PERBANDINGAN ALIM ULAMA KITA DENGAN PENCERAMAH ASING

Para alim ulama kita dulu dan sekarang bergandingan bahu bersama semua pemimpin serta pentadbir-pentadbir negara bertungkus-lumus membina negara Malaysia yang berjaya, aman dan dihormati termasuklah negara-negara Islam yang lain dan yang bukan Islam.

Para alim ulama kita bersama-sama susah dan bersama-sama senang dari merdeka hinggalah ke sekarang. Dari negara yang berkadar kemiskinan tinggi, yang majoritinya Melayu Islam, sehinggalah sekarang dimana kita sudah serba serbi cukup dengan kurniaan rahmat dari Allah.

Para alim ulama kita telah memberi sokongan, nasihat dan bimbingan kepada para pemimpin kita selama 60 tahun untuk membangunkan sebuah negara aman dan makmur yang agama rasminya ialah Islam. Satu-satunya negara yang diterajui oleh pemimpin Islam tetapi diterima dan dihormati oleh semua lapisan masyarakat majmuk yang berbilang kaum,agama dan bangsa.

Para alim ulama kita bersama pemimpin-pemimpin negara telah menganjurkan dan menjayakan Tilawah Al-Quran Antarabangsa yang pada mulanya hanya disertai oleh 7 negara pada tahun 1961 sehingga kini dapat menarik 70 negara dari seluruh dunia pada tahun 2019.

Para alim ulama kita bersepakat dengan Kementerian Pendidikan memperkenalkan, menerajui, mengajar serta menguruskan Universiti Islam Antarabangsa sejak tahun 1983. Hasilnya, beribu-ribu lepasan bukan sahaja dari Malaysia malah seluruh dunia mendapatkan segulung ijazah sarjana muda, ijazah sarjana dan ijazah sarjana kedoktoran disini. Mereka bukan sahaja telah dilatih dalam bidang keagamaan malah dalam bidang keduniaan.

Para alim ulama kita serta cendekiawan ekonomi dan kewangan negara bekerjasama dengan Bank Negara Malaysia mempelopori dalam sistem perbankan dan kewangan Islam, sukuk dan takaful sehingga negara kita menjadi perintis dalam industri kewangan Islam moden yang sistematik. Berjuta-juta orang Islam dan bukan Islam dari dalam dan luar negara telah menggunakan sistem kewangan patuh syariah yang kita perkenalkan dengan penuh keyakinan dan tanpa ragu-ragu.

Para alim ulama kita dengan kolaborasi pentadbir-pentadbir kerajaan yang kemudiannya melalui JAKIM berjaya memperkenalkan Malaysia sebuah negara hub halal terunggul yang kini telah mengekspot produk-produk halal mencecah hampir RM 40 billion setahun! Piawaian halal yang diperkenalkan telah diguna pakai oleh syarikat-syarikat antarabangsa yang bukan dari negara Islam seperti Nestle, Colgate Palmolive dan Unilever. Tambahan lagi kecekapan kita dalam hub halal ini bukan sahaja tertumpu kepada produk makanan dan minuman, malah ia adalah bersifat menyeluruh termasuklah perkhidmatan seperti kewangan, logistik, pelancongan, kosmetik dan farmaseutikal.

Banyak lagi boleh disenaraikan jasa para alim ulama kita terhadap agama, bangsa dan negara kita Malaysia, bahkan kepada dunia keseluruhannya.

TETAPI KENAPA PULA PENCERAMAH ASING YANG DIJULANG, DIBAWA BERARAK DAN DILAUNG-LAUNGKAN DENGAN TAKBIR?

Bukankah kita khaskan perarakan sedemikian hanya untuk Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan-Sultan dan Raja-Raja kita sahaja? Yakni, penyatu antara penganut-penganut agama Islam dan penduduk Malaysia keseluruhannya?

Bukankah elok kalau penceramah asing belajar dahulu Bahasa Melayu? Sedangkan saudara-saudara dari Negara Bangladesh yang mahu bekerja di restoran pun mesti tahu ambil pesanan roti canai, teh tarik dan telur setengah masak dalam Bahasa Melayu, apatah lagi kepada yang mahu mengajar hukum-hakam agama? Bak kata pepatah melayu, “masuk kandang kambing mengembek, masuk kandang harimau mengaum”. Barulah tidak orang yang mendengar tercengang, tertidur dan ternganga kerana tidak tahu menahu apa yang diperkatakan dalam Bahasa Inggeris berpelat India.

Bukankah elok kalau mana-mana penceramah asing yang mahu masuk ke alam kita belajar dahulu cara-cara kita? Berguru dan bermentor dengan ulama-ulama kita untuk mengambil iktibar tentang selok-belok bagaimana kita dapat mencapai kejayaan yang sungguh meluas ini secara aman tanpa apa-apa perkelahian dan perpecahan?

Kita jangan lupa dalam mencapai kemerdekaan, di negara penceramah asing, beratus-ratus ribu nyawa terkorban baik yang Islam mahupun Hindu. Di Malaysia, kita mencapai kemerdekaan tanpa hilang setitis darah pun, malahan kita dapat merapatkan perhubungan antara kaum dan agama. Di negara penceramah asing, cara mereka asyik mahu berlawan sahaja, di Malaysia cara kita suka berkawan.

