Ramadan Thoughts: Ramadan is Here Again.

I am repeating last year's post as it is still relevant.

Salam Ramadan

1. The Ramadan month is here again. This is the time where the Muslims undergo disciplinaryTRAINING of abstinence from food, drinks, lust and management of emotions for the love of Allah.

2. The month is also filled with nightly ritual prayer of terawih, aSPECIAL prayer which is much longer than the normal five times per day prayers.

3. Correctly practiced, the Ramadan month is capable of being a month that transforms the caterpillar into a butterfly, change of bad habits into good ones. It can cause the Hijrah or migration of a person from a lower state into a higher state, a poor character into an examplary one.

4. Whether Ramadan serves the purpose of transforming a person into aBETTER human being or it only serves as a mere religious ritual depends on many factors, primarily how the individual Muslim sees it.

5. On the one hand, Ramadan also witnesses many hypocritical, commercial and purely selfish behaviour.  The business entities, especially the food industry seems to ironically have a boost in sales!CORPORATE and political personalities also use this period to network for commercial and political purposes.

6. The most basic and fundamental teachings of Islam comes from the Quran.  If the Muslim takes the trouble to allocate a mere one hour a day in the month of Ramadan to study the Quran, he mayEMERGEmore knowledgeable about true Islam as contained in the Quran at the end of the Ramadan month.

7. With the knowledge gained from the Quran,he may then use it as a criterion to evaluate his life, the life in the society he lives in, the values and the events that he has witnessed in his society - and decide whether it reflects the mercy, blessings, and teachings thatBENEFIT human kind as contained in the Quran.

8. It will be sad and futile if the Ramadan month is turned into pure ritualistic exercise for the sake of a tradition or religion without the spirit. Then there will be no migration or Hijrah of the person's character and perspectives.

9. Salam Ramadan to all and may you each be blessed with what you sow.

Peace !

My Wish For Malaysia

Very basic really.

That we all become and behave as human beings with compassion and love first.

That we stop making life difficult for each other in the name of politics, religion, ethnicity and so on.

That we realise that none of us - however learned we claim to be - has the right or authority to play God.

That we allow the diligent to be diligent, the talented to be talented.

That the powerful and rich do not oppress the weak and poor - know that we are mortals who will disintegrate one day.

Let's share a dream together - to make Malaysia our home and us, a Malaysian family.

MALAYSIA

OUR 

HOME!

Peace !

Penghinaan Terhadap Orang Islam harus berhenti !!!

(image thanks to http://wellcomehistory.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/anger.jpg)


Sejak kebelakangan ini terlalu banyak penghinaan terhadap umat Muslim yang berlaku. Sebenarnya, dalam negara ini, penghinaan demi penghinaan terhadap minda dan imej orang Islam berlaku sejak 9 tahun yang lalu.

Yang menyedihkan ialah penghinaan ini dilakukan oleh..........................orang-orang yang mengaku orang Islam !

Penghinaan-penghinaan ini amat dahsyat sekali sehingga sekumpulan kecil dominan yang kuat bersuara ini cuba untuk menampilkan orang Islam sebagai bodoh, percaya tahyul dan fantasi, tidak berkeyakinan diri, pak turut yang tidak tahu untuk menilai, tidak ada jati diri, pengacau keamanan, rasis, hipokit, dogmatik dan "sexist" (kalau tak faham tengok kamus), ritualistik semata-mata dan sebagainya yang negatif.

Oleh kerana kumpulan dominan ini kuat bersuara tanpa malu dan harga diri serta tanpa menilai tahap ilmu dan tahap pemikirannya, maka penghinaan bertubi-tubi diteruskan teradap umat Muslim.

