The letter by Abu Mubarak titled Punishing apostasy not arbitrary interpretation is referred.

Abu Mubarak points out that we shouldn't blame the postman because we don't like the bills he brings. It is essentially the same admonishment that one shouldn't blame the messenger because one doesn't like the message. While it is sound advice, it is not an appropriate metaphor in this context.

A more appropriate metaphor would be a person who is forced to subscribe to a particular service since the day she was born and is being billed day after day, month after month, year after year. But this person was not consulted before she was enrolled, neither can she unsubscribe if she finds the service wanting. Opting out is punishable by death.

I agree the person shouldn't blame the postman, but who should she blame? What recourse does this person have?

The religious authorities in Malaysia believe the service is perfect and it is the person who wants out that is crazy. Even so, why force a person to stay if she prefers a less than perfect service? I'm given the impression that they are more concerned with the apparent unity and strength of the community than the well-being of individual believer.

The subscriber opting out must change her attitude rather than seek redress for her dissatisfaction. It is not about religion, it is about controlling people in the name of religion.

If we are talking about Astro, wireless telephone services, Internet services or membership in a political party, one would immediately see the absurdity of forcing a person to join without consent. Worse still, if one doesn't like the service, one is not allowed to unsubscribe. But somehow, when it comes to religion, some of us choose to suspend our rationality.

Islam as a religion may be perfect, but the interpretations of Islam are fallible and subjected to reinterpretations. Otherwise, there wouldn't be that many schools of thought, as Abu Mubarak pointed out in the beginning of his letter.

As for the letter Let Islam explain the world, not the reverse , it could be said that modern defenders of Islam who seek to explain the world in terms of their belief risk falling into a cul de sac .

The current US president is the perfect example of a person who have little regard for facts but rather seeks to mould the world according to his beliefs. Just look at the quagmire he managed to get his country into.