise a prince, and how little you understand. He speaks in symbols. The flour is for your empty stomach; the soap is for your dirty hide; and the sugar is to sweeten your bitter tongue.”
From that day forward the man became shy even of himself. His hatred of the prince was greater than ever, and even more he hated the bishop who had revealed the prince unto him.
But thereafter he kept silent.
Note:
Of coz this is fiction. In reality there will be no head of state that is loved and honoured by all; many are not as wise. In Malaysia too, out government has a lot of shortcomings and in need of improving their policies and actions. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs a lobotomy.
Similarly the majority of our government critics do not need the 3 gifts. For one, probably none will need the flour as almost certainly all of them have enough to spare even after spending RM 10 for coffee at Starbucks.
However, there are a few who do need some soap and sugar :)
Siapa Makan Cili Dia Rasa Pedas :)
Saturday, January 23, 2010
I too have been critical of Tun Dr Mahathir(TDM) but …
In 1995 I wrote (printed in Aliran Monthly 1995:14)
The Ghost of Mahathir
It amazes me how one normal human being like Mahathir has assumed such a powerful influence over intelligent thinking humans to such an extent that they make their decisions based on his presence or absence in officiating and delivering a keynote address at a function.
A man like him, who is a drop in the ocean compared to the vastness of the problem, will come and go. He, you or I were not present in 1492 when Colombus landed on the soils of the New World. He too is as helpless as you and I when confronted with the dying children in Africa or the thousands of women raped in Bosnia- Herzegovina.
One must also note that as a human being he too is not an absolute Satan only bent on doing wrong, or an absolute angel with one hundred per cent goodness. He is just a normal human being. He has done wrong, he has done right. Just like you and I.
I wrote the article in defense of a seminar organized by JUST ( Rethinking Human Rights) and my friend Dr Chandra to the immature attitude of certain human rights groups who went into conniption disagreeing almost wholesale the entire effort we undertook simply because TDM was the keynote speaker. (To read the entire article click here)
Sadly, our state of affairs has yet to see much progress. The attitude to curse those who we do not agree with to death and follow those we agree with blindly is still the fashion of the day. No wonder our country is still not moving forward as we wished for.
In a recent facebook discussion (with reference to TDM’s accusation of 9/11 being staged) one of the entries suggests that TDM’s day is long overdue and that it is high time he “kick the bucket”.
To my bigger surprise was when I wrote back to say that his statement is not right and uncouth, decent fellow Malaysians tried to justify his position!!! How sick can we be?
This epidemic of hatred is not confined to one side. It goes both ways. Last year an acquaintance I met at Bangsar, knowing that I am critical of Anwar (eg read here ), openly told me that his one BIG wish for Malaysia is to see Anwar dead! When I told him off, he was taken aback.
How did hate consume our hearts and make us uncivilized? We need to apply the Ghandian mantra “Hate the Sin and not the Sinner”. We need to cleansed our hearts of hatred especially those of which we have towards our enemies.
C'mon brother and sister Malaysians, we are better than this. We need to take action based on a good heart, even when we dislike the other. We can, if we look deeper into our humanity.
As I said, I too have been critical of Tun Dr Mahathir(read here as published in DAP's Rocket in 1988) but in no way I have allowed my heart to hate him.
coz,
"Hate in your heart, will consume you too,"
Will Smith's advise to his 5 year old son in the song, "Just The Two of Us" click here for the music video:)
anas zubedy
The Ghost of Mahathir
It amazes me how one normal human being like Mahathir has assumed such a powerful influence over intelligent thinking humans to such an extent that they make their decisions based on his presence or absence in officiating and delivering a keynote address at a function.
A man like him, who is a drop in the ocean compared to the vastness of the problem, will come and go. He, you or I were not present in 1492 when Colombus landed on the soils of the New World. He too is as helpless as you and I when confronted with the dying children in Africa or the thousands of women raped in Bosnia- Herzegovina.
One must also note that as a human being he too is not an absolute Satan only bent on doing wrong, or an absolute angel with one hundred per cent goodness. He is just a normal human being. He has done wrong, he has done right. Just like you and I.
I wrote the article in defense of a seminar organized by JUST ( Rethinking Human Rights) and my friend Dr Chandra to the immature attitude of certain human rights groups who went into conniption disagreeing almost wholesale the entire effort we undertook simply because TDM was the keynote speaker. (To read the entire article click here)
Sadly, our state of affairs has yet to see much progress. The attitude to curse those who we do not agree with to death and follow those we agree with blindly is still the fashion of the day. No wonder our country is still not moving forward as we wished for.
In a recent facebook discussion (with reference to TDM’s accusation of 9/11 being staged) one of the entries suggests that TDM’s day is long overdue and that it is high time he “kick the bucket”.
To my bigger surprise was when I wrote back to say that his statement is not right and uncouth, decent fellow Malaysians tried to justify his position!!! How sick can we be?
This epidemic of hatred is not confined to one side. It goes both ways. Last year an acquaintance I met at Bangsar, knowing that I am critical of Anwar (eg read here ), openly told me that his one BIG wish for Malaysia is to see Anwar dead! When I told him off, he was taken aback.
How did hate consume our hearts and make us uncivilized? We need to apply the Ghandian mantra “Hate the Sin and not the Sinner”. We need to cleansed our hearts of hatred especially those of which we have towards our enemies.
C'mon brother and sister Malaysians, we are better than this. We need to take action based on a good heart, even when we dislike the other. We can, if we look deeper into our humanity.
As I said, I too have been critical of Tun Dr Mahathir(read here as published in DAP's Rocket in 1988) but in no way I have allowed my heart to hate him.
coz,
"Hate in your heart, will consume you too,"
Will Smith's advise to his 5 year old son in the song, "Just The Two of Us" click here for the music video:)
anas zubedy
Kahlil Gibran on Ketuanan Rakyat
Then the king said, “Not I, not I. You yourselves are king. When you deemed me weak and a misruler, you yourselves were weak and misruling. And now the land fares well because it is in your will. I am but a thought in the mind of you all, and I exist not save in your actions. There is no such person as governor. Only the governed exist to govern themselves.”
To read the entire story click here
Friday, January 22, 2010
MACAMANA? Dr Asri, Ustaz Hadi and PKR's Dr Md. Nor also agree that "Allah" ...
... is not correctly translated as 'God' ? Hmmm... read here
Now, this I want to follow ...
Tok Guru Nik Aziz says OK, but Tok Guru Hadi says not OK - So PAS macamana ? PKR' s Tok Guru says not OK, but Brother Anwar say OK - so PKR macamana? PR = PKR + PAS + DAP, so PR macamana? DAP lani macamana?
Now, Dr Asri is sort of the 'liberal Malaysian Muslim' Tok Guru, but if he says its not OK, 'liberal Malaysia Muslim" macamana?
But the Quran says its OK (read here) so if you are a Muslim who wants to follow the Quran, macamana? Pandai-pandai lah pilih whom to follow...
“If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) unbelievers. (Quran 5: 44)
“Say: "What thing is most Weighty in evidence?" Say: "(Allah) is witness between me and you; This Qur'an hath been revealed to me by inspiration, that I may warn you and all whom it reaches. …..." (Quran 6:19).
MACAMANA NI?
Now, this I want to follow ...
Tok Guru Nik Aziz says OK, but Tok Guru Hadi says not OK - So PAS macamana ? PKR' s Tok Guru says not OK, but Brother Anwar say OK - so PKR macamana? PR = PKR + PAS + DAP, so PR macamana? DAP lani macamana?
Now, Dr Asri is sort of the 'liberal Malaysian Muslim' Tok Guru, but if he says its not OK, 'liberal Malaysia Muslim" macamana?
But the Quran says its OK (read here) so if you are a Muslim who wants to follow the Quran, macamana? Pandai-pandai lah pilih whom to follow...
“If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) unbelievers. (Quran 5: 44)
“Say: "What thing is most Weighty in evidence?" Say: "(Allah) is witness between me and you; This Qur'an hath been revealed to me by inspiration, that I may warn you and all whom it reaches. …..." (Quran 6:19).
MACAMANA NI?
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Tun Dr Mahathir is saying that 9/11 was staged
Wow! Wow! Wow! This is going to be BIG!!!
I guess he is striking back at the US. Anyway, the theory is not new. I got my sisters in the US to send me the DVD and have viewed the entire documentary
" In Plane Sight " sometime ago where the producer showed the many inconsistencies with the official report about 9/11.
It is unfortunate that those who are not crazy about Tun is focusing on the part that he said " If they can make Avatar, they could make anything ". That was not the main message. It was just a passing statement. Read it in full here.
I am all excited . I have waited for years for someone prominent to bring this matter up and ... how often can you see Antares and Tun on the same page?!!!.
Do not judge nor decide until you have watched this documentary and it's critic– click here
For a quick look, click here . (Note that at the Pentagon you dont see any plane wreckage at all.)
Put your politics aside, and go seek for the Truth :)
Peace, anas
I guess he is striking back at the US. Anyway, the theory is not new. I got my sisters in the US to send me the DVD and have viewed the entire documentary
" In Plane Sight " sometime ago where the producer showed the many inconsistencies with the official report about 9/11.
It is unfortunate that those who are not crazy about Tun is focusing on the part that he said " If they can make Avatar, they could make anything ". That was not the main message. It was just a passing statement. Read it in full here.
You guys are missing the point - the message is that Tun has accused the West as the people responsible for the 9/11 attack.
Whether you like Tun or not, a prominent man with an international standing has open up the Pandora’s box!I am all excited . I have waited for years for someone prominent to bring this matter up and ... how often can you see Antares and Tun on the same page?!!!.
Do not judge nor decide until you have watched this documentary and it's critic– click here
For a quick look, click here . (Note that at the Pentagon you dont see any plane wreckage at all.)
Put your politics aside, and go seek for the Truth :)
Peace, anas
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
We are looking for Good Malaysians to help ...
... us make the world a better place :)
" Teaching is one of the most meaningful professions. " - Jubal Lourdes
Here are the positions available :-
( Note : Former employees of zubedy’s clients can only apply 6 months after leaving the organization)
Full Time Facilitators
Responsibilities:
- Passionate about teaching and sharing
- Facilitate, sell and assist in development of
products in the areas of :
- Change & Personal Development
- Time Management
- Interpersonal Skills
- Presentation Skills
- Human Resource Programs
- Management Skills
- Sales & Sales Management
Requirements:
- Must be between 30-45 years old
- Able to work weekends and outstation
- Able to teach in Bahasa Melayu and English,
ability to deliver in Mandarin and Cantonese
would be an added advantage
- We prefer practitioners (Line trainers who want
to move into training)
- Must have excellent presentation skills
- At least 5 years working experience in related
fields
- Bachelor’s Degree in any field (candidates with
Masters would have an added advantage)
- Possess own transport - car
Human Resource Executive
Responsibilities:
- Responsible for the general spectrum of HR
including recruitment, employee relations,
employee welfare and administration etc.
- Update, maintain and safe keep
employees’ personal files.
- To perform any duties and tasks assigned
by immediate superior from time to time.
Requirements:
- Possess at least a Bachelor's Degree in any
social sciences like Psychology, Sociology
and Anthropology.
