Assalamualaikum Dear Brothers
When Ilham GM threw the term "Muallaf" at me recently, I must admit, it hurt. Why? Because truth hurts. The level of my knowledge on the religion is not much higher than a Muallaf. I wish I can recite the doa like Razak, lead a tahlil or terawih prayer like Fuad or deliver a tazkirah like Wak Tumiran. "Hang ni, basic kurang!", says Mau. I am relating this because in conversations with a few of you lately, I keep getting warned that I should be careful what I write because I might influence people the wrong way. So I am categorically stating here that I am not here to teach anybody. Rather, I want you guys to teach me. Tell me when I am encroaching dangerous grounds. You see, I read a lot. Some of the books I have read would not meet the approval of many of you. Zahari's initial reaction to the link to the book "Crisis in the Muslim Mind" is a case in point. Also, some time ago, I gave Mau a copy of a book by Gai Eaton to read. He gave it back to me after reading 2 pages. "Takut!", he said. But why? "I don't have sufficient knowledge to answer you", he keeps telling me until now.
I do realise I have an unconventional attitude towards religion, to say the least. That's probably because I am the laziest person I know. Before I set out to do anything, I have to know why or what for. Once, early in my career, in the Accountant General's Dept., my boss asked me to write a program to force the insertion of a certain code on payment vouchers so that some reporting could be done. I told him if he wants to do that, he needed to get the Treasury Instructions modified first which required an act of parliament. That put paid to the idea, and I saved some effort. Sorakkkk!
I think it's fair to say that Latif Ishak and I have been the main protoganists in our tumultous debate on 1Islam and related issues. If I may summarize, the main difference in our respective positions is that, while he is more comfortable relying on literal statements (Codified Islamic Law?) from people of authority (Ulama) to guide him on all matters, I tend to give myself more room for independent thinking. (Am I right, Tip?). Perhaps, this should be the topic we should discuss next in this forum.
Feedback please.
Kab
Assalamualaikum spiders.
ReplyDeleteFirst I would like to repeat Pudin’s words ‘I am not here to teach anybody’. I am not qualified. I can only give my views and if it is wrong, please correct me. Since you have mentioned my name, I would like to make some comments on your post.
You acknowledge your low level of knowledge on religion and you also wish you can be like Razak, Poad and Wak Tumeran with their respective abilities. You also say that you like to read. Therefore if you would like to fulfil your wish, then you should be reading what they read in order to get to their level of knowledge on those subjects. It is ok to read other things, but if you wish to be like them then your priority should be to read stuff that they read to achieve their abilities.
Independent thinking. I believe this is where the aqidah, rukun iman and rukun Islam comes in. This is why we believe there is no god except Allah and Nabi Muhammad Rasul Allah. Then we believe in malaikat and Allah revealed the Quran to us through malaikat. The Quran is a guide for mankind. Rasulullah s.a.w is the manifestation of the Quran and he provides further explanation and interpretation of the Quran wherever necessary. These are compiled into the Hadith.
Certain areas are covered in detail in the Quran and Hadith. We cannot have independent thinking in these areas. Guidelines are given in certain other areas. In these areas, certain degree of independent thinking is allowed within the guidelines. Some areas are not covered at all and mankind is allowed freedom to think and decide in these areas, eg whether we should drive on the left or right side of the road.
The Quran and hadith were all written in Arabic and the ulama are those who really know these 2 sources of guidance for us. For us with little or no knowledge of Arabic, we have to rely on the ulama to interpret and explain to us the Quran and hadith. So we have to rely on the ulama on all matters. Genuine ulama are those who will quote the relevant ayat or hadith when they present their views.
Enough for now. Wassalam.
.Ouch, that hurts! Again because that's the truth. I did engage an Ustaz to coach me on those matters but after a while, my resolve waned. Time to re-commit myself i guess.
ReplyDeleteI have another question for you, Tip. Why are there different factions, "ulamas" and "Erdogans" within PAS? based on your view that "we have to rely on the ulama on all matters, shouldn't the Erdogans just follow the Ulamas. Further, it appears that Ulamas themselves cannot achieve consensus on issues like the "Allah Issue", religous pluralism, ESQ and even Poco-Poco! Hey, there are even Ulamas who don't support PAS.
Hope you can clarify. Wassalam.
Assalamualaikum Pudin.
ReplyDeleteThe different factions relate to the approach. Objective remains the same. The ulama favour the go-alone approach and not to associate Pas/Islam with other groups. The Erdogans favour the Pakatan approach where the 3 parties agree on a common platform where they do not disagree, eg kebajikan, keadilan, corruption, etc. Both factions are backed by ulamas and their interpretations which are both OK. Example, macam nak baca qunut atau tidak.
On the issue of ulamas cannot achieve consensus, that is why we have the 4 major mazhab. I have not really studied in detail the issues that you mentioned and the various opinions of the ulama so I cannot really comment. Generally these issues are minor issues. When in doubt always take the safer approach. Some say poco2 is ok but some say it is not. But if you don’t poco2 then both agree that you are ok.
Ulamas who don’t support pas. Pls find me one and let us pit him against a pas ulama and let us listen to their various references from Quran and hadith. On most contentious issues, it has always been the umno politicians who have made comments. The umno ulamas have remained silent or made comments without providing basis for their opinions.
Wassalam.
Assalamualikum Tip
ReplyDeleteI don't know why blogspot didn't publish this comment from you which I received via email. Probably because they experienced problems yesterday.
Ah, well, here goes:
Assalamualaikum Pudin.
The different factions relate to the approach. Objective remains the same. The ulama favour the go-alone approach and not to associate Pas/Islam with other groups. The Erdogans favour the Pakatan approach where the 3 parties agree on a common platform where they do not disagree, eg kebajikan, keadilan, corruption, etc. Both factions are backed by ulamas and their interpretations which are both OK. Example, macam nak baca qunut atau tidak.
On the issue of ulamas cannot achieve consensus, that is why we have the 4 major mazhab. I have not really studied in detail the issues that you mentioned and the various opinions of the ulama so I cannot really comment. Generally these issues are minor issues. When in doubt always take the safer approach. Some say poco2 is ok but some say it is not. But if you don’t poco2 then both agree that you are ok.
Ulamas who don’t support pas. Pls find me one and let us pit him against a pas ulama and let us listen to their various references from Quran and hadith. On most contentious issues, it has always been the umno politicians who have made comments. The umno ulamas have remained silent or made comments without providing basis for their opinions.
Wassalam.