Perjalanan kemerdekaan di negara penceramah asing dari satu negara berpecah tiga. Di Malaysia, kita dari tiga negara menjadi satu pada tahun 1963. Cara mereka ialah membangunkan satu negara republik, manakala cara kita mewujudkan sistem Raja Berperlembagaan! Raja kita bukan hanya raja untuk orang Islam, tetapi raja untuk semua. Raja kita bukan hanya pelindung yang Islam sahaja, tetapi, yang bukan Islam juga. 
    

Adakah kita mahu menggadai semua pencapaian kita selama ini dan ikut cara-cara baru yang diimpot dari penceramah asing? Atau, haruskah kita pilih dan lebih yakin dengan cara aman kita selama ini?

Semoga Allah memberi hidayah kepada para alim ulama kita untuk memilih keputusan yang terbaik.

Salam.

Anas Zubedy

Pergerakan Moderat Malaysia.

AZU dan ANU - Perpaduan antara orang beragama Islam dan Hindu di Malaysia

Mereka berdua bertugas bersama sabagai penyambut tetamu di salah satu bangunan swasta di K L.

Seorang beragama Islam, yang satu lagi, Hindu. Mereka bekerja dgn efektif, ada team work dan senantiasa senyum.

Inilah kecantikan dan keunikan Malaysia. Hidup, bekerja dan bersuka secara aman antara kaum dan agama. Bila datang waktu solat, Anu tolong cover untuk Azu. Azu pun tak berkira dgn Anu.

Kita di Malaysia aman antara kita. Cara kita suka berkawan dan saling tolong-menolong. Cara orang lain suka melawan, bukan cara kita.

Cara kita menghasilkan keamanan dan keceriaan hidup kerana kita ikut prinsip Rukun Negara - Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan.

Alhamdulliah kita berjaya dari segi ekonomi, kesepaduan rakyat yang majmuk dan cara hidup yang gembira.

Salam kasih Malaysia.

Anas
Pergerakan Moderat Malaysia

MUSLIM - HINDU UNITY - MAULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD

India's first Minister of Education was a Muslim. The annual National Education Day of India is on November 11th, to commemorate Maulana Azad's birthday.

Maulana Azad is one of my favorite author - especially his book "Tarjuman Al-Quran - The Opening Chapter of the Quran" of which I have read many times over. One of the most detailed, well thought and deepest explanation of the first chapter of the Quran. His life is also an inspiration.

I highly recommend fellow Malaysians to read about him. Click here

Peace, anas

AN OPEN LETTER TO DR. ASRI: - Let us not radicalise young Muslims

Dr. Asri, peace be with you.

I write to highlight that your recent posting on Facebook about me has instigated many Muslims, especially the young, to be angry and become more radical in their behavior. Initially, as it was posted by an ‘admin’, I did not think that such a posting, which was clearly lacking in context and nuance, was done with your knowledge, let alone approval; given your well-respected position as a Mufti. I waited a day before reacting, writing and sending you a comment, thinking that you will take it down.

Today more than a week later, you have yet to take any action. In fact, you have failed to caution your followers against taking laws into their own hands and to work within the constitution. You have also not taken the initiative to advise them to stay calm and to not post offensive remarks, not just about me, but also about people of other faiths and their religious beliefs. As a result, hundreds of remarks and shares have been recorded. This does not include viral sharing and offshoots that your post has triggered – one of which, Daily News 24h (https://www.facebook.com/dnews.fun/), alleged that I was giving ‘AMARAN’ to Muslims not to use cows as sacrifice this Aidil Adha. This is tantamount to fitnah.

Based on the above, I have come to believe that the posting was done with your consent and authorisation.

Thus, this letter.

There are four main reasons why the Facebook posting have had an instigating effect to anger and radicalise our fellow Muslims, especially the young.

1.    The timing of the posting which was right after my appeal to Brother Zakir Naik to voluntarily leave Malaysia, acted as a catalyst to further anger many Muslims who are already unhappy with the appeal. I do wonder what prompted you to post that out of the blue in the first place, or, was this part of an overall plan? I find this as a ‘fitnah’ towards me but that is between you and Allah and the law of the country; as such I do not want to delve deeper into it here.

2.    The posting was designed with a malicious insinuation to make readers question my faith.

3.   The posting provided an incomplete picture of my article about the subject matter of concern. By not providing the context of the final statement that was derived from my article, the readers could not see the real deeper intentions and were made to feel angrier than they would.

4.    You and by extension your followers, have failed to grasp the fact that my article was not about cow’s meat per se. Rather, it is about having empathy while caring about and understanding the sensitivities of others; Muslims included.

IT IS NOT ABOUT COW’S MEAT, BUT BUILDING A BETTER, UNITED AND CARING MALAYSIA

“Who listen [closely] to all that is said, and follow the best of it: [for] it is they whom God has graced with His guidance, and it is they who are [truly] endowed with insight!”

Quran 39:18

Perhaps it is good if I unpack the posting I wrote in April 2017. The article is not about cows but about having empathy, while caring about and understanding the sensitivities of others. Such tolerance and sensitivities should be extended to all, including our Muslims brethren.