- Those with a Human Resources Degree or
possession of an additional Professional
Certificate or Professional Diploma within
the HR field will be an advantage.
- Preferably Junior Executives, with at least 1
year's working experiences specializing in
Human Resources or equivalent.
- Sense of responsibility and integrity and
able to handle confidential matters.
- Good command of written and
spoken English and Bahasa Malaysia.
- Computer literate, knowledge in Microsoft
Office is essential
Sales Executive
Responsibilities:
- Telemarketing and face-to-face selling
- Assist to grow the public program business
- Increase better market coverage in
completing existing Sales canvassing
activities.
- Generate sales leads through database
Requirements:
- Possess a Diploma in any field
- Good command of English and Bahasa
Malaysia
- Pleasant personality and good telephone
etiquette
- Computer literate
- Energetic, positive minded and good
team player
- Fresh graduates or less than 1 year of
working experience is encouraged to
apply
- Experience in handling conventions and
seminars will be an added advantage
- Must possess own transport
The Benefits:
- Incentive based remuneration with good
basic salary
- Opportunity to learn about the training
business
- Work in a team based organization
- Incentive trips
Business Development Executive
Responsibilities:
- Generate new sales
- Conduct sales activities and brand
management for zubedy training programs
- Develop and maintain business relationships
with both current and potential clients
Requirements:
- Possess a Bachelor's degree in any field
- Passionate about Sales
- Organized and steady
- Pleasant personality, good interpersonal skills
and hard working
- Fresh graduates or below 2 years working
experience encouraged to apply
- Must possess own transport
The Benefits:
- Incentive based remuneration with good basic
salary (potential earnings of a minimum of 4K
per month)
- Self development and learning opportunities
with an established soft-skills training provider
Please submit a written application (preferably via email) to hr@zubedy.com with a comprehensive resume stating expected salary and a recent passport-sized photograph by 28 January 2010. Incomplete applications will be rejected. Only short-listed candidates will be notified for interviews.
let us add value
zubedy (m) sdn bhd (301425-u)
Wisma WIM, 3rd floor, 7, Jalan Abang Haji Openg, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur.
Fax: 603-7727 0759
Email: hr@zubedy.com
Website: www.zubedy.com
" Teaching is one of the most meaningful professions. " - Jubal Lourdes
Here are the positions available :-
( Note : Former employees of zubedy’s clients can only apply 6 months after leaving the organization)
Full Time Facilitators
Responsibilities:
- Passionate about teaching and sharing
- Facilitate, sell and assist in development of
products in the areas of :
- Change & Personal Development
- Time Management
- Interpersonal Skills
- Presentation Skills
- Human Resource Programs
- Management Skills
- Sales & Sales Management
Requirements:
- Must be between 30-45 years old
- Able to work weekends and outstation
- Able to teach in Bahasa Melayu and English,
ability to deliver in Mandarin and Cantonese
would be an added advantage
- We prefer practitioners (Line trainers who want
to move into training)
- Must have excellent presentation skills
- At least 5 years working experience in related
fields
- Bachelor’s Degree in any field (candidates with
Masters would have an added advantage)
- Possess own transport - car
Human Resource Executive
Responsibilities:
- Responsible for the general spectrum of HR
including recruitment, employee relations,
employee welfare and administration etc.
- Update, maintain and safe keep
employees’ personal files.
- To perform any duties and tasks assigned
by immediate superior from time to time.
Requirements:
- Possess at least a Bachelor's Degree in any
social sciences like Psychology, Sociology
and Anthropology.
- Those with a Human Resources Degree or
possession of an additional Professional
Certificate or Professional Diploma within
the HR field will be an advantage.
- Preferably Junior Executives, with at least 1
year's working experiences specializing in
Human Resources or equivalent.
- Sense of responsibility and integrity and
able to handle confidential matters.
- Good command of written and
spoken English and Bahasa Malaysia.
- Computer literate, knowledge in Microsoft
Office is essential
Sales Executive
Responsibilities:
- Telemarketing and face-to-face selling
- Assist to grow the public program business
- Increase better market coverage in
completing existing Sales canvassing
activities.
- Generate sales leads through database
Requirements:
- Possess a Diploma in any field
- Good command of English and Bahasa
Malaysia
- Pleasant personality and good telephone
etiquette
- Computer literate
- Energetic, positive minded and good
team player
- Fresh graduates or less than 1 year of
working experience is encouraged to
apply
- Experience in handling conventions and
seminars will be an added advantage
- Must possess own transport
The Benefits:
- Incentive based remuneration with good
basic salary
- Opportunity to learn about the training
business
- Work in a team based organization
- Incentive trips
Business Development Executive
Responsibilities:
- Generate new sales
- Conduct sales activities and brand
management for zubedy training programs
- Develop and maintain business relationships
with both current and potential clients
Requirements:
- Possess a Bachelor's degree in any field
- Passionate about Sales
- Organized and steady
- Pleasant personality, good interpersonal skills
and hard working
- Fresh graduates or below 2 years working
experience encouraged to apply
- Must possess own transport
The Benefits:
- Incentive based remuneration with good basic
salary (potential earnings of a minimum of 4K
per month)
- Self development and learning opportunities
with an established soft-skills training provider
Please submit a written application (preferably via email) to hr@zubedy.com with a comprehensive resume stating expected salary and a recent passport-sized photograph by 28 January 2010. Incomplete applications will be rejected. Only short-listed candidates will be notified for interviews.
let us add value
zubedy (m) sdn bhd (301425-u)
Wisma WIM, 3rd floor, 7, Jalan Abang Haji Openg, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur.
Fax: 603-7727 0759
Email: hr@zubedy.com
Website: www.zubedy.com
Monday, January 18, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
The right to call each other “Macha” !
Good news!
As a twist to the tussle to the word “Allah”, where two opposing groups have created Facebook groups for and against the use of the word for all Malaysians, there is another interesting group created that has the potential of uniting both of these differing groups..
A bunch of young Malaysians have formed “We support the right for all Malaysians to refer to each other as "macha".
Although I have made it a point not to join any Facebook grouping, this one nearly got me to sign on!
In these trying times where many words are considered sensitive, the ability to call each other “macha” is a brilliant and fun twist that adds value to the situation.
It is also a gentle reminder to laugh at ourselves and chill out a little.
So Malaysians, let’s do a little chilling and cackle more. I recommend both those who are for and against the word “Allah” to find a common ground by taking the first step and call each other “macha”.
What do you say Macha?
Peace, MachaAnas
As a twist to the tussle to the word “Allah”, where two opposing groups have created Facebook groups for and against the use of the word for all Malaysians, there is another interesting group created that has the potential of uniting both of these differing groups..
A bunch of young Malaysians have formed “We support the right for all Malaysians to refer to each other as "macha".
Although I have made it a point not to join any Facebook grouping, this one nearly got me to sign on!
In these trying times where many words are considered sensitive, the ability to call each other “macha” is a brilliant and fun twist that adds value to the situation.
It is also a gentle reminder to laugh at ourselves and chill out a little.
So Malaysians, let’s do a little chilling and cackle more. I recommend both those who are for and against the word “Allah” to find a common ground by taking the first step and call each other “macha”.
What do you say Macha?
Peace, MachaAnas
Goods & Service Tax (GST) - A One Stop Read
I thank The Star for featuring the following articles on the GST- I have been waiting for one :) I suggest Malaysians read these articles to understand it. They are from today's STARBIZWEEK.
- Making sense of GST here
- Hoping for a good deal out of a taxing issue here
- What you should know about GST here
- Terms to remember here
- Should you fear the new tax? here
You may also want to read about MIER's Prof Ariff (one of the proponents of the GST) here and watch Tony Pua's understanding of the issue here .
cheers and peace, anas
CAN ALLAH BE MONOPOLISED BY ANY COMMUNITY?
by Asghar Ali Engineer
Of late I have been receiving questions about the controversy these days in Malaysia about ‘Allah’ as Malay Muslims are objecting to the use of word ‘Allah’ by Catholic Christians. The Malays feel only Malay Muslims can use the word Allah and Christians cannot. The case was fought right about the High Court and the high court of Malaysia also allowed the use of word Allah by Christians. However, the Government of Malaysia suspended the Supreme Court verdict for the time being. It is not because the Government is trying to defy the orders of Highest Court but because the controversy has become politically unmanageable due to overcharged emotions.
The Roman Catholics translate the word God in their Malay language paper Herald as Allah and hence the controversy. Of late violence has erupted and a few days ago some three churches were attacked with firebombs and one was extensively damaged. The religious extremists are determined to inflict their views on others. Malaysia, like India, is a multi-religious society and bye and large it has remained peaceful except when violence had erupted in late sixties between Malays and Chinese.
But again relations between Malays and Christians or Malays and Hindus erupt or situation becomes tense. All multi-religious societies experience inter-communal or inter-religious tensions in some or more degrees. All Malays are Muslims and constitute about sixty per cent of Malaysia’s population. In Malaysia, Malays and Muslims have become synonymous. As mostly weaker sections of society embrace Islam in the hope of equality and justice, in Malaysia too, poorer sections embraced Islam and Malays till recently were poor and backward. However, now most of them are well educated and economically better off.
The Malays who oppose the use of word Allah by Christians, argue that this will confuse ordinary Malays and in view of missionary activities of Catholic Christians, they may convert to Christianity and they want to ward off this confusion among Malays. This may have its own rationale but the problem has to be solved through dialogue and mutual understanding. But the problem is that some politicians would like to exploit such controversies to their benefit.
In fact those who object to use of word Allah by Christians are on weak grounds. As Allah is one and creator of all of us cannot be monopolized by any one religious, much less linguistic community. The word Allah in Arabic was in use before Islam appeared on the scene in Mecca. As Maulana Azad points out in his Tarjuman al-Qur’an the word Allah is derived linguistically from pre-Islamic ‘eel’ as in Jibra’il or Israf’il etc. The word is Hebrew was also iloh or ilah and by adding ‘al’ (which in English is used for ‘the’). Thus al-ilah (the God) became Allah in Arabic and was used for supreme God.
In fact Muslims should welcome if non-Muslims too use the word Allah for God or Ishwar etc. How can one object to use of Allah by others? Anyone who learns Arabic and talks about God will have to use word Allah. All Christian Arabs freely use word Allah in countries like Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon etc. No one objects to use of the word Allah. At least I do not know whether any Muslim Arab ever objected to such use.
I was in Lebanon in late nineties for a Christian-Muslim dialogue and we decided to visit mosque on Friday and a church on Sunday. We Muslims offered salah (prayer) on Friday and Christians sat in one place till prayer was over and we discussed with the imam of the mosque certain inter-communal problems. Similarly we Muslims observed the service in the church on Sunday while Christians in the group participated in the service.
The priest who was delivering sermon in Arabic was using the word Allah only and had rosary (tasbih) in his hand like the Imam in the mosque. If a curtain had been drawn between us and the priest I would have felt as if Imam in the mosque was delivering khutba in the mosque. Of course there were theological differences but otherwise Arabic language made us feel one.