Awal sekali saya ingin nyatakan bahawa "Islam" itu adalah Adeen atau "Cara HIdup" atau "The Way" yang amat rasional, yang galakkan pemikiran, penilaian dan kajiselidik, syumul dan bertepatan uttuk semua masa serta relevan kepada yang percaya dan yang tidak percaya. Ia adalah Adeen yang inklusif (kalau tak faham, tengok kamus) dan bukan agama yang eksklusif seperti kebanyakkan agama. Ini lah diantara rahmah, mukjizat dan barakah Adeen Allah yang mungkin ramai Muslim sendiri tidak sedar,

Diantara penghinaan-penghinaan ialah seperti berikut:-

(image thanks to http://www.mauroferrario.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/dontThink.jpg)

1) Orang Islam begitu lemah dengan "aqidah" mereka sehingga begitu mudah terpengaruh dengan simbol-simbol agama lain seperti "salib" tokong, gereja, dan lain-lain.

2) Orang Islam begitu lemah mnda sehingga kehadiran buku-buku "suci" agama lain boleh memesongkan mereka - ini pula di Negara kita dimana setiap ceruk negara terdapat "ceramah agama" yang begitu banyak!

(image thanks to http://godspeaksilisten.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/stupid-best.jpg)

3) Orang Islam tidak pandai menilai, tidak pandai berfikir sehingga terpaksa setiap kali dalam semua hal "agama" merujuk" kepada "ustad", "tok/tuan guru", "ulamak", "Sheikh" dan sebagainya.  Pandangan-pandangan "orang agama" ini pula harus di terima bulat-bulat seolah-olah ianya firman Allah tanpa pertikaian. Seolah-olah orang-orang Islam tidak mampu bertanggungjawap terhadap ubudiyyah nya sendiri kepada Allah !

(image thanks to http://cookouteveryday.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ScreenHunter_29-Jun.-09-12.24.jpg)

4) Orang Islam tidak mampu menghadapi kepelbagaian tafsiran dan fahaman sehingga mudah menjadi ganas atau emosi jika orang lain yang berilmu mempersembahkan tafsiran berbeza. Cara paling mudah untuk membela fahaman sendiri ialah dengan menidakkan hak orang lain untuk menyuarakan fahaman dan hujahnya! "Adabal Khilafiah" yang di ajar oleh Allah dalam Al-Quran diketepikan

(image thanks to http://www.lovelifelivenow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Anger_2.jpg}

5) Digambarkan Islam sebagai agama yang suka melarang, mengharamkan segala, tidak ada kerasionalan dalan tindakan, yang mengekalkan dirinya dengan kuasa dan bukan pengajaran dan hujah. Ini disebabkan orang-orang agama yang suka menunjukkan kuasa melalui melarang itu dan ini, dan sebagainya. Walhal Adden Allah adalah berdasarkan hujah, nas, pelawaan dan tiada paksaan langsung.

(image thanks to: http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fGR-adEEkNg/0.jpg

6) Digambarkan Agama sebagai penuh dengan kerahiban dalan pelbagai segi dimana orang agama diangkat ketahap tuhan sehingga pendangan dan tafsiran mereka tidak boleh di cabar atau dipertikai oleh Muslim2 lain yang mungkin lebih pandai, berilmu daripada mereka walaupun tidak khusus pada agama secara formal atau rasmi.












(image thanks to https://chloeannjacobs.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/sexism2.jpg)


7) Baru-baru ini saya diberitahu oleh seorang pelajar kolej bahawa guru agama mereka mengajar bahawa "Islam tidak mengalak wanita berkerja tetapi harus duduk di rumah dan lelakilah yang harus buat segala sesuatu".  Kononnya menurut beliau "wanita adalah bunga yang harus dijaga lelaki supaya berseri di rumah untuk menyejukkan hati lelaki" ! Kalau ini bukan ajaran yang menjadikan wanita sebagai simbol seks semata-mata, saya tidak tahu apa yang nak digelarkan ajaran sedemikian!

8) Digambarkan sebagai wanita lah sumber maksiat dan lelaki Muslim amat rendah kawalan mereka terhadap nafsu sehingga mudah goncang dengan kehadiran wanita. Bentuk badan wanita dijadikan isu. Tidak kah tension bila orang-orang ini mengambarkan masalah peribadi dan kelemahan mereka sendiri sebagai ciri manusia?? Tidak kah ini penghinaan pada minda Muslim yang beretika dan boleh mengawal diri?