It is just like during Friday Jumaat prayers, Church Sundays, Thaipusam, Wesak day, Chinese Ghost Month festival etc. – when we double or at times triple park, bend traffic laws, allow fellow Malaysians to block our usual traffic paths and so on. In such instances it is not about parking and traffic laws. We do not have to do it that all the time, just at certain times when it is most appropriate. More importantly, it is about finding common ground; allowing one party the space they need during the particular period, without inconveniencing the other too much in the process.

My article was written with the intention of achieving our first and fourth cita-cita Rukun Negara which reads as follow;

·       “achieving a more perfect unity amongst the whole of her society,” and

·       “guaranteeing a liberal approach towards her rich and varied cultural traditions”

It seeks to help us move closer to our Vision 2020 first goal, “Malaysia can be a united nation, with a confident Malaysian society, infused by strong moral and ethical values, living in a society that is democratic, liberal and tolerant, caring, …”

It is about being conscious of the other. It is about doing good; extending common courtesy and sacrificing some minor conveniences. In fact, you can even say that it is a korban in and on itself. Furthermore, the Quran at Al Haj verse 37 reminds us that,

“[But bear in mind:] never does their flesh reach God, and neither their blood: it is only your God-consciousness that reaches Him. It is to this end that We have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might glorify God for all the guidance with which He has graced you. And give thou this glad tiding unto the doers of good”

Quran 22:37

With that in mind, I hope your followers and you can read the posting, which I am reproducing below, in a new light and with an open heart. Before reading it, let us all be prompted as to who our Prophet was;

“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.”

Quran 21:107

“HINDUS, THE COW AND MUSLIMS.

I stopped eating beef in 1985 on my 21st birthday although my favorite makan then was Mc Donalds Quarter Pounder with Cheese.

I was trying to convince my college to stop serving beef to respect the Hindus as we do not serve pork at the university. Since I did not managed to convince them, I decided I should start with myself. So since then not only I do not eat beef, it is also a policy not to serve them at my office functions, at the office or at home. Since these are within my area of control. I have not taken beef for 32 years.

I have Hindu friends who have many Malay friends who avoid pork too. That is the beauty of Malaysia.

I have many non-Muslims- Chinese and Indian friends who avoids going to non-halal makan places when I am in the picture. That is the beauty of Malaysia.

For Malaysia to succeed we need to practice empathy.

I humbly suggest to all my Muslim brothers and sisters to stop serving beef at all functions within our control even if only one Hindu is present.

We must also try to avoid korban lembu during Raya Haji. Korban other animals.

I do not recommend these across the world. But for Malaysia, this is the way forward.

Peace.

Anas”

InshaAllah, both you and your followers will reframe your hearts and minds and see the wisdom of this call.

AN EXAMPLE OF A RADICALISED YOUNG MUSLIM

The misinformation on your post drew hundreds of vile comments not only towards me but also the Hindu community. These can be seen not just on our respective Facebook pages, but also on numerous postings that have gone viral in the last one week. There are those who suggested that I should be beaten up or dealt with in many other appalling ways. There are even calls for Saudara YB Lim Kit Siang and I to be sembelih and used as korban instead – linking your post to the Zakir Naik question.

I do not want to list these angry and hateful comments here, you can read them for yourself. But I would like to give an example that I believe should make us concern about our country and where its heading.

A young man with a small family wrote a warning to me indicating that one of these days I would be walloped by ‘somebody’s’ hands. Not his hands perhaps, but whose hands, we have yet to find out. He mentioned that I should be careful. As I noticed that unlike others, he was using his own account, I decided to engage with him. I asked him to be mindful of his actions and to consider his family and child, as if anything were to happen to him, i.e. if he were jailed, it would be a great loss to his family.

He then wrote a direct personal message inviting me for ‘coffee’. When I suggested he can join any of my future gatherings, like the #LetsReadTheQuran campaign, he declined, saying instead that he will find and give me a ‘surprise gift’ soon.

Now, this is a decent thirty-something Muslim Malaysian, who is likely a loving father and husband who works hard for his family. He is probably someone who will go the extra mile to earn more to buy his daughter better food, books, dresses and take his family on a lovely holiday. He is possibly respectful to his parents and a filial son; a good friend to many and a productive citizen.

Yet, posts such as yours can radicalise him; making him forget what is truly important to him and his family and encouraging him to act in a dysfunctional manner. This is not the behaviour of a real Malaysian. This is not the Malaysian that we want either. Real Malaysians are masters of social cohesion, compromise and understanding.

By putting up such a post, and not stopping nasty and wrongful comments, we are enabling extremism to thrive. We are seen as expressing approval, support for, or use of violence and intimidation as methods of achieving changes in society or encouraging others to perform such acts. Neither you, nor I or anyone for that matter, should post any comments that produce such a culture.

We need to be extremely mindful of our actions on social media. A fitnah or a simple misinformation can go viral and snowball into something even bigger and with stronger consequences. From a religious standpoint, the dosa from one social media fitnah is multiplied by the number of times it is repeated as it goes viral, compounded by the twisting of facts the further the viral information goes. I respectfully suggest, as a Mufti who has considerable influence with the masses, it would be best if you be extremely careful with what is posted on your social media pages or on your behalf.

HOW YOU CAN HELP DERADICALISE THEM AND CALM THE SITUATION

The situation between you and I can be dealt with separately. You will be contacted in due time. A report with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has also been lodged.

For now, I would like to focus on your followers. In my opinion, you owe it to them to make things right. Although not exhaustive, here are eight (8) recommendations.

