I refer to Mohd Elfie Nieshaem Juferi's letter on apostasy in which he categorises Muslims according to what he deems fit It is clear that he thinks of the 'liberal' Muslims in Singapore as of a lesser form, not of the real Islam.

Such arrogance and lack of humility I am certain are not values promoted by any genre of Islam To think that one owns the truth demonstrates spiritual immaturity, lack of largess of spirit and might lead to one own's ruination. History tells us so.

The Islamic world and community today are at the very crossroads the Catholic world once had come upon during the Middle Ages, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation and the separation of the church and the state.

These Catholic kingdoms were 'controlled' by bishops and cardinals, similar to what is happening today in Iran with its mullahs. Wahabbism in Saudi Arabia gave birth to the al-Qaeda which professes a very stern form of Islam which I am sure is the truest form of Islam for them

The emergence of new classes in Europe some 500 years ago - like that of the Bourgeoisie - saw the rejection of the Church's rigid control to which the kings and peasants were subjected to. This new society called for another kind of social organisation, one that is more open and consistent with the changes of the time.

They wanted a different world contrary to the one the bishops and the Kings (as the God-appointed-rulers) had imposed. Wars and revolutions were fought to separate church from state and establish the rule of the 'gentilhomme'.

The radicalism that we see today all over the Islamic world is but a sign of this approaching clash between radical and liberal Islamists. It is the call of history. The mind of the radicals hold onto their 'truth' when everything else in their world is falling apart .

The oppressed and the poor are really, in fact, those who do not make any attempt to free themselves from the prejudices and the tyranny of their own mind and instead dwell on ungrounded fears and absolutisms.

This is the real threat to the 'ummah' - not who you call apostates who are just average people who wish to live life in peace and of their choice.