COMMENT Under the guidance of its late spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, fondly referred to as Tok Guru, and as part of the then hugely popular Pakatan Rakyat opposition pact, PAS was in top political form.

Its fame not only spread amongst Muslims, but also managed to garner the support of non-Muslims with its non-threatening "Islam for all" stand, and the more approachable "PAS for all" slogan.

From a largely East coast and rural based, strict Islamic ideologue party, it soared to new heights to become a more inclusive and urban-centric party, and expanded its reach to the towns and cities.

From its uncompromising stand on Islamic state, it refocused into a socially responsible state and from Islamic laws, it turn towards Islamic values.

During this time PAS went forward with the new strategy to promote Islamic values like truth, justice and equality, mirroring the stance of the global Islamic movements which favoured promoting Islamic values first, instead of arbitrarily imposing Islamic laws or rule.

But just like the semi-Renaissance of the hardline-turned-moderate Islamic Brotherhood-led global revival of the Islamists, which came into being after the Arab Spring, was dragged down by those who wants to be too Islamic too fast, the heyday of PAS was also numbered, and perhaps by the very same thing.

Contentious claws

PAS of late, under president Abdul Hadi Awang and party secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan seems to be growing ever more insular and ingrown.

The once wide wings that helped it soar above the political maelstrom and sheltered its many new 'converts', seem to have shriveled and died with Tok Guru, who passed away in February last year.

Instead of regrowing new wings, the party seems to be growing contentious claws and encasing itself in a calloused hide instead.

It was a PAS functionary that remarked, after the passing of the late Haron Din, who was party spiritual advisor after Nik Aziz, that outsiders should not bother about who is to become the next PAS murshidul am.

This was after reports speculated on who would lead PAS into its next phase as its spiritual advisor, exploring on the options available to the party.

And more recently, Takiyuddin himself said that the matter of the PAS suit against Sarawak Report is a matter for PAS to decide, and outsiders should not meddle in this.

This was over the whistle-blowing website's article claiming "widespread speculation" that over RM90 million had flowed into the pockets of the Islamic party's senior leaders in exchange for the party turning its back on its former allies in the federal opposition.

PAS had threatened to sue Sarawak Report over the matter if the allegation was not retracted. However the deadline of its ultimatum has since passed.

Hadi too has been increasingly taking a hardline stance against non-Muslims, and those he says oppose the rule of Islam. There are some that would say his style of Islamic leadership seems to be less friendly than that of PAS in previous years.

Last time the party would embrace outsiders and promote understanding through dakwah and explanation and discussion. Nowadays the party's stand seems to be "my way or the highway".

National leadership

In any case, first and foremost, as a party that claims and intends to lead Malaysia into the auspices of Islamic rule one day, PAS has staked a claim for national leadership.

And as a claimant of that lofty mantle, it should be open to outside interpretation of what it does, for it will be in a position in which all its actions matter to everyone under God, both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Like it or not, in an Islamic state as per the Prophet Muhammad's teachings and as depicted in Quranic verses, all citizens of the state, whether a PAS member or not, Muslim or non-Muslim, shall have a say on what the leadership decides, and their voices must be heard.

After all, if even the Prophet Muhammad, who was guaranteed to be maksum or protected from doing wrong can feel inadequate to the task of leading the Islamic state and ummah (congregation), what more with the very human and non-maksum leaders of PAS.

It's not that people are questioning them, people just want to know and see the quality of PAS leaders who wants to lead Malaysia into Islam.

It's not that the people are being busybodies, but that they want to be able to understand the party.

And if PAS is really advocating Islamic teachings, then they should know their sirah (history), of how even the Prophet's companion, the fierce general Caliph Umar Al-Khattab himself, had said that he would gladly listen to criticism and feedback.

Even when one of those in the crowd he was speaking to had unsheathed his sword and said, "if you err, this sword will correct you," he smiled and thanked the man.

If PAS really wants to lead Malaysia, it must be open to criticism and suggestions as well as discussion, for when it is in the lead, there is no such thing as outsiders shouldn't comment; either it's for all, or only for itself.

In any case there are no outsiders to a party aiming for national leadership. There is only it, and the rakyat that it is supposed to protect, respect, listen to and serve. The rakyat is made up of Muslims and non-Muslims. And non-Muslims have the same rights and protection extended to Muslims.

HAZLAN ZAKARIA is a member of the Malaysiakini team.