1.    Immediately take down the post and advise all your followers who have copied and shared it to do the same. Ask, advice and plead to all others like the news media and social media who piggy-ride on the misinformation from your post to follow suit. I.e. Daily News 24h.

2.    Admit that you were wrong to allow the post and those terrible comments and for going along with them for more than a week, causing it to go viral and snowball into an even deeper fitnah – instigating them to be angry and getting some to be radicalised.

3.    Impress upon them that violence is not our way. Request with all your heart that they must not take laws into their own hands and avoid ill-mannered, rude and threatening comments not just at this instance, but at all times.

4.    Agree that my message could have been better read and understood as it is not about cow’s meat but about empathy, understanding, being sensitive to one another in order to build a more inclusive and united Malaysian society. Promote give and take, not just from Muslims to Muslims but Muslims to Non-Muslims too.

5.    Apologise for making a mountain out of a mole-hill. Even if my article was about cow’s meat, ‘dari segi hukum Islam” I did not do anything wrong and there is no need to go to the point of questioning my faith. “Dari segi hukum” I did not mengharamkan apa yang halal in any way– beef, but suggested that we avoid serving them at certain occasions only. Tell them, dari segi hukum it is not a must to korban only cows, we can and are allowed to use other animals, too. And stressed that, dari segi hukum, what I have suggested is in no way haram. There is absolutely not a need to say that I am not Muslim for this recommendation.

6.    One of the main backlashes from your post is that your followers are infuriated that I wanted to ‘please’ the non-Muslims instead of the other way around – due to the incomplete picture painted by your post. Explain to them that if we are serious about following the Prophet, we need to recognise, celebrate and accept unreservedly that in the Medina Charter, non-Muslims are considered “Ummah Wahidah” or “One Single Community” with the Muslims. This Charter was formalised after the emigration to Medina, when the Prophet entered into a peaceful agreement with various non-Muslim Arab tribes. The Prophet maintained his commitment to the philosophy of “Ummah Wahidah” with non-Muslims and stayed true to the agreement until his death.

Similarly, in our Malaysian constitution, we are Ummah Wahidah with all the non-Muslims Malaysian citizens and we must see them as equally important, equally Malaysian. You may want to add that in keeping true to his pledge, the Prophet launch a punitive military operation against the Meccans which led to the fall of Mecca. This was a reaction to the Meccans attacking a non-Muslim tribal ally in blatant violation of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah.

7.    Impress upon them that our Prophet is a Prophet of Peace. Tell them that according to historians, in his 23 years of Prophethood, actual fighting was only 3 days. That should give us an indication about the Quran and the Prophet’s position on fighting. The Prophet avoided the opportunity to fight at every instance possible to keep peace and minimise the loss of lives. He is willing to sign a one-sided agreement that favours the other side in order to secure peace. It is ok to give in a little for the greater goal of peace. His focus was on building people, the economy and the nation. Getting violent, beating up people and acting in a threatening way should not be an option.

8.    Last but not least, apologize to your followers for allowing your social media platform to lead them astray. Convince them that you will be more careful next time.

WHAT NEXT?

“Our future depends on how well many different kinds of people can live and work together”

“We are all Malaysians. This is the bond that unites us. Let us remember that unity is our fundamental strength as a people and as a nation”

Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bapa Malaysia

As a Muslim with high hopes in Islam and a Muslim renewal, I respectfully urge you to reframe your role of Mufti as one of the strongest catalysts and leader in achieving the cita-cita Rukun Negara. I know and hear many of your brother Muftis are working hard to help bring not just Muslims together but also the nation as a whole; bridging people of various faith and background as Malaysians.

But to unite everyone regardless of race, background and faith, we must trust the Quran and the Prophet with all our hearts and minds. We must follow the Prophet’s example and be one with our non-Muslim brethren as “Ummah Wahidah”.

That should be our first step. We can do this. But first, we must not radicalize our young.

Peace.

Anas Zubedy

Malaysian Movement for Moderates

NOTE : A BM VERSION WILL BE OUT SOON

UNILATERAL CONVERSION

A Non-Muslim friend asked for my opinion about unilateral conversion.

I answered, as a Muslim I will follow the Quran Chapter 83 : 1-6, 4:135, 5:8, etc.

Failing which I will lose in this life and will have to answer to Allah in the next.

Quran 83:1-6

"Woe to those who give less [than due],Who, when they take a measure from people, take in full. But if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause loss. Do they not think that they will be resurrected, for a tremendous Day -The Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds?"

Quran 4:135

"O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted."

Quran 5:8

"O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do."

I hope our fellow Muslim ADUNs take heed.

Peace. Anas. 

JAWI IS PART OF OUR HERITAGE

While this may not be the time to focus on the change from RUMI to JAWI as we have far more crucial matters with regards to education, but to out rightly deny JAWI as part of our history and tradition shows a poor and shallow understanding of our history. We did not pop out of the ocean in 1957 and 1963. We have a history. JAWI is part of it. Prior to late 1960s, we were using JAWI - even for beer advertisements! I remember my late father who was able to read the English and Jawi newspapers.

To me it was a mistake to change into RUMI as JAWI is a more superior written tool in delivering not just the Malay language, but many other. Furthermore, most of us are completely unable to go through our manuscripts that was written in JAWI that spans almost 800 years. Imagine, we cannot read our nation's history!