As I always maintain any language exists prior to any religion and not otherwise. A religion uses a language which pre-exists it. More than one religious community can use the same language and terminology of both the religions would appear very similar. In fact in Lebanon Christians have rendered yeoman service to Arabic language and it is Christians who have prepared dictionary of modern Arabic Al-Munjid which is consulted by all Arab scholars of modern Arabic.
No language can be monopoly of any one religious community. In India too many Hindus learnt Arabic and Persian which was court language and they fluently spoke Persian and even wrote poetry in Persian like Chandrabhan Brahman. There were several first rate Urdu poets who were and still are Hindus and they use words like ‘Khuda and Allah in their poetry. How can one object to that.
And as for fear that use of word Allah by Christians would confuse Malay Muslims and they may convert to Christianity is not a well grounded fear. Only those who feel their religion is followed without much conviction can entertain such fears. And for Malays their very identity and existence is based on Islam and as pointed out above, Malay and Muslims have be come identical. How can then such fear be justified?
When one Malay Muslim had converted to Islam a few years ago there was such a hue and cry and Shariah court sentenced her and she had to revert to Islam, then how can such a fear be justified that there will be mass conversion to Christianity. And in modern democratic society one cannot stop conversion through fear of law. If any one converts to other religion it is between him/her and Allah. In matters religious one is answerable only to God, not to any human being.
However, matter is really not religious but political. The majority community feels it would be reduced to minority and hence it resists any conversion to other religions. In India the Hindutva forces are enacting laws in the BJP ruled states to stop Hindus converting to other religions like Christianity or Islam but welcome if any Muslim or Christian converts to Hinduism. Thus political benefit and not conversion is the issue. In a truly democratic society what matters is democratic and fundamental rights not conversion to or from majority community religion. It should be purely an individual decision whether to convert to or from any one religion to another religion. Otherwise our democratic rights would be in great danger.
And as rightist forces and extremists make big issue out of nothing to create a scare against minority the rightwing extremists in Malaysia also have tried to create such a controversy. And as in India when the BJP raised such a controversy about Ramjanambhoomi temple, the Congress Government under Narsimha Rao allowed Babri Masjid to be demolished. The Malaysian Government too is scared and is afraid of implementing the High Court judgment for the time being.
Any multi-religious or multi-cultural democracy does not work smoothly in ideal sense. Even advanced western countries are facing problems of inter-religious tensions. In France there is often tension between African Muslims and white French. It is not so much religious but economic and political and also rightist forces are behind such eruptions.
Recently the French Government of Sarkozy which is rightist in ideology has proposed ban on burqa and if someone puts it on it proposes to impose fine of 750 Euros which is huge amount. Now it is ridiculous for an advanced democracy to dictate what one should or should not wear. The French rightist government has denounced burqa as ‘prison’ and even if it is, it is not business of government to dictate the nature of dress.
However, the socialist left is opposing such a ban though they also consider burqa quite undesirable but they do not consider it desirable to ban it. Thus after all it is not secularism which is in danger as the French Government feels and rationalizes its action with but their own political power. As religion cannot be in danger by deeds of few extremists, secularism cannot be in danger just because a few women wear burqa in France and yet we see how French government is creating scare and how it is dealing with the subject.
In many countries with multi-religious structure the right wing among religious majority community has been suppressing voice of reason successfully. The moderates are being silenced through creating mass hysteria. There is great need for civil society to play its role and support enlightened policies. Most of the moderate intellectuals have no time or interest to study the issue in depth and become victims of high pitched propaganda.
We need what we call public intellectuals who raise voice of reason and take public stand even risking their own reputation, or even career. Most of our moderate intellectuals argue why we should bother about such things and give way to such extremist forces. We should always be ready like Bertrand Russell, Jean Paul Sartre or Noam Chomsky to fearlessly criticize the powers that be in keeping with their conviction. What is the use of conviction which does not inspire you to speak out irrespective of consequences? Be it controversy about Allah or burqa or crime of Zionists or rigidity of orthodoxy. They alone can save democracy.
Of late I have been receiving questions about the controversy these days in Malaysia about ‘Allah’ as Malay Muslims are objecting to the use of word ‘Allah’ by Catholic Christians. The Malays feel only Malay Muslims can use the word Allah and Christians cannot. The case was fought right about the High Court and the high court of Malaysia also allowed the use of word Allah by Christians. However, the Government of Malaysia suspended the Supreme Court verdict for the time being. It is not because the Government is trying to defy the orders of Highest Court but because the controversy has become politically unmanageable due to overcharged emotions.
The Roman Catholics translate the word God in their Malay language paper Herald as Allah and hence the controversy. Of late violence has erupted and a few days ago some three churches were attacked with firebombs and one was extensively damaged. The religious extremists are determined to inflict their views on others. Malaysia, like India, is a multi-religious society and bye and large it has remained peaceful except when violence had erupted in late sixties between Malays and Chinese.
But again relations between Malays and Christians or Malays and Hindus erupt or situation becomes tense. All multi-religious societies experience inter-communal or inter-religious tensions in some or more degrees. All Malays are Muslims and constitute about sixty per cent of Malaysia’s population. In Malaysia, Malays and Muslims have become synonymous. As mostly weaker sections of society embrace Islam in the hope of equality and justice, in Malaysia too, poorer sections embraced Islam and Malays till recently were poor and backward. However, now most of them are well educated and economically better off.
The Malays who oppose the use of word Allah by Christians, argue that this will confuse ordinary Malays and in view of missionary activities of Catholic Christians, they may convert to Christianity and they want to ward off this confusion among Malays. This may have its own rationale but the problem has to be solved through dialogue and mutual understanding. But the problem is that some politicians would like to exploit such controversies to their benefit.
In fact those who object to use of word Allah by Christians are on weak grounds. As Allah is one and creator of all of us cannot be monopolized by any one religious, much less linguistic community. The word Allah in Arabic was in use before Islam appeared on the scene in Mecca. As Maulana Azad points out in his Tarjuman al-Qur’an the word Allah is derived linguistically from pre-Islamic ‘eel’ as in Jibra’il or Israf’il etc. The word is Hebrew was also iloh or ilah and by adding ‘al’ (which in English is used for ‘the’). Thus al-ilah (the God) became Allah in Arabic and was used for supreme God.
In fact Muslims should welcome if non-Muslims too use the word Allah for God or Ishwar etc. How can one object to use of Allah by others? Anyone who learns Arabic and talks about God will have to use word Allah. All Christian Arabs freely use word Allah in countries like Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon etc. No one objects to use of the word Allah. At least I do not know whether any Muslim Arab ever objected to such use.
I was in Lebanon in late nineties for a Christian-Muslim dialogue and we decided to visit mosque on Friday and a church on Sunday. We Muslims offered salah (prayer) on Friday and Christians sat in one place till prayer was over and we discussed with the imam of the mosque certain inter-communal problems. Similarly we Muslims observed the service in the church on Sunday while Christians in the group participated in the service.
The priest who was delivering sermon in Arabic was using the word Allah only and had rosary (tasbih) in his hand like the Imam in the mosque. If a curtain had been drawn between us and the priest I would have felt as if Imam in the mosque was delivering khutba in the mosque. Of course there were theological differences but otherwise Arabic language made us feel one.
As I always maintain any language exists prior to any religion and not otherwise. A religion uses a language which pre-exists it. More than one religious community can use the same language and terminology of both the religions would appear very similar. In fact in Lebanon Christians have rendered yeoman service to Arabic language and it is Christians who have prepared dictionary of modern Arabic Al-Munjid which is consulted by all Arab scholars of modern Arabic.
No language can be monopoly of any one religious community. In India too many Hindus learnt Arabic and Persian which was court language and they fluently spoke Persian and even wrote poetry in Persian like Chandrabhan Brahman. There were several first rate Urdu poets who were and still are Hindus and they use words like ‘Khuda and Allah in their poetry. How can one object to that.
And as for fear that use of word Allah by Christians would confuse Malay Muslims and they may convert to Christianity is not a well grounded fear. Only those who feel their religion is followed without much conviction can entertain such fears. And for Malays their very identity and existence is based on Islam and as pointed out above, Malay and Muslims have be come identical. How can then such fear be justified?
When one Malay Muslim had converted to Islam a few years ago there was such a hue and cry and Shariah court sentenced her and she had to revert to Islam, then how can such a fear be justified that there will be mass conversion to Christianity. And in modern democratic society one cannot stop conversion through fear of law. If any one converts to other religion it is between him/her and Allah. In matters religious one is answerable only to God, not to any human being.
However, matter is really not religious but political. The majority community feels it would be reduced to minority and hence it resists any conversion to other religions. In India the Hindutva forces are enacting laws in the BJP ruled states to stop Hindus converting to other religions like Christianity or Islam but welcome if any Muslim or Christian converts to Hinduism. Thus political benefit and not conversion is the issue. In a truly democratic society what matters is democratic and fundamental rights not conversion to or from majority community religion. It should be purely an individual decision whether to convert to or from any one religion to another religion. Otherwise our democratic rights would be in great danger.
And as rightist forces and extremists make big issue out of nothing to create a scare against minority the rightwing extremists in Malaysia also have tried to create such a controversy. And as in India when the BJP raised such a controversy about Ramjanambhoomi temple, the Congress Government under Narsimha Rao allowed Babri Masjid to be demolished. The Malaysian Government too is scared and is afraid of implementing the High Court judgment for the time being.
Any multi-religious or multi-cultural democracy does not work smoothly in ideal sense. Even advanced western countries are facing problems of inter-religious tensions. In France there is often tension between African Muslims and white French. It is not so much religious but economic and political and also rightist forces are behind such eruptions.
Recently the French Government of Sarkozy which is rightist in ideology has proposed ban on burqa and if someone puts it on it proposes to impose fine of 750 Euros which is huge amount. Now it is ridiculous for an advanced democracy to dictate what one should or should not wear. The French rightist government has denounced burqa as ‘prison’ and even if it is, it is not business of government to dictate the nature of dress.
However, the socialist left is opposing such a ban though they also consider burqa quite undesirable but they do not consider it desirable to ban it. Thus after all it is not secularism which is in danger as the French Government feels and rationalizes its action with but their own political power. As religion cannot be in danger by deeds of few extremists, secularism cannot be in danger just because a few women wear burqa in France and yet we see how French government is creating scare and how it is dealing with the subject.
In many countries with multi-religious structure the right wing among religious majority community has been suppressing voice of reason successfully. The moderates are being silenced through creating mass hysteria. There is great need for civil society to play its role and support enlightened policies. Most of the moderate intellectuals have no time or interest to study the issue in depth and become victims of high pitched propaganda.
We need what we call public intellectuals who raise voice of reason and take public stand even risking their own reputation, or even career. Most of our moderate intellectuals argue why we should bother about such things and give way to such extremist forces. We should always be ready like Bertrand Russell, Jean Paul Sartre or Noam Chomsky to fearlessly criticize the powers that be in keeping with their conviction. What is the use of conviction which does not inspire you to speak out irrespective of consequences? Be it controversy about Allah or burqa or crime of Zionists or rigidity of orthodoxy. They alone can save democracy.
Friday, January 15, 2010
BFM Interview - January 7th, 2010 - Zubedy-BFM UNITY Series
Dear brother and sister Malaysian,
Every thursday 345 pm I will be on air at BFM 89.9 discussing ways and doable actions we can take to make this wonderful country of ours better. We can call it Zubedy-BFM UNITY series.