(image thanks to https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbH6TEGtYGhId3cQEfRlmQdGB8WtU9RQqqkb-EFExHFbzH0KG6X2nnaZHkSRYFfwEF5hm5RdfrRZtJLh3ULlPpBAW16FjB5k88d46qb_Bs3X4zDz1nnvOoIvNphRppQKcXu5OcDfck62p/s1600/Is+SWTOR+Bringing+Back+Retro+Sexism+Issues+for+Women+Gamers.gif)

9) Di satu sekolah rendah, guru agama mengajar bahawa orang Islam tidak boleh merayakan Hari raya Cina sebab "cina makan babi dan ini adalah perayaan orang kafir". Perkara ini saya telah seselaikan sendiri dimana ustazah itu ikhlas mengaku tersilap kerana tidak faham sebelum ini perkara-perkara yang saya jelaskan pada nya. Namun, amat menakutkan berapa sekolah lagi ada orang-orang agama sedemikian???

9) Keganasan di "halalkan" atas nama agama walhal amat jelas Islam mengharamkan mengambil nyawa manusia yang tidak bersalah.

Saya juga tertanya-tanya, tidak mampu ke "orang agama" berdebat dengan mufakkir dan Muslim-muslim yang jauh lebih pandai daripada mereka walaupun tidak berkelulusan formal agama secara rasional dan beradab?

Tidak malu kah kita sebagai Muslim bila ada orang-orang Islam yang bercakap bodoh dikhalayak ramai atas nama Islam?

Kadang-kadang saya rasa lucu bilamana seorang yang tidak berkemampuan untuk berhujah secara logik dan berdasarkan Al-Quran mengambil jalan keluar dengan membunyikan beberapa bahasa Arab yang ia sendiri tidak faham tetapi popular dikalangan mereka.

Masalah lah masyarakat bila ianya didominasi oleh orang-orang yang lemah daya pemikiran, bersikap burung kakak tua, tidak berani berhujah berdaarkan ilmu dan nas, dan paling sedih ialah ia begitu tidak berkeyakinan diri sehingga marah bila orang berlainan pendapat !!!

(Image thanks to: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/0d/80/74/0d80746b5ae6ff2d867d002a43cef30a.jpg)

Muslim harus bangkit untuk mengembalikan maruah dan berhenti dihina oleh orang-orang "Islam" yang bodoh dan jahil atau yang tampak berpendidikan tetapi sijahil terdidik.

Salam.

Apakah GST Sebenarnya?

oleh: YB Datuk Hj Ahmad Bin Hj Mazlan.

Timbalan Menteri Kewangan Malaysia.

Pernahkah kita terfikir mengapa 170 drpd 193 negara dlm dunia ini (88%) sudah melaksanakan GST, Goods & Services Tax atau CBP, Cukai Barang & Perkhidmatan atau VAT, Value Added Tax? Adakah mereka ingin menzalimi rakyat di negara masing2 itu?
Angka 170 itu termasuk negara mundur, berpendapatan sederhana rendah, berpendapatan sederhana tinggi (Msia termasuk kategori ini) dan juga negara2 maju.

Pernahkah kita cuba ingin mencari jawapan mengapa 43 drpd 57 negara (75%) dlm OIC, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation sudah melaksana GST/VAT? Tentu negara2 itu tahu yg GST hukumnya harus & dibolehkan drpd sudut agama Islam.

Jawapannya ialah kerana GST lebih baik drpd sistem cukai kepenggunaan yg lain spt SST Sales & Services Tax atau CJP, Cukai Jualan & Perkhidmatan yg di Msia ini sudah pun dilaksana sejak 1972 & 1975.