I have written several times about why we must look at our history inclusively. Let me paste a few here.

Firstly,

" We have been a nation for more than 50 (now 62) years. Yet we have not agreed on our history. We are like the six blind men and the elephant. Each one sees history narrowly instead of seeing it as a whole.

To move forward we need to agree on our history. We need to accept certain fundamentals and understand how we have evolved to be who we are today.

We need to look at history from a larger perspective and use wisdom to accept our history whether it suits our liking or not. We have to look at the facts. We need to form a history with truth as a guide. To do that, we need to ponder these questions.

When and where does our history start?

What is the importance of the Proto-Malays to our history?

How have the early Hindu and Buddhist influences affected our history?

What are the significances of Old Kedah Sultanate and the evolution of all the other Malay sultanates?

What is the role of Islam in shaping the Malay sultanates, culture, and traditions?

How did the Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Japanese colonisation affect us; especially the British era leading up to the formation of our modern nation?

What about the history of Sabah and Sarawak? How do they form a part of our current history?

Where do we place the history of ordinary folks, every community; be they the majority or the minorities?

Why did 1957 and 1963 happen? What is the meaning of 1957 and 1963? How do 1957 and 1963 colour our recent history?

What does our Constitution say about our historical framework? How does our Constitution capture our history and make it into a social contract for us to create new history?

We are who we are today because of our shared history. To live in peace and progress, we need to agree on a shared history and understand it. Only then we can create a better and united future.

As we reflect on history, we are still creating it. In creating history, we must decide what we want for our children and our children’s children. Our decision today will create our tomorrow. Let us be wise.

Second,

" It is crucial that we do not hold a myopic and naïve view that our nation simply emerged out of the blue in 1957 and thereafter in 1963 without accepting and appreciating its long illustrious history that spans thousands of years. This attitude will rob and negate the history of the land and its people.

To do so, one will need to pretend that everything about Semenanjung Tanah Melayu before 1957 and Sabah and Sarawak prior to 1963 as irrelevant. This is the main obstacle in putting together a balanced, fair and truly inclusive national history and consequently impacting how we see and interact with each other as its people.

What must we do?

1. Understand, accept, absorb and immerse our history wholeheartedly from the beginning of human migration to our evolution: from hunter-gatherers who practiced animism, shamanism and ancestor worship to the time when we were Hindus, Buddhists and the last many hundreds of years till the present, Islam as our main narratives. When we do these with vigor, we will be able to appreciate how our early beliefs, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and even Christianity have left socio-religious and cultural imprints towards our ways of life and common shared values today.

2. Look at our national history in at least in two main parts. Firstly, our history before 1957 and 1963, the Malay World, the history about the people of Malay Archipelago that includes the Orang Asli and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak – which rightly has to be Malay-Centric. At the same time, we must accept that the immigration history of our people from the east and the west is as real as the Malay-Centric experience and forms part of our national history, too. Secondly, our modern history that starts at 1957 and expanded, gained depth and breadth in 1963 when Malaysia was born. Our new history as its people.

3. Hold our constitution as the just and balanced center of reference that connects the dots to our past, present and the future. The constitutional provisions recognize the special position of the Malays and other natives the Orang Asli, Sabahans and Sarawakians while at the same time the rights and legitimate interests of the other communities. Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony.

Without constitutional provisions to ensure that their interests are protected, natives across the world will be helpless against the demand for ‘equality’ because the descendants of the colonial and immigrant communities tend to have a bigger advantage. Equality in the loose sense will favor the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor and weak be it for economic justice or in drawing the historical chronicles of the people."

As for Khat, keep it at the ART class. When the Non-Muslims are trained to write Khat, get them to express their own religion using it. In 50 years time, Malaysia will be the center of the most beautiful Khat centre that not only produces Islamic, but also Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and perhaps even Indigenous Religion Khat artwork.

Peace.

Anas Zubedy 
Malaysian Movement For Moderates

Dr Zakir Naik : Antara Fakta Dan Mitos. Oleh Ustaz Nurul Haq*

* Nurul Haq Shahrir mempunyai ijazah sarjana (MA) Fiqh dan Usul Al-Fiqh, di samping sarjana muda Syariah. Beliau juga berkelulusan STB, M.Div (USA) dan Licentiate (JCL – Juris Canonici Licentia) dalam bidang Teologi Kristian dan Kanun Gereja (Urbaniana).

Dr Zakir Naik kerap diangkat sebagai pakar perbandingan agama yang tiada taranya, dengan kemampuan menghafaz keseluruhan Al-Quran dan kitab agama lain seperti Bible dan Veda.

Dalam bahasa mudahnya, pendakwah dari India itu dimomokkan sebagai sosok yang hebat dan digeruni pihak lawan. Ada yang mengangkat beliau sebagai “ustaz”, tidak kurang juga pihak yang menggelarnya ulama dan pelbagai lagi gelaran hebat yang dinisbahkan kepada Zakir.

Zakir sendiri tidak meminta digelar sedemikian dan beliau juga tidak pernah menggelar diri sendiri dengan gelaran tersebut. Ya mungkin ada pihak yang menjawab bahawa Zakir seorang yang merendah diri, oleh itu beliau tidak akan sesekali mendabik dada sebagai ustaz atau seorang ulama. Takkanlah masuk bakul angkat sendiri.