This is the first of the series. I appreciate your feedback. I will be happy if you can also suggest areas you want me to talk about on air. I will see what I can do, but no promises ok ;)
Happy listening!
peace and let us add value, anas
Every thursday 345 pm I will be on air at BFM 89.9 discussing ways and doable actions we can take to make this wonderful country of ours better. We can call it Zubedy-BFM UNITY series.
This is the first of the series. I appreciate your feedback. I will be happy if you can also suggest areas you want me to talk about on air. I will see what I can do, but no promises ok ;)
Happy listening!
peace and let us add value, anas
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Two more articles on " Allah " - The Star today
1)
Finding the middle path
By SHAD SALEEM FARUQI
It is not always right to use our rights. In matters of religion, history, logic and reason must not apply exclusively. Emotions must be regarded.
THE desecration of several places of Christian worship must be condemned as a shameless and mindless atrocity. A democratic society does not resolve disputes through violence.
It is obvious that we have in our midst a lunatic fringe that has no understanding of religion or of the Constitution or of the traditions of tolerance and multi-culturalism that made Malaysia an exemplar for all other plural societies. To read further click here
2)
Seeking harmony in Malaysia
By IMAM FEISAL ABDUL RAUF
When religion becomes subservient to political agendas, it often becomes a tool for politicians who misconstrue the religion’s basic principles. The goal must be living together harmoniously. The goal is freedom of conscience.
IF a Muslim proselytised outside St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, he might find a cold welcome. He would be legally within his rights. But he would be socially provocative.
The same can be said for the Malay language–edition of the Catholic monthly, The Herald, which decided to use the word “Allah” in reference to the Christian God. To read further click here
You may want to also want to check out Ktemoc's comments here and here
Finding the middle path
By SHAD SALEEM FARUQI
It is not always right to use our rights. In matters of religion, history, logic and reason must not apply exclusively. Emotions must be regarded.
THE desecration of several places of Christian worship must be condemned as a shameless and mindless atrocity. A democratic society does not resolve disputes through violence.
It is obvious that we have in our midst a lunatic fringe that has no understanding of religion or of the Constitution or of the traditions of tolerance and multi-culturalism that made Malaysia an exemplar for all other plural societies. To read further click here
2)
Seeking harmony in Malaysia
By IMAM FEISAL ABDUL RAUF
When religion becomes subservient to political agendas, it often becomes a tool for politicians who misconstrue the religion’s basic principles. The goal must be living together harmoniously. The goal is freedom of conscience.
IF a Muslim proselytised outside St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, he might find a cold welcome. He would be legally within his rights. But he would be socially provocative.
The same can be said for the Malay language–edition of the Catholic monthly, The Herald, which decided to use the word “Allah” in reference to the Christian God. To read further click here
You may want to also want to check out Ktemoc's comments here and here
Jesus, The Government, Israel and Malaysia.
Have you ever wondered why ...
When Jesus wanted to liberate Israel from tyrannical Rome (the Government during the time), instead of asking Rome to change, he seeks to persuade Israel to change. Jesus felt that without the change of hearts in Israel itself, liberation in any form is impossible.
Jesus went at great length to explain that the resentment and bitterness that his fellow brethrens carry in their hearts and their attitude is nothing short of suicidal. In fact he suggested that they be smart and read the sign of the times ( Eg in Luke 12: 54-56) and not to follow the Zealots.
No… not just the Zealots, he told them not to even listen to their own leaders and priest, and he called them hypocrites ( refer Mk 12: 14-17). He warned them not to fight a battle that they cannot win(Luke13:3).
He suggested that the best way to liberate their enemies is to love them. To do good to those who hate you and to pray for those who hurt you.
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” ( Luke 6 : 27-28 )
Without love and compassion all your religiosity is empty and of no use.
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. ( 1 Cor 13 :1-3)
My dear Christian brothers and sisters, is there not a lesson or two here for all of us?
When Jesus wanted to liberate Israel from tyrannical Rome (the Government during the time), instead of asking Rome to change, he seeks to persuade Israel to change. Jesus felt that without the change of hearts in Israel itself, liberation in any form is impossible.
Jesus went at great length to explain that the resentment and bitterness that his fellow brethrens carry in their hearts and their attitude is nothing short of suicidal. In fact he suggested that they be smart and read the sign of the times ( Eg in Luke 12: 54-56) and not to follow the Zealots.
No… not just the Zealots, he told them not to even listen to their own leaders and priest, and he called them hypocrites ( refer Mk 12: 14-17). He warned them not to fight a battle that they cannot win(Luke13:3).
He suggested that the best way to liberate their enemies is to love them. To do good to those who hate you and to pray for those who hurt you.
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” ( Luke 6 : 27-28 )
Without love and compassion all your religiosity is empty and of no use.
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. ( 1 Cor 13 :1-3)
My dear Christian brothers and sisters, is there not a lesson or two here for all of us?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Islam 101 - By a Hindu Proffesor
I highly recommend you to read this article as a basic understanding on Islam and Prophet Muhammad. I have decided to use an article written by a Non- Muslim as it would be more impartial.
Happy reading! Peace, anas
Mohammed The Prophet
By Prof. K. S. Ramakrishna Rao,
Head of the Department of Philosophy,
Government College for Women University of Mysore,
Mandya-571401 (Karnatika).
Re-printed from "Islam and Modern age", Hydrabad, March 1978.
To read click here
Ku Li Interview - Good to read :)
KUALA LUMPUR, JAN 12 — Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has for many years been a voice of reason in Umno, and Malaysia too, and he has always been ready to point out what is not right with the country. He believes that for Malaysia to reform itself, the leaders must show the way
Read here
Read here
Monday, January 11, 2010
A NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS HARMONY
Yayasan 1Malaysia proposes the establishment of a National Consultative Council on Religious Harmony--- Majlis Perundingan Nasional tentang Keharmonian Ugama--- which will deliberate on all critical issues in inter-faith relations in the country and suggest remedies for the consideration of the Cabinet and Parliament.
The Consultative Council should be chaired by the Prime Minister, Dato Sri Mohd Najib, and should include Ministers in charge of Religion and National Unity, Opposition leaders, representatives of the various religious communities, NGOs working towards religious harmony, and prominent personalities attempting to build bridges between Muslim and non-Muslim communities. The Council should not be too large, with perhaps a maximum of seventy members. It should meet behind closed doors and should work within a time frame. A Plan of Action should be formulated within six months of the launch of the Council.
The proposed Council can be modelled on the National Consultative Council of 1969, headed by our second Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak, set up in the aftermath of the May 13th Incident, which played a major role in restoring inter-ethnic stability.
Yayasan 1Malaysia hopes that the Prime Minster will give serious consideration to this proposal. Nothing is more important at this stage than an effective channel of communication among the different religious communities which will attempt to assuage their fears and anxieties about the position on their religion in Malaysian society today. Through communication and interaction will emerge the solutions that will accommodate the interests and aspirations of the diverse communities that constitute our beloved nation.
Dr. Chandra Muzaffar
Chairman,
Yayasan 1Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur.
11 January 2010.
The Consultative Council should be chaired by the Prime Minister, Dato Sri Mohd Najib, and should include Ministers in charge of Religion and National Unity, Opposition leaders, representatives of the various religious communities, NGOs working towards religious harmony, and prominent personalities attempting to build bridges between Muslim and non-Muslim communities. The Council should not be too large, with perhaps a maximum of seventy members. It should meet behind closed doors and should work within a time frame. A Plan of Action should be formulated within six months of the launch of the Council.
The proposed Council can be modelled on the National Consultative Council of 1969, headed by our second Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak, set up in the aftermath of the May 13th Incident, which played a major role in restoring inter-ethnic stability.
Yayasan 1Malaysia hopes that the Prime Minster will give serious consideration to this proposal. Nothing is more important at this stage than an effective channel of communication among the different religious communities which will attempt to assuage their fears and anxieties about the position on their religion in Malaysian society today. Through communication and interaction will emerge the solutions that will accommodate the interests and aspirations of the diverse communities that constitute our beloved nation.
Dr. Chandra Muzaffar
Chairman,
Yayasan 1Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur.
11 January 2010.
Torched churches ... reaping what is sown – Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah bin Sanusi
JAN 10 - Churches are now being torched, four at last count. I believe more churches will be torched, stoned, graffitied, sullied, picketed, etc, for as long as the use of the word “Allah” by the Catholic church issue is not resolved to the satisfaction of Muslims in this country.
to read further click here
What do you think?
I will find time to write a larger picture within this week. A quick outlook -
It is unfortunate that most Malaysians today is rather black and white in the way we look at things. So you will find those who fully support an article like this, or those who condemned it 100%.
We need to look at things more like a scientist, study why people behave the way they do. Here, dont focus on Akhramsyah, but his ideas and his perception of the Malay ground.
I have written a few times before about the Malay sentiments at the ground and commented about a speech by Tun Dr M here. Tun at that time in a nutshell summarised the Malay sentiment here. I may not agree with tun in many key issues and have written about them in the late 80s but when dealing with the Malays and how to manage this country, I will at the least listen to his thoughts.
Read to understand not to agree or disagree.
We are lucky that our nation does not have what our neighbour have like Laskar Indonesia or the "Green Faction" in the military (making it a state sponsored militant organization) and the likes. Perhaps the good point of having the ISA - you see, something like the ISA also have the positives. As such our arsonist are individual small cells, disorganised, basically dysfuctional brothers who wanted to be heard - I do not worry a larger outbreak , we do not have well organised militant groups.
While in no way I would agree that a religious institution can deserve to be disrecpected but we need to understand the feelings at the ground and help solve this problem.
Peace, anas
to read further click here
What do you think?
I will find time to write a larger picture within this week. A quick outlook -
It is unfortunate that most Malaysians today is rather black and white in the way we look at things. So you will find those who fully support an article like this, or those who condemned it 100%.
We need to look at things more like a scientist, study why people behave the way they do. Here, dont focus on Akhramsyah, but his ideas and his perception of the Malay ground.
I have written a few times before about the Malay sentiments at the ground and commented about a speech by Tun Dr M here. Tun at that time in a nutshell summarised the Malay sentiment here. I may not agree with tun in many key issues and have written about them in the late 80s but when dealing with the Malays and how to manage this country, I will at the least listen to his thoughts.
Read to understand not to agree or disagree.
We are lucky that our nation does not have what our neighbour have like Laskar Indonesia or the "Green Faction" in the military (making it a state sponsored militant organization) and the likes. Perhaps the good point of having the ISA - you see, something like the ISA also have the positives. As such our arsonist are individual small cells, disorganised, basically dysfuctional brothers who wanted to be heard - I do not worry a larger outbreak , we do not have well organised militant groups.
While in no way I would agree that a religious institution can deserve to be disrecpected but we need to understand the feelings at the ground and help solve this problem.
Peace, anas
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Something Positive - Poverty is not to be inherited
Sunday January 10, 2010 THE STAR
Poverty is not to be inherited
At Your ServiceBy DATUK SHUKRY MOHD SALLEH
Malaysia believes in providing balanced development to all citizens. This is to maintain social harmony and political stability. Only then can the economic fundamentals be attained and growth with balanced distribution achieved.
