It is a sad episode and a painful end to the year as it draws to a close. The final burial of the late M Moorthy after an eight-day tussle over his dead body, seemed to have started fresh draw of emotions. In fact it is dreadful to even think where this is leading to.

While this is not a question on the jurisprudence of the courts, be it the syariah or civil courts, it certainly warrants deeper reflection and thought by all caring, concerned and sane citizens.

Islam is growing in the world and seen as a religion that shows mankind a pathway to compassion, love, peace and meaning in a confused world. Consistent with the role that religions evoke, Islam certainly remains relevant to time.

In a time when troubles, tribulations and calamities strike at unannounced paces and places, mankind returns to the comforts of the teachings of his religion.

To show compassion, love and the ability to respect each other faith is a calling not for the weak, narrow minded and feeble hearted. It is faith that alone can bring us to a level to transcend raw emotions.

Unfortunately, Muslims would appear to have lost a precious opportunity to demonstrate the beauty and grandeur of Islam to non-believers this time round in this case of the late Moorthy. The sentiment from the non-Muslims is overwhelming. In the meantime, faithful Muslims are silently pray that these tribulations will pass soon and that it will make us wiser.

While a Muslim may proclaim his or her duty to observe the tenets of ones teaching and faith - in this case to give an Islamic burial to a Muslim - it cannot be denied that a willingness to allow and promote teachings of love, compassion and understanding is also the hallmark of Islam.

Let us pray that this episode will bring us all closer and not take us apart. Let us resolve to allow compassionate prevail and not allow self-righteousness and raw emotions takes over our actions. We must find the pathways to heal wounds quickly.

It is no longer about justice or right and wrong. It is about love, compassion, understanding and willingness to respect the human relationship borne out of love, respect and peace. It should not be about rules and requirements.

We must be able to rise above constrains and let the bigness of the heart to emerge supreme. For religion must attract love, not promote dichotomy. After all, we are from the one Creator that this world has. Hopefully the leaders will rise to the challenges and bring the nation of people to a new height of willingness to respect and love.