COMMENT Everyone agrees that a universal ethical ideal is harmony among peoples, especially those who are committed to their respective religions. And yet, some people, in particular after 9/11, now mistrust all "organised religions" as being troublesome on this harmony issue.

It is urgent, here in Malaysia, that our Muslim leaders are seen unanimously to support the right steps taken to guarantee peace and security among the religions represented in our country, and especially to serve as an example to other Muslim countries of the true meaning of ummah .

Our first and best model of ummah was Madinah Munawarrah during the time of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah honour him and grant him peace). Therefore, it is a mistake to define "Islamic state" as an entity which is almost all Muslim, and in which the other religions play very minor roles, if any.

By this definition, Indonesia, with 90 percent Muslims at various levels of devotion to their worship ( ibadah ) is more of an ummah . Or perhaps Bangladesh, or Saudi Arabia, or others with overwhelming Muslim populations.

Yet this is a mistake. Our Prophet (may Allah honour him and grant him peace) bequeathed to us a model of statesmanship precisely in his manner of balancing and accommodating the Jews, Christians, Sabeans and other faiths in Medina itself.

Hoping to emulate balance and good faith

In this writer's opinion, now we are hoping and praying to emulate such balance and good faith among our population here in Malaysia by the Himpunan Sejuta Ummah (Himpun, or Congregation of a Million Faithful) in Shah Alam tomorrow, on behalf of which the Himpun secretariat has guaranteed that there will be no violence whatsoever, and that there will be no altercation on issues of theology of other religions.

It has been observed that when the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) went into a church hall to retrieve a number of Muslims from the Christian devotions and teachings going on, Muslims were told not to be insecure in their feelings.

It seems odd that the Christians, on their side, should feel uncomfortable when Muslims wish to exercise their democratic right to assemble and voice their feelings over issues relating to the followers of their faith in such gatherings as the Himpun. Could they be suffering from guilty conscience? After all, we are not trying to convert them. So, why would they be nervous?

The former Bersih 2.0 demonstration attracted the attention of numerous outside NGOs and other groups, including those that wished to secularise Malaysia and had no understanding of our total commitment to Islam as the religion of the federation, and our fully constitutional and legislated system of Muslim monarchy, by which any secular "equality" among religions, or proselytising among the Muslims themselves to change their beliefs, is forbidden.

These NGOs simply cannot understand the place and meaning of various Islamic-related issues, such as murtad (apostasy), polygamy, family leadership and the forbidding of all forms of homosexuality, especially including what they call "freedom of gender choice" or "same-sex marriage", in our Malaysian way of life.

No politicisationn of contentious issues

While even we Muslims have trouble with these issues, outsiders can hardly be expected to be more advanced in their own understanding.

Therefore, a newly-formed secretariat has carefully planned and organised the upcoming Himpun to avoid fully any politicisation of such contentious issues, side-by-side with the inviolability of the Malay Muslim leadership in our public and private lives.

Our private Islamic theological issues must cease forthwith to be adjudicated, judged or manipulated by outside interests.

Therefore, we should support Himpun, which is carefully crafted to correct the dangers and stresses of the previous interference and challenge to the position of Islam in the Federal Constitution, and against all such outside influences that can tear this country apart if they continue to outrage the sensitivity of the Muslims.

Himpun has secured full permission from the government authorities to be held in a completely non-violent fashion, and is also supported by not less than 1,000 Muslim-based NGOs (an amazing phenomenon in itself).

All Malaysian citizens are invited, regardless of religious or political affiliation. However, the Christians must respect the self-esteem of the Muslims, whose resistance to evangelical missionary activities is implacable and fully defended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay Rulers.

Muslim friendship feely available and offered to all

Muslim friendship, however, is freely available and offered to all the communities. This is the meaning behind "1Malaysia" as implemented by the central government at present.

Other Muslim groups that will be represented in the Himpun are educational institutions, sports and recreational clubs, self-defence societies, youth clubs, committee members of mosques and suraus, teachers and many others.

It can only be the sheerest folly for political leaders to resist the will of their own people, especially the young and educated, by opposing this event.

The itinerary, provision of prayer rooms and food, publicity, public announcements, specially invited guests and advertisements in all media have been arranged by the Himpun Secretariat.

The itinerary will include a welcoming speech, keynote address by a prominent guest, nasyid songs emphasising the theme of defending the sanctity of Islam, greetings from NGO representatives, munajat (prayer of supplication to Allah SWT) and the presentation and recitation of a pledge to defend the integrity of Islam and Muslim peoples everywhere.

 

AZRIL MOHD AMIN is vice-president, Muslim Lawyers Association of Malaysia.

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