Malaysia is way ahead in meeting the target of the Millennium Development Goals to halve poverty incidence.
read more here
Poverty is not to be inherited
At Your ServiceBy DATUK SHUKRY MOHD SALLEH
Malaysia believes in providing balanced development to all citizens. This is to maintain social harmony and political stability. Only then can the economic fundamentals be attained and growth with balanced distribution achieved.
Malaysia is way ahead in meeting the target of the Millennium Development Goals to halve poverty incidence.
read more here
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Oh Muslims! Oh Christians! What is wrong with us?
Peace.
Let me be direct, this is a uniquely Malaysian problem, especially within the Peninsular.
I plea to thinking caring Muslims and Christians to come forward and embrace empathy towards each other and find a workable compromise that is both Christ like and Quranic.
We Muslims must understand the frustration our Christian brothers and sisters have been going through all these years when dealing with the Government (which is perceived as Malay Muslims, as the officers are usually Malays) for example whenever they want to built churches and when dealing with issues regarding their faith.
They are also frustrated and upset over cases involving Article 11(4). Muslims must understand that like us, the Christians see it as their religious duty to spread their creed and they must have found Article 11(4) hindering them from spreading and sharing their religion, as a setback as a good faithful Christian.
Muslims probably would have felt the same if placed in a similar situation.
We Muslims must empathize, how we would feel if each time we are to build a mosque, we have to wait and wait and wait for approvals after approvals. Rasa lah sikit, tak kan tak boleh rasa kot?
In this frustration they retaliated by going to the courts, perhaps to get back at us or just to prove a point. I think these feelings are the real motivation behind the legal redress, not that they are really deeply and are so spirited to call God, Allah. That is why I suggest that this is a uniquely Malaysian problem. You don’t see Christians in the west or elsewhere being so gung ho about using the word Allah as god’s name; in fact, many may even find it repulsive.
On the other hand …
The Christians must understand that while the Quran has no issues about Allah as the universal name of God (read here), the Malay’s understanding and emotional attachment to the word Allah is unique to the Malaysian world. Rightly or wrongly, your Muslim brothers and sisters are deeply hurt as they perceive that you are doing this with bad intentions – to convert their fellow faithful as they do not see you actively wanting to also change all the other Bible translations like English or Chinese making the word Allah a universal name for God.
More so, the Malay Muslims cannot imagine that Allah Yang Esa/Satu now can also be the Allah as part of the Trinity. For example their current worldview cannot fathom words that describe Jesus as Son of Allah .
This is uniquely a Malaysian state of affairs; you do not find Muslims in the middle-east or the west having an issue about it. In fact, they are for it and in history had to fight for the right to use the English word God as a translation to the word Allah!
While you may want to prove a point, the word Allah is ingrained deeply in the Malay hearts as in Malaysia, from young Malay Muslims recite (melafazkan) their belief in God as,
“Aku naik saksi bahawa tiada Tuhan melainkan Allah, dan aku naik saksi bahawa Nabi Muhammad itu Persuruh Allah.”
Meaning there is no God but Allah – Allah being the unique name of God that the Malay Muslim professes. You must try to understand how the language used has formed the Malay Muslim worldview about the word Allah. By appreciating the nuances of the language you will be able to empathize how your Malay Muslim brothers and sisters feel and you will feel the hurt too.
Understanding nuances is key and very important. For example it would be totally nonsensical, painful and hurtful to translate the Holy Ghost in Matthew 29:19 as Hantu Suci just because the word we usually use for Ghost in Malay is hantu– it is not only erroneous but insulting, stupid and totally in a wrong tone.
What is to be done? - CHRISTIANS
My Christian brothers and sisters, may I ask you a favor? Personally I have no issues with you using the word Allah, but there are many who do and obviously there are some among them who are less tolerant and can get dysfunctional to the extent of burning down churches.
So …
Can we please choose to be more Christ like? Remember that “an eye for an eye will only make the world go blind”. Are you being Christ like here? Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (Matthew 5:38-42)
Did Jesus not teach us to go beyond the letter of the law in our daily lives? Did he not tell us to do away with personal revenge? Did he not model his ministry base on love, care and empathy? Can you not find a compromise?
How about using another name that you are also familiar with? At least till the Malay Muslims relearn that the word Allah is not only for them? I was thinking how about Eloi or Eli instead of Allah? Any Christian who is worth to be call one, would have heard these names many times during Church sermons, that is, when Jesus cried out loud while on the cross, “Eli Eli lama sabachthani?” (Matthew 27:46, in Mark 15 : 34 it is Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani, translated into English as “ My God, My God why have you forsaken me?”).
What do you think? Boleh compromise ka?
What is to be done? - MUSLIMS
My Muslim brothers and sisters …
Firstly, we need to grow up a little and pardon me for using a crude Penang way to say this, “sampai bila kita nak tidok di bawah ketiak Perlembagaan Perseketuan ni?”. We need to have more faith in ourselves and must be willing to be challenge not just in matters of the world but especially our aqidah. Did not the Quran say,
“Men said to them: "A great army is gathering against you": And frightened them: But it (only) increased their Faith: They said: "For us Allah sufficeth, and He is the best disposer of affairs." Quran 3:173
“Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe", and that they will not be tested?” Quran 29:2
“Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall certainly Hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be a determining factor in all affairs”. Quran 3:186
So, should we really continue to support Article 11(4)? Or should we have more confidence in our capable religious leaders and ourselves in preparing the community with an unyielding and rock-solid aqidah that can buttress any external dakwah? Got confident ka? Can we set a target date to do away with article 11(4)?
Secondly, we need to stop being like a “katak di bawah tempurung.” Get to know the larger world of Islam and understand that in the middle-east even from the time of the Prophet, Jews and Christians call God, Allah. We must learn not to monopolized Allah or the Arabic language. Even “Assalamualaikum” pun ada yang nak monopolize.
Thirdly, we must be always fair and just. We cannot support lopsided laws. If we can preach to others, we should allow them to the same towards us. Tak malu ka? Tak ada maruah ka kita ni? If we do not want them to preach to our followers, than we must stop preaching to their followers too. We cannot practice double standards.
When we do that, others will feel that they are treated unfairly. Sometimes the least enlighten and not so patient ones among them will retaliate in one way or the other. We must make it easy for people of the other faith to practice their ways of life (like building churches, temples, etc) just as we expect them to do the same in countries and lands like India, Europe, etc where they are the majority.
Did not the Quran say,
“Woe unto those who give short measure: Those who, when they are to receive their due from (other) people, demand that it be given in full. But, when they have to measure or weigh whatever they owe others, give less than what is due! ” Quran 83:1 – 3
Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due; And when ye judge between man and man, that ye judge with justice … Quran 4:58
“O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do” Quran 5:8
Conclusion
Let’s compromise. Let’s forgive each other, let’s move forward. Let’s trust Allah and have hope. Let’s make this experience a learning one, let’s use our hearts and minds to add value and make things better.
“Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34
“So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith” Quran 3:139
Let us add value and Peace,
Anas Zubedy
PS: An example of a Muslim –Christian friendship, click here.
Do also read Art's article here and Pah Nur's here
Let me be direct, this is a uniquely Malaysian problem, especially within the Peninsular.
I plea to thinking caring Muslims and Christians to come forward and embrace empathy towards each other and find a workable compromise that is both Christ like and Quranic.
We Muslims must understand the frustration our Christian brothers and sisters have been going through all these years when dealing with the Government (which is perceived as Malay Muslims, as the officers are usually Malays) for example whenever they want to built churches and when dealing with issues regarding their faith.
They are also frustrated and upset over cases involving Article 11(4). Muslims must understand that like us, the Christians see it as their religious duty to spread their creed and they must have found Article 11(4) hindering them from spreading and sharing their religion, as a setback as a good faithful Christian.
Muslims probably would have felt the same if placed in a similar situation.
We Muslims must empathize, how we would feel if each time we are to build a mosque, we have to wait and wait and wait for approvals after approvals. Rasa lah sikit, tak kan tak boleh rasa kot?
In this frustration they retaliated by going to the courts, perhaps to get back at us or just to prove a point. I think these feelings are the real motivation behind the legal redress, not that they are really deeply and are so spirited to call God, Allah. That is why I suggest that this is a uniquely Malaysian problem. You don’t see Christians in the west or elsewhere being so gung ho about using the word Allah as god’s name; in fact, many may even find it repulsive.
On the other hand …
The Christians must understand that while the Quran has no issues about Allah as the universal name of God (read here), the Malay’s understanding and emotional attachment to the word Allah is unique to the Malaysian world. Rightly or wrongly, your Muslim brothers and sisters are deeply hurt as they perceive that you are doing this with bad intentions – to convert their fellow faithful as they do not see you actively wanting to also change all the other Bible translations like English or Chinese making the word Allah a universal name for God.
More so, the Malay Muslims cannot imagine that Allah Yang Esa/Satu now can also be the Allah as part of the Trinity. For example their current worldview cannot fathom words that describe Jesus as Son of Allah .
This is uniquely a Malaysian state of affairs; you do not find Muslims in the middle-east or the west having an issue about it. In fact, they are for it and in history had to fight for the right to use the English word God as a translation to the word Allah!
While you may want to prove a point, the word Allah is ingrained deeply in the Malay hearts as in Malaysia, from young Malay Muslims recite (melafazkan) their belief in God as,
“Aku naik saksi bahawa tiada Tuhan melainkan Allah, dan aku naik saksi bahawa Nabi Muhammad itu Persuruh Allah.”
Meaning there is no God but Allah – Allah being the unique name of God that the Malay Muslim professes. You must try to understand how the language used has formed the Malay Muslim worldview about the word Allah. By appreciating the nuances of the language you will be able to empathize how your Malay Muslim brothers and sisters feel and you will feel the hurt too.
Understanding nuances is key and very important. For example it would be totally nonsensical, painful and hurtful to translate the Holy Ghost in Matthew 29:19 as Hantu Suci just because the word we usually use for Ghost in Malay is hantu– it is not only erroneous but insulting, stupid and totally in a wrong tone.
What is to be done? - CHRISTIANS
My Christian brothers and sisters, may I ask you a favor? Personally I have no issues with you using the word Allah, but there are many who do and obviously there are some among them who are less tolerant and can get dysfunctional to the extent of burning down churches.
So …
Can we please choose to be more Christ like? Remember that “an eye for an eye will only make the world go blind”. Are you being Christ like here? Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (Matthew 5:38-42)
Did Jesus not teach us to go beyond the letter of the law in our daily lives? Did he not tell us to do away with personal revenge? Did he not model his ministry base on love, care and empathy? Can you not find a compromise?
How about using another name that you are also familiar with? At least till the Malay Muslims relearn that the word Allah is not only for them? I was thinking how about Eloi or Eli instead of Allah? Any Christian who is worth to be call one, would have heard these names many times during Church sermons, that is, when Jesus cried out loud while on the cross, “Eli Eli lama sabachthani?” (Matthew 27:46, in Mark 15 : 34 it is Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani, translated into English as “ My God, My God why have you forsaken me?”).
