YOURSAY ‘Why do they waste so much energy on such issues?’
PAS to discuss 'rest in peace' controversy
Guna Otak Sikit: So, can someone explain what is wrong? I totally fail to understand it. After all, these are words, are not prayers.
Even if I uttered something similar to a Buddhist or Hindu prayer, am I going to change to a Buddhist or a Hindu? Grow up, please. See the beauty and diversity of this world.
Lionking: The only people who give Islam a bad name are only from the BN government who are misrepresenting the glorious religion of Islam. Everything is viewed from this religious angle and grossly distorted for political reasons.
Our nation will never grow and we will be stuck in this low-level mentality. In the long term, it will damage the nation as we will be devoid of leaders who are progressive.
It is a shame that the government feels that the people are stupid and can be easily manipulated for political reasons.
Kanasai: I doubt 'rest in peace' has any relationship to Christianity although it was commonly written on the tombstones. Nowadays it is more common to see verses from the Bible on tombstones, rather than RIP.
When a person die, it is often say, 'from dust you came and dust you shall return' or something similar to this.
I have a feeling RIP is mostly used verbally just to express sympathy and consolation, such as 'may his soul rest in peace' and not necessary to a Christian.
Single Malt: Going by the National Fatwa Council’s logic, non-Muslim souls will not rest in peace (RIP) and therefore, it is a taboo for Muslims in Malaysia to use the phrase RIP for non-Muslim bereavement.
Is that what is written in the Holy Quran? What religion is Malaysia’s version of Islam. Amazing Malaysia, truly not Asia!
Gerard Lourdesamy: Firstly, the words ‘RIP’ are not used in the sense of condoling someone over their loss. You do not greet the grieving family by saying 'Rest in Peace'.
Secondly, the words in their literal translation just mean eternal rest and peace upon the deceased.
Thirdly, the religious significance is only relevant in the prayers for the dead both in Jewish rituals and from the burial service of the Roman Catholic Church according to the Tridentine rite.
Since Muslims will not be taking part in such prayers and given that the deceased is a Sikh in this case, the use of the word is of no consequence save and except to express sadness, loss and grief at the passing of a much loved and respected person.
Perhaps the National Fatwa Council should explain the presence and participation of numerous Muslim leaders at the Requiem Mass for Pope John Paul II when he died where the phrase was used in several places during the mass.
Swipenter: After the 'A' word now is 'RIP'. What is next? 'Amen'? Why do they waste so much energy and create so much ill will on issues such as these?
These Abrahamic faiths do not want understand the meaning of peace and live and let live but instead find all sorts of little things to go at each others’ throats for the last 15 centuries.
Single Malt: 'Barrack Obama reportedly is being urged to visit a Christian church while in Malaysia to show US commitment to human and religious rights,' says this report . Will there be a fatwa against this?
Remember, Obama's father was a Muslim but Obama chose to be a Christian. Will this not send the wrong message to young Muslims in Malaysia? After his visit, what if many Muslims opt to convert?
Also, why invite the leader of the country whom Malaysia hates so much?
Anonymous_3f6d: Now there are certain words in English that non-Muslim are not allowed to use. So what is the solution? Start learning another language!
Vijay47: Don't be too upset, boys. I am sure that soon a whiz kid at the Fatwa Council will discern that English, being widely used by the Westerners, thus has connotations of Christian worship, and so Muslims should be banned from using it.
And our prime minister will have nothing to say, in English, Malay, or Arabic.
Milosevic: Message from Above: We were having a quiet relaxing time until all that deafening noise came from Malaysia. That distant planet gives me so much trouble.
Karpal has just joined us and wants to rest. I was taking a break after creating some new suns and populating planet Icarus with beings having IQs above 150 - I have learned my lesson!
Now some Malaysians are disturbing the peace again. Gandhi was having a quiet conversation with Socrates and Kuan Yin, while Ganesh and Apollo were making gravity waves from electromagnetic forces. All's calm until we get this childish gibberish from planet Earth.
I made a mistake of creating low IQ people with big mouths. I wanted variety on Earth - different kinds of people, different kinds of cultures and languages, and different ways of communicating with me.
But for God's sake, why do they bicker over nothing? I gave them a brain to connect with one another, not to separate themselves from one another. Please, can we rest in peace?
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