Antara fakta dan mitos

Namun, fakta perlu dipisahkan daripada mitos. Sudah tiba masanya kita mendidik diri dengan ilmu yang benar, dan meneliti sesuatu perkara secara adil mengikut disiplin ilmu. Tanpa ilmu, apa yang menjadi panduan kita dalam menentukan kebenaran ialah sentimen terhadap sesuatu perkara dan logik akal semata-mata.

Jangan jadikan kepetahan berkata-kata, jubah, serban, janggut dan hafalan beberapa potong ayat Al-Quran sebagai penentu keilmuan seseorang. Jangan jadikan kemasyhuran dan anugerah sebagai pengukur kebenaran. Diamnya seseorang tidak bermaksud jahil, kelantangan pula tidak mencerminkan ilmu kerana pada lazimnya tong kosong nyaring bunyinya.

Berbalik kepada Zakir, penulisan ini membahaskan beberapa khabar angin tentang kebolehan luar biasa beliau yang tidak ada tolok bandingnya, dengan menyentuh 10 isu. Setelah itu, kita akan menelusi permasalahan pokok berkaitan akidah dan syariat yang dibawa Zakir.

1. Zakir Naik seorang ulama dan pakar agama

Hakikatnya, Zakir Naik adalah seorang doktor perubatan yang tidak mengamalkan profesi tersebut. Beliau tidak mempunyai latar belakang pendidikan Islam yang kukuh sama ada secara rasmi atau tidak rasmi.

Untuk digelar seorang ulama atau agamawan, seseorang itu mestilah mempunyai kelayakan ikhtisas pengajian Islam sama ada secara akademik ataupun secara tradisional bersanad melalui talaqqi (sistem pondok). Keupayaan berbahasa Arab dan kemampuan menelaah sumber primer Islam dalam Bahasa Arab juga adalah kriteria utama seorang yang bergelar ilmuan Islam.

Malangnya, kesemua ini tidak dimiliki oleh Zakir. Dalam sejarah Islam, tidak pernah didengari ulama yang tidak boleh berbahasa Arab walaupun mereka bukan orang Arab seperti Imam Bukhari, dan tidak pernah juga wujud pakar agama yang bacaan Al-Qurannya tidak boleh difahami dek kesalahan sebutan makhraj huruf yang mencacatkan maksud.

Di Malaysia sendiri, kita ada muallaf yang menguasai Bahasa Arab dengan baik bahkan mampu mengajar tajwid. Alangkah baiknya jika Zakir terlebih dahulu mempelajari Bahasa Arab dan memantapkan ilmu Islam sebelum mendalami selok-belok agama lain. Nampaknya fenomena ustaz/ustazah “segera” ini sudah menular ke serata pelosok dunia.

2. Zakir Naik seorang hafiz Quran

Zakir bukanlah seorang hafiz Al-Quran, dan beliau juga tidak pernah mendakwa sedemikian. Tetapi, tidak dinafikan beliau memang ada menghafal beberapa ayat dan surah tertentu khususnya berkaitan topik perbandingan agama.

Berkemungkinan tanggapan beliau seorang hafiz Al-Quran disebabkan kebolehan beliau memetik ayat Al-Quran sepintas lalu tanpa merujuk teks. Kemampuan beliau ini kemudian digembar-gemburkan sebagai hafiz Al-Quran. Maka timbullah mitos yang sukar dipadamkan disebabkan ketaksuban golongan tertentu.

Ada baiknya jika soalan berkaitan hafiz ini dilontarkan kepada Zakir dalam sesi ceramahnya di masa hadapan bagi menjernihkan kontroversi. Selain itu, jika betul pun beliau seorang hafiz, hafazan tanpa pemahaman adalah sia-sia. Bak burung kakak tua yang hanya mampu mengulangi apa yang dihafalnya, maka muncullah fahaman “Allah berada di atas langit”, “Allah duduk di atas ‘Arash”, “Aku lebih memahami Sunnah dari Imam Al-Syafi’ie,” dan sebagainya.

3. Zakir Naik hafal kitab suci lain

Ketebalan Bible adalah dua kali ganda ketebalan Al-Quran. Ini belum lagi dikira ketebalan Bible mazhab Kristian Ortodoks yang jauh lebih tebal kerana ia memuatkan beberapa Sefer (kitab) tambahan.

Maka dengan fakta ini, adakah masuk akal jika Al-Quran yang berjumlah 604 halaman itu pun tidak terhafal – inikan pula Bible yang beribu muka surat! Sejak Bible dibukukan secara rasmi sebagai kitab suci oleh Gereja Roman Katolik pada tahun 393 Masehi oleh persidangan uskup yang dikenali sebagai Synod of Hippo Regius, tidak ada sebarang catatan sejarah yang merekodkan individu yang menghafal keseluruhan Bible.

Ini kerana manuskrip kitab suci tersebut ditulis dalam pelbagai bahasa kuno seperti Yunani, Ibrani, Suryani, Qibti bahkan Arab. Naskhah Yunani sahaja berjumlah 5,686 dan berbeza antara satu dengan lain dari sudut ragam bahasa, loghat, kosakata dan struktur kalimat.

Begitu juga dengan Naskhah Latin (10,000), Ibrani, Habsyi, Qibti, Armenia, Suryani dan selainnya yang mencecah 9,300 manuskrip berbeza.