What do you think? Boleh compromise ka?
What is to be done? - MUSLIMS
My Muslim brothers and sisters …
Firstly, we need to grow up a little and pardon me for using a crude Penang way to say this, “sampai bila kita nak tidok di bawah ketiak Perlembagaan Perseketuan ni?”. We need to have more faith in ourselves and must be willing to be challenge not just in matters of the world but especially our aqidah. Did not the Quran say,
“Men said to them: "A great army is gathering against you": And frightened them: But it (only) increased their Faith: They said: "For us Allah sufficeth, and He is the best disposer of affairs." Quran 3:173
“Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe", and that they will not be tested?” Quran 29:2
“Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall certainly Hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be a determining factor in all affairs”. Quran 3:186
So, should we really continue to support Article 11(4)? Or should we have more confidence in our capable religious leaders and ourselves in preparing the community with an unyielding and rock-solid aqidah that can buttress any external dakwah? Got confident ka? Can we set a target date to do away with article 11(4)?
Secondly, we need to stop being like a “katak di bawah tempurung.” Get to know the larger world of Islam and understand that in the middle-east even from the time of the Prophet, Jews and Christians call God, Allah. We must learn not to monopolized Allah or the Arabic language. Even “Assalamualaikum” pun ada yang nak monopolize.
Thirdly, we must be always fair and just. We cannot support lopsided laws. If we can preach to others, we should allow them to the same towards us. Tak malu ka? Tak ada maruah ka kita ni? If we do not want them to preach to our followers, than we must stop preaching to their followers too. We cannot practice double standards.
When we do that, others will feel that they are treated unfairly. Sometimes the least enlighten and not so patient ones among them will retaliate in one way or the other. We must make it easy for people of the other faith to practice their ways of life (like building churches, temples, etc) just as we expect them to do the same in countries and lands like India, Europe, etc where they are the majority.
Did not the Quran say,
“Woe unto those who give short measure: Those who, when they are to receive their due from (other) people, demand that it be given in full. But, when they have to measure or weigh whatever they owe others, give less than what is due! ” Quran 83:1 – 3
Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due; And when ye judge between man and man, that ye judge with justice … Quran 4:58
“O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do” Quran 5:8
Conclusion
Let’s compromise. Let’s forgive each other, let’s move forward. Let’s trust Allah and have hope. Let’s make this experience a learning one, let’s use our hearts and minds to add value and make things better.
“Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34
“So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith” Quran 3:139
Let us add value and Peace,
Anas Zubedy
PS: An example of a Muslim –Christian friendship, click here.
Do also read Art's article here and Pah Nur's here
and pleeeeaaasssseee join Marina's petition here
Friday, January 8, 2010
Press Statement : Muslim Professionals Forum
Below is the press statement made by the Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF) regarding the tragedy that took place last night:
THE cowardly and utterly senseless act of a group of misguided, chauvinistic bigots in torching at least three churches in the Klang Valley this morning must be condemned in no uncertain terms by all peace-loving Malaysians.
This act of arson, committed presumably in the name of Islam, desecrates the very religion it purports to protect. The Holy Quran unequivocally prohibits destroying the houses of worship of all religions, as warned in Surah Al-Hajj, Verse 40:
"... Had not Allah checked the excesses and aggression of one set of people by means of another, surely would be destroyed monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated..."
During the reign of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the second righteous caliph, the religious freedom of the citizens of Ilya (Jerusalem) and the sanctity of their synagogues and places of worship were confirmed:
"This is the protection which the slave-servant of Allah, Umar, the Commander of the Believers, extends to the people of Ilya: The safeguarding of their lives, properties, churches, crosses, and of their entire community. Their churches cannot be occupied, demolished, or damaged, nor are their crosses or anything belonging to them to be touched. They will never be forced to abandon their religion, nor will they be oppressed ..." (At-Tabari, Tarikh, Vol III, p. 609, ed. Dar Al-Ma'arif, Egypt.)
In the light of these tragic turn of events, the Muslim Professionals Forum:
1 Demand the authorities immediately conduct an impartial and thorough investigation to identify, apprehend and punish the perpetrators of this despicable violence lest the country spirals into a vicious cycle of retaliatory acts which would fracture the very fabric of Malaysian civil society.
2 Urge the authorities to either refuse or revoke the permit for the planned demonstration in order to contain the heightened emotions and sensitivities among Muslim quarters, angered by the recent High Court decision on the usage of the word "Allah".
3 Urge individuals, organisations and political parties to refrain from further issuing provocative and inflammatory statements related to the High Court verdict.
4 Urge all Malaysians to emphatise and stand in solidarity with our Christian community in their hour of grief and need.5 Urge all peace-loving Malaysians to maintain composure and let cool heads prevail.
May Allah guide us all in these most troubling times.
Dr Mazeni Alwi
Dr Shaikh Johari Bux
Mohamed Ali Ghazali
Dr Jeffrey Abu Hassan
Datuk Dr Musa Mohd Nordin
(Board of Directors)
Muslim Professionals Forum
8 Jan 2010
THE cowardly and utterly senseless act of a group of misguided, chauvinistic bigots in torching at least three churches in the Klang Valley this morning must be condemned in no uncertain terms by all peace-loving Malaysians.
This act of arson, committed presumably in the name of Islam, desecrates the very religion it purports to protect. The Holy Quran unequivocally prohibits destroying the houses of worship of all religions, as warned in Surah Al-Hajj, Verse 40:
"... Had not Allah checked the excesses and aggression of one set of people by means of another, surely would be destroyed monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated..."
During the reign of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the second righteous caliph, the religious freedom of the citizens of Ilya (Jerusalem) and the sanctity of their synagogues and places of worship were confirmed:
"This is the protection which the slave-servant of Allah, Umar, the Commander of the Believers, extends to the people of Ilya: The safeguarding of their lives, properties, churches, crosses, and of their entire community. Their churches cannot be occupied, demolished, or damaged, nor are their crosses or anything belonging to them to be touched. They will never be forced to abandon their religion, nor will they be oppressed ..." (At-Tabari, Tarikh, Vol III, p. 609, ed. Dar Al-Ma'arif, Egypt.)
In the light of these tragic turn of events, the Muslim Professionals Forum:
1 Demand the authorities immediately conduct an impartial and thorough investigation to identify, apprehend and punish the perpetrators of this despicable violence lest the country spirals into a vicious cycle of retaliatory acts which would fracture the very fabric of Malaysian civil society.
2 Urge the authorities to either refuse or revoke the permit for the planned demonstration in order to contain the heightened emotions and sensitivities among Muslim quarters, angered by the recent High Court decision on the usage of the word "Allah".
3 Urge individuals, organisations and political parties to refrain from further issuing provocative and inflammatory statements related to the High Court verdict.
4 Urge all Malaysians to emphatise and stand in solidarity with our Christian community in their hour of grief and need.5 Urge all peace-loving Malaysians to maintain composure and let cool heads prevail.
May Allah guide us all in these most troubling times.
Dr Mazeni Alwi
Dr Shaikh Johari Bux
Mohamed Ali Ghazali
Dr Jeffrey Abu Hassan
Datuk Dr Musa Mohd Nordin
(Board of Directors)
Muslim Professionals Forum
8 Jan 2010
PR Leader's call ...
Kami mengutuk tindakan pihak tertentu yang menyerang 3 gereja di sekitar Lembah Klang awal pagi tadi. Serangan tersebut adalah satu perbuatan yang dikecam semua agama dan peradaban.
Perbuatan seperti itu tiada tempat dalam mana-mana negara pun di atas dunia ini. Kami percaya ianya berpunca dari politik amarah yang sempit, ditambah dengan unsur provokasi jahat yang semakin menular dan runtuhnya rasa saling hormat menghormati dalam negara kita yang tercinta ini. Setiap rakyat dalam negara ini, tanpa mengira agama, kaum, keturunan dan etnik seharusnya dapat menikmati keamanan spiritual dan fizikal mereka. Seharusnya sebarang perbezaan pendapat dan pandangan tidak terus dilebarkan. Kami yakin sebarang perselisihan dapat diselesaikan dengan menumpukan usaha untuk membawa semua pihak ke meja rundingan.
Oleh yang demikian, seluruh kepimpinan Pakatan Rakyat dengan tegas meminta supaya individu atau mana-mana kumpulan yang menyebarkan api kebencian dan kekerasan sebegini agar dihukum dengan setimpalnya.
YB DATO SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM
Ketua Pembangkang Parlimen MalaysiaKetua Umum PKR
YAB LIM GUAN ENG
Setiausaha Agung DAP
YB DATO’ SERI TUAN GURU HAJI ABDUL HADI AWANG
Presiden PAS
Perbuatan seperti itu tiada tempat dalam mana-mana negara pun di atas dunia ini. Kami percaya ianya berpunca dari politik amarah yang sempit, ditambah dengan unsur provokasi jahat yang semakin menular dan runtuhnya rasa saling hormat menghormati dalam negara kita yang tercinta ini. Setiap rakyat dalam negara ini, tanpa mengira agama, kaum, keturunan dan etnik seharusnya dapat menikmati keamanan spiritual dan fizikal mereka. Seharusnya sebarang perbezaan pendapat dan pandangan tidak terus dilebarkan. Kami yakin sebarang perselisihan dapat diselesaikan dengan menumpukan usaha untuk membawa semua pihak ke meja rundingan.
Oleh yang demikian, seluruh kepimpinan Pakatan Rakyat dengan tegas meminta supaya individu atau mana-mana kumpulan yang menyebarkan api kebencian dan kekerasan sebegini agar dihukum dengan setimpalnya.
YB DATO SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM
Ketua Pembangkang Parlimen MalaysiaKetua Umum PKR
YAB LIM GUAN ENG
Setiausaha Agung DAP
YB DATO’ SERI TUAN GURU HAJI ABDUL HADI AWANG
Presiden PAS
A call from Marina Mahathir
Dear friends,
Today is a very sad day for Malaysia. Last night at least three churches were attacked by unknown people with incendiary devices. The ground floor of the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati was totally destroyed. It was heartbreaking to see.
There is nothing in Islam that says that we are to treat the houses of worship of any faith with such disrespect. Surah 22, Verse 40 of the Quran says:22:40 (Asad)
"those who have been driven from their homelands against all right for no other reason than their saying. “Our Sustainer is God!” For, if God had not enabled people to defend themselves against one another, all] monasteries and churches and synagogues and mosques - in [all of] which Gods name is abundantly extolled - would surely have been destroyed [ere now]. And God will most certainly succour him who succours His cause: for, verily, God is most powerful, almighty, -
Any place where 'God's name is abundantly extolled' must be protected.
It is time for the silent majority of Muslims, who reject fanaticism and extremism, who favour dialogue and debate rather than violence, to be heard. We can no longer remain quiet if we love our religion and our country.We should not let a small gang of thugs and hooligans speak in the name of Malaysian Muslims. We are NOT a religion of gangsters. We are a religion of peace, justice and equality. Do not let these people hijack Islam for their own ends.
The Government needs to know that there is a substantial number of us who disagree with the violence and harsh words. Our fellow Malaysians especially Christians need to know that we deplore these acts and mean them no harm.
