Islamic bodies should live in 21st century, value diverse ideas - don

Summary

• Academic Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi pans National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI)’s Muzakarah Committee and the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) for proposing a ban on two US-based professor Ahmet T Kuru books.

• He urges the bodies to live in the 21st century, where things are evolving all over the world.

• Tajuddin adds that despite the proposed ban, books or parts of its content could be accessed online.

Academic Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi took potshots at two national Islamic bodies for recommending a ban against two books authored by US-based professor, Ahmet T Kuru.

This comes after the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI)’s Muzakarah Committee and the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) urged the government to ban Kuru’s books titled “Perikatan Ulama Negara Punca Autoritarianisme dan Kemunduran Dunia Muslim (2022)” and “Islam, Autoritarianisme dan Kemunduran Bangsa (2024)”.

“As an intellectual and Muslim seeking the truth, I think it’s time that the agencies live in the 21st century and get used to the virtual free flow of ideas, thoughts and visions.

“The organisations, if they care about Islam and its progress, need to realign their ways of dealing with dangerous ideas in a vastly different and interactive way. The world has changed,” he told Malaysiakini today.

Earlier today, Kuru took to Facebook to voice his displeasure over the matter, adding the ban only serves to prove his argument that “the ulama-state alliance is anti-intellectual and stifles critical thinking”.

“It is essential to allow the contestation of diverse ideas. Banning such debates risks fostering authoritarianism and stifling intellectual development, as emphasised in my books.

“(The Home Ministry) shouldn’t (allow the ban). Instead, they should uphold academic freedom, which would benefit both intellectual progress and Malaysia’s global reputation,” Kuru added.

‘Make public your objections’

While he acknowledged the authority’s legal rights to ban certain books, Tajuddin (above) questioned whether the method was in the best interest of Malaysia, given that information is readily accessible in the borderless world.

Instead of simply calling for a ban, the architecture professor said that Islamic bodies should clearly publish their criticism of the books for all intellectuals to learn from and even give opinions.

Tajuddin added that intellectuals in the country would value the responses given by the authors in defending their case.

“And why did the Islamic bodies not contact the authors to ask them about the so-called questionable issues?

“In addition, do they know that the authors have a free platform on the internet to voice their ideas from the banned books?

“All of us with internet access can even read all the books or parts of it,” he added.

Tajuddin then said that in the age of information, secret deliberations between such agencies are moot.

“Instead, it places these agencies in a position of being a hindrance to intellectual development rather than the guardians of the sanctity of Islam.”

Kuru’s books are among 12 books authorities are targeting for a ban.

According to MKI committee chairperson Nooh Gadot, he said the books could confuse Muslims here as they contain teachings and ideologies that are contrary to the beliefs of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (AI-Asya’irah AI- Maturidiyyah) as well as syariah laws and morals.

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