Maka adalah amat mustahil wujudnya insan yang mampu menghafal keseluruhan Bible, kecuali insan tersebut adalah seorang Nabi yang dikurniakan wahyu maka sewajibnya dia menghafal sesuatu kitab suci yang diberikan kepadanya seperti Nabi Musa yang menghafal Taurat dan Nabi Isa yang menghafal Injil.

Namun begitu, terdapat dua invididu yang dikatakan menghafal terjemahan Bible versi Protestant dalam Bahasa Inggeris. Mereka adalah Dr Van Impe dan John Goetch. Namun, dakwaan ini tidak pernah dibuktikan secara empirikal.

Bible Protestant adalah jauh lebih nipis kerana tidak memuatkan 7 buah Sefer yang dikenali sebagai Deuterocanonical. Maka, apa yang jelas adalah Zakir Naik hanya menghafal ayat-ayat tertentu sahaja yang berkaitan dengan isi maklumat yang hendak disampaikannya kepada umum.

Kitab lain agama Yahudi/Kristian seperti Talmud, Mishnah, Gemarra, Pseudepigrapha, Apocryphal New Testament dan kitab utama agama Hindu/Buddha seperti Veda, Baghavad Gita, Tripitaka, Saddharma Pundarika, Avesta dan seumpamanya sudah tentu tidak dihafal beliau kerana sedemikian tebalnya. Kalaupun hendak melonjakkan seseorang tokoh itu ke makam yang tertinggi, biarlah berpada dan berdasarkan fakta, bukannya mitos.

4. Zakir Naik anak murid Ahmed Deedat

Zakir disensasikan sebagai murid penceramah Afrika Selatan, Ahmad Deedat, walaupun beliau tidak pernah sama sekali berguru dengan tokoh yang dimaksudkan. Ia sekadar pertemuan sekali pada 1987.

Maksud berguru ialah seorang yang rendah ilmunya menuntut daripada seorang yang lebih tinggi ilmunya dan berlaku sesi penyampaian maklumat daripada guru secara langsung kepada muridnya. Jikalau seseorang menimba ilmu melalui “Syaikh” Google ataupun bacaan buku semata-mata ataupun rakaman YouTube, itu tidak dapat diertikan sebagai bergurukan tokoh tertentu sebagaimana seseorang yang membaca kitab Hadith Sahih Bukhari tidak dapat dikatakan berguru dengan Rasulullah. Begitu juga jikalau kita mendengar rakaman kuliah seorang professor di Amerika melalui YouTube, tidak boleh dikatakan professor tersebut adalah guru kita.

5. Zakir Naik tokoh perbandingan agama

Dakwaan ini adalah benar jika dilihat kemahiran beliau mematahkan hujah lawan secara spontan dan pengalaman beliau yang luas walaupun mungkin tidak setinggi mana. Begitu juga dengan pengetahuan beliau tentang isu yang didebatkan.

Nampaknya, memang Zakir sudah membuat persiapan awal sebelum sesi debat dimulakan. Kemahiran berdebat beliau memang mengagumkan. Umumnya, pandangan atau pegangannya dalam ilmu perbandingan agama boleh diterima. Oleh itu, tidaklah salah jika Zakir dianugerahkan Tokoh Maal Hijrah bagi mengenang kebolehan beliau.

Setakat ini belum ada tokoh Muslim yang berani ke hadapan seperti beliau. Kebolehan beliau ini sewajarnya dilihat sebagai satu kekuatan umat Islam dan mampu menjadi senjata yang ampuh jika Zakir diperkasakan dengan ilmu Islam yang sahih. Syabas dan seribu tahniah diucapkan buat Zakir.

Sungguhpun begitu, beliau bukanlah pakar rujuk ataupun tokoh dalam bidang khusus agama Islam sama ada pada bab Usuluddin, Syariah, Usul Al-Fiqh, Tafsir, Hadith, dan sebagainya. Kita perlu berhati-hati dan mengambil manfaat daripada seseorang itu berdasarkan bidang yang dimahirinya sahaja.

Seperti Firman Allah yang bermaksud hendaklah rujuk kepada ahlinya jika tidak tahu (Al-Nahl 16:43). Contohnya kereta yang rosak, maka hendaklah dihantar ke mekanik jangan dihantar ke tukang jahit. Tak mustahil kereta akan bertambah rosak dek tersadai berbulan-bulan atau “dijahit” oleh si tukang jahit. Jika sakit jumpa doktor bukan jumpa guru geografi. Begitulah perumpaannya

6. Zakir Naik berfahaman wahhabi

Satu perkara yang mesti diketahui umum ialah, mereka yang berfahaman Wahhabi tidak akan sesekali mengaku Wahhabi. Slogan yang sering dilaungkan ialah Ittiba’ Al-Sunnah, iaitu mengikut Sunnah – ataupun berpegang dengan Al-Quran dan Sunnah.

Dalam pada itu, kita tidak boleh sewenang-wenangnya melemparkan tuduhan terhadap seseorang yang kita tidak bersetuju dengannya. Sama ada tuduhan Wahhabi, kafir, sesat, bidaah, syirik dan seumpamanya mestilah dielakkan dan jangan sesekali dijadikan kalimah zikir kita. Islam menuntut kita bersangka baik terhadap semua orang Islam kecuali terdapat tanda-tanda zahir yang ketara dan tidak memungkinkan untuk disalah-ertikan.