As Muslims, it is up to us to be magnanimous and to extend the hand of peace to our fellow citizens and reassure them that this act is an aberration and we abhor it.
Thank you.Salams,
Marina
Today is a very sad day for Malaysia. Last night at least three churches were attacked by unknown people with incendiary devices. The ground floor of the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati was totally destroyed. It was heartbreaking to see.
There is nothing in Islam that says that we are to treat the houses of worship of any faith with such disrespect. Surah 22, Verse 40 of the Quran says:22:40 (Asad)
"those who have been driven from their homelands against all right for no other reason than their saying. “Our Sustainer is God!” For, if God had not enabled people to defend themselves against one another, all] monasteries and churches and synagogues and mosques - in [all of] which Gods name is abundantly extolled - would surely have been destroyed [ere now]. And God will most certainly succour him who succours His cause: for, verily, God is most powerful, almighty, -
Any place where 'God's name is abundantly extolled' must be protected.
It is time for the silent majority of Muslims, who reject fanaticism and extremism, who favour dialogue and debate rather than violence, to be heard. We can no longer remain quiet if we love our religion and our country.We should not let a small gang of thugs and hooligans speak in the name of Malaysian Muslims. We are NOT a religion of gangsters. We are a religion of peace, justice and equality. Do not let these people hijack Islam for their own ends.
The Government needs to know that there is a substantial number of us who disagree with the violence and harsh words. Our fellow Malaysians especially Christians need to know that we deplore these acts and mean them no harm.
As Muslims, it is up to us to be magnanimous and to extend the hand of peace to our fellow citizens and reassure them that this act is an aberration and we abhor it.
Thank you.Salams,
Marina
Burning of Places of Worship and the Quran
From Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — A city church in the leafy Desa Melawati suburb was set on fire at midnight as police warned angry Muslim groups not to protest a controversial ruling allowing Catholic weekly Herald to use “Allah” in its national language section.
The attack on the Metro Tabernacle A/G, an Assemblies of God church in Jalan 4/4C Desa Melawati, completely gutted its administrative office on the ground floor. There were no reported injuries in the midnight attack.
To read further click here
What does the Quran say about this?
“(They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,- (for no cause) except that they say, "our Lord is Allah.. Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid his (cause);- for verily Allah is full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will)”.( Quran 22:40)
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — A city church in the leafy Desa Melawati suburb was set on fire at midnight as police warned angry Muslim groups not to protest a controversial ruling allowing Catholic weekly Herald to use “Allah” in its national language section.
The attack on the Metro Tabernacle A/G, an Assemblies of God church in Jalan 4/4C Desa Melawati, completely gutted its administrative office on the ground floor. There were no reported injuries in the midnight attack.
To read further click here
What does the Quran say about this?
“(They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,- (for no cause) except that they say, "our Lord is Allah.. Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid his (cause);- for verily Allah is full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will)”.( Quran 22:40)
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Jesus/Christianity and/in the Quran ( M Asad's Translation)
I have decided to list down all the Quranic verses about Jesus and the Christians for the benefit of Christians, Muslims and whovever who is interested. For those who are interested to also see the translation of other commentators and notes on the subject pls click here
Happy reading and let's practice to 'agree to disagree' when necessary :)
peace, anas
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
· 2:87 For, indeed, We vouchsafed unto Moses the divine writ and caused apostle after apostle to follow him; and We vouchsafed unto Jesus, the son of Mary, all evidence of the truth, and strengthened him with holy inspiration.
[Yet] is it not so that every time an apostle came unto you with something that was not to your liking, you gloried in your arrogance, and to some of them you gave the lie, while others you would slay?
[Al-Baqara (The Cow)
· 2:136 Say: "We believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and ,their descendants,and that which has been vouchsafed to Moses and Jesus; and that which has been vouchsafed to all the [other] prophets by their Sustainer: we make no distinction between any of them.
And it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves."
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
· 2:253 Some of these apostles have We endowed more highly than others: among them were such as.were spoken to by God [Himself], and some He has raised yet higher.'And We vouchsafed unto Jesus, the son of Mary, all evidence of the truth, and strengthened him with holy inspiration.And if God had so willed, they who succeeded those [apostles] would not have contended with one another after all evidence of the truth had come to them; but [as it was,] they did take to divergent views, and some of them attained to faith, while some of them came to deny the truth. Yet if God had so willed, they would not have contended with one another: but God does whatever He wills.
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
· 3:45 Lo! The angels said: "O Mary! Behold, God sends thee the glad tiding, through a word from Him, [of a son] who shall become known as the Christ
Jesus, son of Mary, of great honour in this world and in the life to come, and [shall be] of those who are drawn near unto God.
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
· 3:52 And when Jesus became aware of their refusal to acknowledge the truth, he asked: "Who will be my helpers in God's cause?" The white-garbed ones replied: "We shall be [thy] helpers [in the cause] of God! We believe in God: and bear thou witness that we have surrendered ourselves unto Him!
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
· 3:54 And the unbelievers schemed [against Jesus]; but God brought their scheming to nought: for God is above all schemers.
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
· 3:55 Lo! God said: "O Jesus! Verily, I shall cause thee to die, and shall exalt thee unto Me, and cleanse thee of [the presence of] those who are bent on denying the truth; and I shall place those who follow thee [far] above those who are bent on denying the truth, unto the Day of Resurrection. In the end, unto Me you all must return, and I shall judge between you with regard to all on which you were wont to differ.
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
· 3:59 Verily, in the sight of God, the nature of Jesus is as the nature of Adam, whom He created out of dust and then said unto him, "Be" - and he is.
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
· 3:84 Say: "We believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and their descendants, and that which has been vouchsafed by their Sustainer unto Moses and Jesus and all the [other] prophets: we make no distinction between any of them. And unto Him do we surrender ourselves."
An-Nisa (The Women)
· 4:157 and their boast, "Behold, we have slain the Christ Jesus, son of Mary, [who claimed to be] an apostle of God!" However, they did not slay him, and neither did they crucify him, but it only seemed to them [as if it had been] so;
and, verily, those who hold conflicting views thereon are indeed confused, having no [real] knowledge thereof, and following mere conjecture. For, of a certainty, they did not slay him:
An-Nisa (The Women)
· 4:159 Yet there is not one of the followers of earlier revelation who does not, at the moment of his death, grasp the truth about Jesus; and on the Day of Resurrection he [himself] shall bear witness to the truth against them.
An-Nisa (The Women)
· 4:163 BEHOLD, We have inspired thee [O Prophet] just as We inspired Noah and all the prophets after him - as We inspired Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and their descendants, including Jesus and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon; and as We vouchsafed unto David a book of divine wisdom;
An-Nisa (The Women)
· 4:171 O FOLLOWERS of the Gospel! Do not overstep the bounds [of truth] in your religious beliefs, and do not say of God anything but the truth. The Christ Jesus, son of Mary, was but God's Apostle - [the fulfilment of] His promise which He had conveyed unto Mary - and a soul created by Him. Believe, then, in God and His apostles, and do not say, "[God is] a trinity". Desist [from this assertion] for your own good. God is but One God; utterly remote is He, in His glory, from having a son: unto Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth; and none is as worthy of trust as God.
Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
· 5:46 And We caused Jesus, the son of Mary, to follow in the footsteps of those [earlier prophets], confirming the truth of whatever there still remained of the Torah; and We vouchsafed unto him the Gospel, wherein there was guidance and light, confirming the truth of whatever there still remained of the Torah, and as a guidance and admonition unto the God-conscious.
Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
· 5:78 THOSE of the children of Israel who were bent on denying the truth have [already] been cursed by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary this, because they rebelled [against God] and persisted in transgressing the bounds of what is right.
Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
· 5:110 Lo! God will say: "O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember the blessings which I bestowed upon thee and thy mother-how I strengthened thee with holy inspiration, so that thou couldst speak unto men in thy cradle, and as a grown man; and how I imparted unto thee revelation and wisdom, including the Torah and the Gospel;and how by My leave thou didst create out of clay, as it were, the shape of [thy followers'] destiny, and then didst breathe into it, so that it might become, by My leave, [their] destiny ; and how thou didst heal the blind and the leper by My leave, and how thou didst raise the dead by My leave;
and how I prevented the children of Israel from harming thee when thou camest unto them with all evidence of the truth, and [when] those of them who were bent on denying the truth were saying, `This is clearly nothing but deception!"'
Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
· 5:112 [And,] lo, the white-garbed ones said: "O Jesus, son of Mary! Could thy Sustainer send down unto us a repast from heaven?" [Jesus] answered: "Be conscious of God, if you are [truly] believers!"
Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
· 5:114 Said Jesus, the son of Mary: "O God, our Sustainer! Send down upon us a repast from heaven: it shall be an ever-recurring feast for us - for the first and the last of us -and a sign from Thee. And provide us our sustenance, for Thou art the best of providers!"
Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
· 5:116 AND LO! God said: O Jesus, son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, `Worship me and my mother as deities beside God'?" [Jesus] answered: "Limitless art Thou in Thy glory! It would not have been possible for me to say what I had no right to [say]! Had I said this, Thou wouldst indeed have known it! Thou knowest all that is within myself, whereas I know not what is in Thy Self. Verily, it is Thou alone who fully knowest all the things that are beyond the reach of a created being's perception.
Al-An'am (The Cattle)
· 6:85 and [upon] Zachariah, and John, and Jesus, and Elijah: every one of them was of the righteous;
Maryam (Mary)
· 19:34 SUCH WAS, in the words of truth, Jesus the son of Mary, about whose nature they so deeply disagree.
Maryam (Mary)
· 19:36 And [thus it was that Jesus always said]: "Verily, God is my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer; so worship [none but] Him: this (alone] is a straight way."
Maryam (Mary)
· 19:37 And yet, the sects [that follow the Bible] are at variance among themselves [about the nature of Jesus] Woe, then, unto all who deny the truth when that awesome Day will appear!
Al-Ahzab (The Confederates)
· 33:7 AND LO! We did accept a solemn pledge from all the prophets
from thee, [O Muhammad,] as well as from Noah, and Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary -: for We accepted a most weighty, solemn pledge from [all of] them,
Ash-Shura (The Consultation)
· 42:13 In matters of faith, He has ordained for you that which He had enjoined upon Noah - and into which We gave thee [O Muhammad] insight through revelation as well as that which We had enjoined upon Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus: Steadfastly uphold the [true] faith, and do not break up your unity therein. [And even though] that [unity of faith] to which thou callest them appears oppressive to those who are wont to ascribe to other beings or forces a share in His divinity, God draws unto Himself everyone who is willing, and guides unto Himself everyone who turns unto Him.
Az-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments)
· 43:59 [As for Jesus,] he was nothing but [a human being -] a servant [of Ours] whom We had graced [with prophethood], and whom We made an example for the children of Israel .
Az-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments)
· 43:63 NOW WHEN Jesus came [to his people] with all evidence of the truth, he said: “I have now come unto you with wisdom, and to make clear Unto you some of that on which you are at variance: hence, be conscious of God, and pay heed unto me.
Az-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments)
· 43:65 But factions from among those [who came after Jesus] began to hold divergent views: woe, then, unto those who are bent on evildoing - [woe] for the suffering [that will befall them] on a grievous Day!
