A group of Islamic studies students have thrown their weight behind the Eminent 25’s call for dialogue on syariah law, arguing that “personal sins” should not be criminalised.

 

In a joint statement, the students who are currently studying in Malaysia, Egypt, Medina and Jordan said that Islamic tradition differentiates between “personal sins” and “crime”.

 

“Personal sins should not be codified into criminal law if there are other avenues (of curbing it) through civic movement and preaching...,” they said.

 

They lamented that the syariah law as it stands frequently breaches the spirit of the federal constitution, especially in terms of individual liberties.

 

The students include Mohd Syazreen Abdullah and Marwan Bukhari Abd Hamid, both of whom are active participants of Universiti Terbuka Anak Muda, an online intellectual discussion group linking Malaysian students overseas.

 

Referring to 12th century Islamic scholar al-Ghazali, they cited how the caliph Umar al-Khattab had climbed over a wall to find a man in a compromising position.

 

However, Umar walked away after being told he had wronged the man by entering the man’s premises without consent.

 

On this, al-Ghazali wrote that it is wrong for someone to enter a locked door without consent to fight vice, unless the vice is also widely known to those outside the premises.

 

Quran teaches goodwill

 

“The 'syariahsation' process causes problems not only in religious practice but also friction within society. So far, what we often hear is rhetoric expressed in racial tones,” they said.

 

Racial provocations, they said, stems from failure to understand the Quran which places great importance on humanity and friendship in the face of religious and cultural diversity.

 

Citing Quranic verses, they also said that the Quran teaches goodwill to all and calls for humans to learn from this diversity.

 

“We must understand and study this diversity through studying the holy books as well as answer modern conundrums by taking an intellectual approach,” they said.