As a Muslim academic, I have been keeping close tabs on the opinions non-Muslims, or even Muslims, make about Islam. Some of the concerns are honest and merit a closer look by Islamic scholars. Although I have not been brought up by the traditional religious training, I have made an extensive personal study of Islam through the reading of the Quran and the Hadith.

What I have discovered is simply, that as many great religions, Islam is meant to give the dignity of being human to all humankind. The idea of values and morality dates back to the beginnings of man. It is curious to find many 'modern' people who writes seem to think that all Islam is out to do is to make life difficult for them.

If these same people make a conscious and an honest attempt to study the original sources of Islam and engage in a healthy debate with the Islamic scholars in a clear and serious manner, I think we would give much dignity to the discourse and the whole thing would be better for all of us.

I have asked, for instance, many people who vehemently cry foul against PAS view on women issues but the fact remains these same people who claim to be championing the women's so-called freedom would never let their daughters and wives behave or dress in an 'immoral' manner! Thus their ideas of morality still exist but they refuse to even ask the Islamic scholars further but simply take the twisted views of newspapers at face value. This is not a discourse. It is a lynching.

I have followed Paul Warren's writings with great interest throughout these years and have found him to be intelligent and direct. However his latest piece about the Tok Guru, to me, comes with such a malicious remark that I wonder if this is the same person writing.

To Paul, I would simply ask this question: Have you ever met the Tok Guru? If you have not, then do so before making such terrible 'comments' that saddens me greatly. You see Paul, I am a great believer in the frailty of humanity. All of us have weaknesses. Yes, even I and also you, Paul. The Tok Guru is no different. He would be the first to admit his weakness. I have met this humble man.

I had the opportunity to 'teach' him something about Islam which he himself admitted that he did not know! Fancy that. From such a learned scholar like him to someone like me who make a personal study of Islam, those were high praises indeed.

Please look at how Hadi Awang and Nik Aziz live. They both ask nothing of this world. They are simply trying to discharge what they think is their obligatory duty in Islam. They fear the punishment of the hereafter more than anything. Their lives are a reflection of this. But they are still human.

Didn't Tok Guru apologise to his arch enemy Mahathir about something? Did we ever hear Mahathir apologise to Anwar Ibrahim or to the two scholars about anything? As a simple Muslim, I am not trying to make the two Tok Gurus as anymore than very concerned human beings interested in the welfare of their ideas of 'righteousness'. Aren't we interested in the ideas of righteousness anymore? Certainly we must contribute our thoughts on the subject and engage in a constructive discourse.

As a Muslim, I refrain from talking ill of someone until I see them and engage them in a discussion before even thinking of formulating such 'cruel' and insensitive remark which seems to make a kind old man like a sex maniac. I am not trying to be a 'prig'. In my studies of the great religions of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam, I do not think any of them subscribe to such 'inhuman' and 'valueless' remark by Mr Warren.