Perihal Zakir Naik ini, memang tidak dapat dinafikan beliau mempunyai kecenderungan kepada fikrah Wahhabi dari beberapa sudut:

Usuluddin: Kekeliruan dalam bab Tauhid. Beliau berpegang dengan akidah 3 serangkai, menisbahkan jihah (arah) dan tempat kepada Allah yang menatijahkan fahaman Tajsim dan Tasybih. Ini bertentangan dengan ahli Sunnah yang memahami Tauhid melalui Sifat 20 dan beriman bahawa kewujudan Allah itu tidak tertakluk kepada tempat, ruang, arah ataupun masa.

Syariah: Tidak beriltizam dengan mazhab yang ditadwinkan. Bahkan beliau memperlekehkan para imam mujtahid pendiri Mazhab sehingga mendakwa lebih memahami Sunnah daripada Imam Al-Syafi’ie dalam bab membatalkan wudhu jika tersentuh dengan golongan bukan mahram tanpa lapik.

Akhlak: Zakir dilihat gemar menyesatkan umat Islam bagi amalan yang beliau anggap bidaah seperti sambutan mawlid, tahlil arwah dan lain-lain. Beliau juga beranggapan amalan sedemikian mengundang syirik yang menghumbankan pengamalnya ke neraka.

7. Zakir mengislamkan ribuan orang

Angka sebenar yang memeluk Islam di tangan Zakir tidaklah sampai ribuan orang seperti yang dipropagandakan. Apa yang pasti ialah memang ramai orang menerima Islam melalui ceramah beliau.

Jasa Zakir dalam hal ini janganlah dilupakan. Walaubagaimanapun, hakikat ini tidak membenarkan fahaman yang dibawa Zakir. Nabi Nuh yang berdakwah lebih 10 abad hanya mempunyai pengikut seramai 80 orang mengikut riwayat Al-Suyuti. Adakah dengan segelintir pengikut ini membuktikan Nabi Nuh tidak benar?

Seorang lelaki di zaman Rasulullah, Abdullah Ibn Saad Ibn Abi Sarh, sendiri pernah murtad sebelum kembali kepada Islam. Adakah ini menunjukkan kebatilan Baginda atau kegagalan dakwah Baginda sebagai Utusan Allah?

Perisik Belanda, Christiaan Snouk Hurgronje yang menyamar sebagai seorang Islam dengan nama “Haji Abdul-Ghaffar” di Aceh pada 1981 dikatakan pernah mengislamkan beberapa orang bukan Islam dan menjadi pembantu Mufti Besar Batavia, Habib Usman Bin Yahya dalam bidang fatwa. Adakah ini bukti kebenaran beliau? Seadilnya, apa yang benar katakan benar dan apa yang salah hendaklah ditolak.

8. Zakir Naik mahir pelbagai bahasa

Dakwaan beliau berkebolehan berbahasa Arab sudah disentuh sebelum ini. Zakir hanya boleh bertutur dalam Bahasa Inggeris dan Hindi (dan mungkin salah satu dialek/bahasa India yang lain).

Apa yang pasti, beliau tidak boleh berbahasa Ibrani, Sanskrit dan Latin. Ceramah beliau juga hanya disampaikan dalam Bahasa Inggeris.

9. Zakir Naik tokoh Maal Hijrah dan ramai pengikut

Perkara ini sudah dibincangkan sebelum ini. Anugerah Tokoh Maal Hijrah sememangnya sesuatu yang wajar sebagai satu bentuk pengiktirafan terhadap sumbangan beliau dalam dunia Islam walaupun beliau sendiri menganggap sambutan Maal Hijrah yang tidak pernah diraikan oleh Nabi sebagai bidaah.
Jumlah pengikut yang ramai tidak menjamin kebenaran seseorang atau sesuatu ideologi. Kumpulan teroris IS mempunyai pengikut yang ramai seluruh dunia. Adakah ini bermaksud IS itu satu kumpulan yang benar?

10. Zakir Naik dan kehamornian

Seadilnya, jika keberadaan beliau di Malaysia untuk menyampaikan kebenaran tanpa menjejaskan kestabilan politik tanahair dan kesejahteraan rakyat Malaysia, maka boleh sahaja bahkan dialu-alukan.

Tidak dapat dinafikan terdapat bantahan terhadap kehadiran beliau di negara ini. Sewajarnya, apa yang dibangkitkan oleh sesetangah pihak berkaitan Zakir hendaklah dipertimbangkan.

Tetapi, jika bantahan berkenaan perbandingan agama, maka tidak boleh diterima memandangkan ianya termasuk salah satu dari cabang disiplin ilmu Islam. Jika bantahan dibuat bersangkutan keselamatan negara, maka kita serahkan kepada pihak berkuasa untuk bertindak. Tidak perlulah kita menjadi wira membuat perhimpunan membantah kehadiran beliau. Banyak lagi benda berfaedah yang seharusnya dibuat.

* Nurul Haq Shahrir mempunyai ijazah sarjana (MA) Fiqh dan Usul Al-Fiqh, di samping sarjana muda Syariah. Beliau juga berkelulusan STB, M.Div (USA) dan Licentiate (JCL – Juris Canonici Licentia) dalam bidang Teologi Kristian dan Kanun Gereja (Urbaniana).