Parts 1 and 2 of Memoirs of a Militant Schoolboy have been published. Who is he?

Once in a while, we had guest ustaz for talks on various topics especially during special religious days or celebrations. They were normally from nearby schools or simply sent by the state education department.

Regardless on what topic or occasion it was, when the Q&A session came to an end, there were always almost similar questions asked from the floor. The most typical were:

  • What is the hukum (ruling) on the establishment of an Islamic state?

  • What is the hukum on those who said that Islamic laws are outdated and not suitable for these days and age?

  • Lastly, what is the hukum for those who said that politics should be separated from religion?

    • And we found out that almost all ustaz tried to avoid answering our questions directly. They were, to our eyes, simply cowards, or had strayed from the right path where we were all on.

    Young bloods

    Sometimes, there were funny occasions when one of our friends, who would always ask questions (yet often dozed off during the talks) on something that had been already explained.

    After a few talks, we found out that not many ustaz were willing to come to our school anymore (and being grilled with such hot questions). Many outsiders soon labelled our school as belonging to an Islamic party. In a way, we were proud of this association and reputation.

    We were the young bloods, who were willing to carry the flag of our belief system when there were so many others who were either simply afraid, incapable or just corrupted (by western values). We equated ourselves to others who had gone through a similar rough ride, the Ikhwan-ul Muslimin, the al-Gama'a al-Islamiyah, and others.

    Glorified stories from Mujahideen in Afghanistan were often told by the holy brothers. Tale of mujahid who brought down Russian helicopters by only throwing stones amplified the importance of being pure and having set our intentions right. Tales of Russian soldiers surrendering to a few unarmed holy warriors upon seeing the entire valley filled with opponents dressed in immaculate white robes, riding on brave stallions were repeatedly illustrated during many usrah and tazkirah.

    We have to return to the true path , we were reminded often. The true path is always full of tests, obstacle and tribulations. And only those who walked it would be tested, as some sort of purification and testimonial.

    Nationalism

    As in other schools, the beginning of the week would normally be a school assembly, and for the 'Unfederated Malay States', Sunday was the first day of the week.

    However, after many assemblies, suddenly things were not the same again, as new decree was announced by the holy brothers.

    As always, at the beginning of our weekly assembly, the curly haired Cikgu M, would come forward and conduct the singing of Negaraku followed by Selamat Sultan.

    One day, he did what he had been doing for the past months but only the girls sang, and a handful of boys (prefects and just a few others). The rest of the boys just kept quiet. Most of us simply looked down and zipped our mouths shut. He was surprised, as well as the rest on the stage. Cikgu M stopped and tried again, but it was all the same. We simply refused to sing. Not a single word. All the teachers were stunned and puzzled. Consequently, we were all detained at the hall whilst the girls were sent back to their respective classes.

    Soon the teachers found out the very reason of our refusal; we told them that singing Negaraku and Selamat Sultan was declared 'asabiyah', and 'asabiyah' is indeed forbidden. Cikgu M was speechless when the holy brother told him:

    The Messenger of God, Mohammed (Peace be upon him) said, "He is not one of us who calls for 'asabiyah, (nationalism/tribalism) or who fights for 'Asabiyah' or who dies for 'Asabiyah.'"

    As a science teacher with limited religious knowledge, he was left defeated by the very words he dared not argue. For to argue with our holy brothers would endanger himself an enemy of our religion.

    After that, we had many 'semi-silent' Negaraku and Selamat Sultan sessions during assemblies. But when it came to the 'doa' session at the end, often recited by one of the holy brothers, the hall reverberated with our exhaltation of 'amin' especially when it came to the part when he asked the Almighty to give us strength and punish the the religion's enemies.

    Leaving the path

    Meanwhile, Abang S my dorm leader had become more troubled as days went by. He started disliking the school, particularly the content of the education being taught. He told us, the education system was very secular; there was no connection to God in all subjects (apart from Islamic Studies). To him, school was deviant from the true path, and furthermore it corrupted our very minds and souls. To Abang S, our education system mislead the ummah, the Muslims.

    Soon, he started skipping classes. And when he was in, he argued with the teachers. He couldn't take it much longer. School was dangerous; the system was trying to take him away from the right path. He wanted to quit and follow his dream, to enrol into a madrasah in Luknow, India. A place where the right path was taught and a place where the righteous dwelled.

    Obviously, it was a big no-no to the school and especially from his parents. He was the only son, and they were so proud of him when he got a place in a boarding school. Regardless, one fine day, he packed up and left... to fulfil his dream.

    And here, I stop for awhile. Shall I tell you more, for if I do, you will try to find me. Take care.