YOURSAY | 'God proclaimed all humans are equal. Who, therefore, gives some the right to classify fellow beings?'

Scholars agree 'kafir harbi' still relevant in modern M'sia, but...

661423777312: Malays, Chinese and Indians have lived together for about 200 years. We went through independence together nearly 70 years ago. Together we worked and sweated, lived and died in building this nation, and today the Malay/Muslim scholars are researching kafir harbi to come to a scholarly agreement on which of us are to be killed - literally or otherwise.

God save the country.

In a better world, scholars may get together to see how to reduce corruption, crime, road accidents, and social ills like teen weddings, unwed pregnancies, high divorce rates, rampant drug addiction, the mat rempit menace, and on building a harmonious nation. But these scholars are fixated on who can be killed - literally or otherwise.

Anonymous #45527285: If the scholars differ vastly in the interpretation of a single religious edict, then that matter should not be used as an edict any longer, as it would lead to abuse.

What is good for the gander is good for the goose. What we need is respect for each other's religion. Respect begets respect. If you can't earn the respect, then you don't deserve to be called a religionist.

Stop belittling, criticising, or condemning another religion if you want to earn respect, and the world would be more peaceful. If you can't understand this simple principle, then whatever cap you are wearing as a religious person, is not worth anything.

Kangkung: Read this carefully "...those labelled as kafir harbi need not necessarily be killed". In other words, killing non-Muslims is the other option.

MinahBulat: Come on people, religion of peace discussing under what circumstances non-Muslims can be killed?

Roar For Truth: International Islamic University Malaysia (UIAM) professor Maszlee Malik said in modern times, the only real kafir harbi whom Muslims must wage war against, are those who first wage war on Muslims, such as Israel.

Prof, please educate yourself before making this sweeping statement. Israel does not wage war on Muslims, but wars against Palestinians who threaten them. Palestinians are made up of Muslims and Christians too. Guess who is the largest Muslim trading partner with Israel?

I am not a lover of Zionism, but please speak factually and not with prejudice and half-baked facts.

Anonymous_1431602916: The fight between the Israelis and the Palestinians is about land, not religion. It never was a jihad. So, the Israelis are not kafir harbi.

Anonymous 1890491455255851: I am not a Malay or a Muslim but I remember back to around 40 years ago when religious strife didn't seem to exist. Perhaps I was too young, but it clearly was a much a more tolerant time. People didn't feel the need to defend their religion as everyone was practising what they believed, without bringing others down.

The country has to me, gone backwards and perhaps the world at large has as well, with all the violence and religious and racial strife that permeates so many societies. It would seem that humans are regressing, not evolving for the better.

And perhaps it is because the leaders of governments and religious leaders feel a need to practise the politics of fear, so that they can control the weak.

Anonymous #45527285: That Kelantan mufti just made a political statement. It has nothing to do with religion. The statement was made from a religious platform, that's all, for certain people to hate a certain entity.

Any religious person who espouses hatred, enmity and violence is only doing a disservice and undermining his own religion.

Justice: In the context of a country or state like Penang or Sarawak, where Muslims are the minority, and where, for instance, Sarawak agreed to join the Federation of Malaysia on the guarantee that there shall be no official religion for the state, or that no particular religion will be forced on Sarawakians viz the Malaysian Agreement 1963, how can one brand non-Muslims as kafir harbi to be opposed or to be fought?

Time for change: As far as I can remember, DAP leaders have not offended Islam publicly in all these years intentionally or otherwise. Anyone disagree with me?

Anonymous_1391693662: If Islam is under threat, please clarify from whom? In Malaysia, Islam was never under threat. Opposing hudud is not going against Islam.

This needs further clarification, and the implementation of hudud should be logical, practical, fair and acceptable by all races, including Muslims. There are also many Muslims who do not agree with hudud.

Swipenter: I am vehemently against being labelled as kafir harbi because I am against stoning, blinding, amputation of limbs, beheading, etc. as forms of punishment.

Maybe even for opposing kafir harbi, qualifies me to be viewed as anti-lslam. To these five 'scholars'; am I anti-Islam?

Fairnsquare: The term kafir harbi should never be used on another Malaysian and can be deemed seditious. There are no two ways about it. The term only incites violence and those who agree to the use of it for whatever reason, are also committing sedition.

Stop justifying and correct the wrong if you believe in the peaceful religion that Islam is supposed to be.

You are not protecting God, but another misled mufti.

You should also 'school' him back to the correct religious path and not be politically driven to promote hatred and violence.

Amateur: There is no peace in the world, let alone in Malaysia if kafir harbi is applicable in our era. In Wikipedia, harbi in general means "enemy of Islam and their blood and properties are not protected". Please 'Google' it for elaboration.

Azhar: Here we go again. The "he/she said something, but they meant something else" defence of evil intentions. Why can't such people realise that we need to confront the truth? Was it wrong? Yes.

Was it said in the Quran? If it was, was it interpreted correctly and in the right context? Remember that the revelations were over a period of time and at different spaces. Above all, is it applicable in a multi-faith society?

Please spend more time and effort in studying what is driving people to madness.

Explain what is wrong and correct it. Help people co-exist in a harmonious way. Help people respect each other's traditions. Condemn evil in every form; words, behaviour and actions. Build, not destroy.

Aziz Bin Kader: I am Muslim, but am starting to worry about our Islamic values. My Islam only follows the five pillars, that's all.

I always believe in my faith to Allah but will never force others to follow what I believe.

6th Generation Immigrant: God had proclaimed that all humans are born equal. The United Nations supports this for universal human rights.

Who, therefore, gives some humans the right to classify fellow beings on earth? This is a demeaning and a discriminating act.

Ever wondered why IS exists? They are actively and religiously classifying their version of Islam and those that do not fit into their classifications are then summarily executed in the name of Allah - even different sects of Muslims are not spared. We are on dangerous ground here - if not today, surely tomorrow.

Gaji Buta: How did the authorities allow this forum to take place? What if the conclusion was that all non-Muslims could be killed? Any such discussion concerning non-Muslims by Muslims, should be outlawed.

Ghostwhowalks: Twist and turn whichever way you like, it still boils down to a statement that shouldn't have been made in the first place, especially from a state mufti.

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