Al-Hadid (Iron)
· 57:27 And thereupon We caused [other of] Our apostles to follow in their footsteps; and [in the course of time] We caused them to be followed by Jesus, the son of Mary, upon whom We bestowed the Gospel; and in the hearts of those who [truly] followed him We engendered compassion and mercy. But as for monastic asceticism - We did not enjoin it upon them: they invented it themselves out of a desire for God’s goodly acceptance. But then, they did not [always] observe it as it ought to have been observed: and so We granted their recompense unto such of them as had [truly] attained to faith, whereas many of them became iniquitous.
As-Saff (The Row)
· 61:6 And [this happened, too,] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O children of Israel! Behold, I am an apostle of God unto you, [sent] to confirm the truth of whatever there still remains of the Torah, and to give [you] the glad tiding of an apostle who shall come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad."
But when he [whose coming Jesus had foretold] came unto them with all evidence of the truth, they said: "This [alleged message of his] is [nothing but] spellbinding eloquence!"
As-Saff (The Row)
· 61:14 O YOU who have attained to faith! Be helpers [in the cause of God - even as Jesus, the son of Mary, said unto the white-garbed ones, "Who will be my helpers in God's cause?" - whereupon the white-garbed [disciples] replied, "We shall be [thy] helpers [in the cause] of God!" And so [it happened that] some of the children of Israel came to believe [in the apostleship of Jesus], whereas others denied the truth. But [now] We have given strength against their foes unto those who have [truly] attained to faith: and they have become the ones that shall prevail.
Happy reading and let's practice to 'agree to disagree' when necessary :)
peace, anas
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
· 2:87 For, indeed, We vouchsafed unto Moses the divine writ and caused apostle after apostle to follow him; and We vouchsafed unto Jesus, the son of Mary, all evidence of the truth, and strengthened him with holy inspiration.
[Yet] is it not so that every time an apostle came unto you with something that was not to your liking, you gloried in your arrogance, and to some of them you gave the lie, while others you would slay?
[Al-Baqara (The Cow)
· 2:136 Say: "We believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and ,their descendants,and that which has been vouchsafed to Moses and Jesus; and that which has been vouchsafed to all the [other] prophets by their Sustainer: we make no distinction between any of them.
And it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves."
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
· 2:253 Some of these apostles have We endowed more highly than others: among them were such as.were spoken to by God [Himself], and some He has raised yet higher.'And We vouchsafed unto Jesus, the son of Mary, all evidence of the truth, and strengthened him with holy inspiration.And if God had so willed, they who succeeded those [apostles] would not have contended with one another after all evidence of the truth had come to them; but [as it was,] they did take to divergent views, and some of them attained to faith, while some of them came to deny the truth. Yet if God had so willed, they would not have contended with one another: but God does whatever He wills.
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
· 3:45 Lo! The angels said: "O Mary! Behold, God sends thee the glad tiding, through a word from Him, [of a son] who shall become known as the Christ
Jesus, son of Mary, of great honour in this world and in the life to come, and [shall be] of those who are drawn near unto God.
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
· 3:52 And when Jesus became aware of their refusal to acknowledge the truth, he asked: "Who will be my helpers in God's cause?" The white-garbed ones replied: "We shall be [thy] helpers [in the cause] of God! We believe in God: and bear thou witness that we have surrendered ourselves unto Him!
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
· 3:54 And the unbelievers schemed [against Jesus]; but God brought their scheming to nought: for God is above all schemers.
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
· 3:55 Lo! God said: "O Jesus! Verily, I shall cause thee to die, and shall exalt thee unto Me, and cleanse thee of [the presence of] those who are bent on denying the truth; and I shall place those who follow thee [far] above those who are bent on denying the truth, unto the Day of Resurrection. In the end, unto Me you all must return, and I shall judge between you with regard to all on which you were wont to differ.
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
· 3:59 Verily, in the sight of God, the nature of Jesus is as the nature of Adam, whom He created out of dust and then said unto him, "Be" - and he is.
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
· 3:84 Say: "We believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and their descendants, and that which has been vouchsafed by their Sustainer unto Moses and Jesus and all the [other] prophets: we make no distinction between any of them. And unto Him do we surrender ourselves."
An-Nisa (The Women)
· 4:157 and their boast, "Behold, we have slain the Christ Jesus, son of Mary, [who claimed to be] an apostle of God!" However, they did not slay him, and neither did they crucify him, but it only seemed to them [as if it had been] so;
and, verily, those who hold conflicting views thereon are indeed confused, having no [real] knowledge thereof, and following mere conjecture. For, of a certainty, they did not slay him:
An-Nisa (The Women)
· 4:159 Yet there is not one of the followers of earlier revelation who does not, at the moment of his death, grasp the truth about Jesus; and on the Day of Resurrection he [himself] shall bear witness to the truth against them.
An-Nisa (The Women)
· 4:163 BEHOLD, We have inspired thee [O Prophet] just as We inspired Noah and all the prophets after him - as We inspired Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and their descendants, including Jesus and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon; and as We vouchsafed unto David a book of divine wisdom;
An-Nisa (The Women)
· 4:171 O FOLLOWERS of the Gospel! Do not overstep the bounds [of truth] in your religious beliefs, and do not say of God anything but the truth. The Christ Jesus, son of Mary, was but God's Apostle - [the fulfilment of] His promise which He had conveyed unto Mary - and a soul created by Him. Believe, then, in God and His apostles, and do not say, "[God is] a trinity". Desist [from this assertion] for your own good. God is but One God; utterly remote is He, in His glory, from having a son: unto Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth; and none is as worthy of trust as God.
Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
· 5:46 And We caused Jesus, the son of Mary, to follow in the footsteps of those [earlier prophets], confirming the truth of whatever there still remained of the Torah; and We vouchsafed unto him the Gospel, wherein there was guidance and light, confirming the truth of whatever there still remained of the Torah, and as a guidance and admonition unto the God-conscious.
Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
· 5:78 THOSE of the children of Israel who were bent on denying the truth have [already] been cursed by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary this, because they rebelled [against God] and persisted in transgressing the bounds of what is right.
Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
· 5:110 Lo! God will say: "O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember the blessings which I bestowed upon thee and thy mother-how I strengthened thee with holy inspiration, so that thou couldst speak unto men in thy cradle, and as a grown man; and how I imparted unto thee revelation and wisdom, including the Torah and the Gospel;and how by My leave thou didst create out of clay, as it were, the shape of [thy followers'] destiny, and then didst breathe into it, so that it might become, by My leave, [their] destiny ; and how thou didst heal the blind and the leper by My leave, and how thou didst raise the dead by My leave;
and how I prevented the children of Israel from harming thee when thou camest unto them with all evidence of the truth, and [when] those of them who were bent on denying the truth were saying, `This is clearly nothing but deception!"'
Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
· 5:112 [And,] lo, the white-garbed ones said: "O Jesus, son of Mary! Could thy Sustainer send down unto us a repast from heaven?" [Jesus] answered: "Be conscious of God, if you are [truly] believers!"
Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
· 5:114 Said Jesus, the son of Mary: "O God, our Sustainer! Send down upon us a repast from heaven: it shall be an ever-recurring feast for us - for the first and the last of us -and a sign from Thee. And provide us our sustenance, for Thou art the best of providers!"
Al-Ma'idah (The Table Spread)
· 5:116 AND LO! God said: O Jesus, son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, `Worship me and my mother as deities beside God'?" [Jesus] answered: "Limitless art Thou in Thy glory! It would not have been possible for me to say what I had no right to [say]! Had I said this, Thou wouldst indeed have known it! Thou knowest all that is within myself, whereas I know not what is in Thy Self. Verily, it is Thou alone who fully knowest all the things that are beyond the reach of a created being's perception.
Al-An'am (The Cattle)
· 6:85 and [upon] Zachariah, and John, and Jesus, and Elijah: every one of them was of the righteous;
Maryam (Mary)
· 19:34 SUCH WAS, in the words of truth, Jesus the son of Mary, about whose nature they so deeply disagree.
Maryam (Mary)
· 19:36 And [thus it was that Jesus always said]: "Verily, God is my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer; so worship [none but] Him: this (alone] is a straight way."
Maryam (Mary)
· 19:37 And yet, the sects [that follow the Bible] are at variance among themselves [about the nature of Jesus] Woe, then, unto all who deny the truth when that awesome Day will appear!
Al-Ahzab (The Confederates)
· 33:7 AND LO! We did accept a solemn pledge from all the prophets
from thee, [O Muhammad,] as well as from Noah, and Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary -: for We accepted a most weighty, solemn pledge from [all of] them,
Ash-Shura (The Consultation)
· 42:13 In matters of faith, He has ordained for you that which He had enjoined upon Noah - and into which We gave thee [O Muhammad] insight through revelation as well as that which We had enjoined upon Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus: Steadfastly uphold the [true] faith, and do not break up your unity therein. [And even though] that [unity of faith] to which thou callest them appears oppressive to those who are wont to ascribe to other beings or forces a share in His divinity, God draws unto Himself everyone who is willing, and guides unto Himself everyone who turns unto Him.
Az-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments)
· 43:59 [As for Jesus,] he was nothing but [a human being -] a servant [of Ours] whom We had graced [with prophethood], and whom We made an example for the children of Israel .
Az-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments)
· 43:63 NOW WHEN Jesus came [to his people] with all evidence of the truth, he said: “I have now come unto you with wisdom, and to make clear Unto you some of that on which you are at variance: hence, be conscious of God, and pay heed unto me.
Az-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments)
· 43:65 But factions from among those [who came after Jesus] began to hold divergent views: woe, then, unto those who are bent on evildoing - [woe] for the suffering [that will befall them] on a grievous Day!
Al-Hadid (Iron)
· 57:27 And thereupon We caused [other of] Our apostles to follow in their footsteps; and [in the course of time] We caused them to be followed by Jesus, the son of Mary, upon whom We bestowed the Gospel; and in the hearts of those who [truly] followed him We engendered compassion and mercy. But as for monastic asceticism - We did not enjoin it upon them: they invented it themselves out of a desire for God’s goodly acceptance. But then, they did not [always] observe it as it ought to have been observed: and so We granted their recompense unto such of them as had [truly] attained to faith, whereas many of them became iniquitous.
As-Saff (The Row)
· 61:6 And [this happened, too,] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O children of Israel! Behold, I am an apostle of God unto you, [sent] to confirm the truth of whatever there still remains of the Torah, and to give [you] the glad tiding of an apostle who shall come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad."
But when he [whose coming Jesus had foretold] came unto them with all evidence of the truth, they said: "This [alleged message of his] is [nothing but] spellbinding eloquence!"
As-Saff (The Row)
· 61:14 O YOU who have attained to faith! Be helpers [in the cause of God - even as Jesus, the son of Mary, said unto the white-garbed ones, "Who will be my helpers in God's cause?" - whereupon the white-garbed [disciples] replied, "We shall be [thy] helpers [in the cause] of God!" And so [it happened that] some of the children of Israel came to believe [in the apostleship of Jesus], whereas others denied the truth. But [now] We have given strength against their foes unto those who have [truly] attained to faith: and they have become the ones that shall prevail.