SST? Apa itu? Pembangkang sebut selama ini kita tak ada kena cukai tapi sekarang semua org kena. Betul ke itu? Black box kapal terbang warna hitam. Betul ke? GST cukai yg zalim. Betul ke? Kotak hitam rupa-rupanya berwarna jingga/oren. GST model Msia yg sebenar adalah cukai yg adil & tidak zalim.

Selama ini rakyat Msia sudah pun membayar cukai SST dlm banyak barang & perkhidmatan iaitu 5% atau 6% atau 10%. Malangnya SST itu kurang telus sbb ianya termasuk dlm harga barang yg rakyat tidak perasan sedangkan GST kini telus kerana ada dlm resit. Rakyat Msia tiba2 menjadi tambah celik kewangan bermula 1/4/15. Dulu tidak pernah simpan resit barang2 yg dibeli, skrng resit dibaca, disimpan & di whatsapp ke seluruh dunia !!

Berikut adalah sbhg drpd kebaikan GST utk rakyat & negara:

1) Sistem cukai yg berkesan, telus dan cekap kerana GST mempunyai aturan yg baik, penggunaan sistem komputer dgn perisian yg tepat & boleh diurus sendiri. Buku akaun jadi satu dokumen yg lengkap, bukan sentiasa rugi jika diguna waktu membayar cukai kpd Lembaga Hasil, LHDNM.

2) Mengembangkan ekonomi negara kerana GST jadikan perniagaan berkembang lebih teratur dgn rantaian jualan jadi lebih baik. GST boleh kembangkan ekonomi negara 0.3 - 0.5% dlm tahun pertama pelaksanaannya.

3) Mengurangkan ekonomi terselindung (pengelakan / penipuan cukai). Kini ekonomi gelap di Msia menurut kajian Bank Dunia berjumlah 30% drpd KDNK, Keluaran Dlm Negara Kasar / GDP Gross Domestic Product. Dan dgn GST "the shadow economy" ŵini boleh dikurang kpd 10-15%. Pembangkang yg tak sokong GST adakah mereka sedar ini bermaksud ingin lindungi penipuan cukai??

4) Membantu sektor eksport negara kerana semasa SST cukai dikenakan kpd eksport. GST tidak dikenakan terhadap eksport maka jadikan eksport lebih murah & berdaya saing di peringkat antarabangsa. Pembangkang tidak setuju kpd langkah yg baik ini?

5) Membantu sektor pelancongan kerana pelancong boleh claim GST di airport terhadap barang yg dibawa pulang. Namun khidmat & belanja dlm negara tetap pelancong bayar GST.

6) Mengurangkan kos perniagaan kerana peniaga boleh claim cukai input 6%. Rantaian kilang, pemborong & peruncit boleh claim balik yg akan turunkan kos niaga. Pengguna tidak claim balik sbb jika claim maka tiadalah sebarang cukai akan dikutip. Tapi pengilang, pemborong & peruncit adalah rakyat yg juga pengguna.

7) Menjadikan harga barang lebih patut bila kos niaga berkurang. Semasa SST, cukai dianggap sbg kos maka ianya dipindah kpd pengguna utk membayarnya. GST bukan suatu kos kpd peniaga. Pembangkang tidak suka harga barang jadi lebih patut?

8) Menambah hasil negara utk manfaat rakyat sbb cukai diguna utk pendidikan, kemahiran, kesihatan, keselamatan, kebajikan, ratusan touchpoints Bajet tahunan & pembangunan negara secara keseluruhan. Cukai adalah dari rakyat, dikutip & di bajet dgn adil oleh Kementerian Kewangan, diproses / lulus di Dewan Rakyat / Dewan Negara dan dikembalikan semula kpd rakyat.

9) GST sistem cukai yg lebih baik drpd cukai jualan & perkhidmatan SST kerana berlaku cukai atas cukai & pindahan nilai dlm SST. 5% SST jadi 8% dan 10% jadi 15%. Ini jadikan harga barang naik. Kesan 8 & 15% itu kini turun kpd hanya 6% GST. Pembangkang tidak suka cukai  diturunkan?

10) Membantu Msia jadi negara maju thn 2020 nanti kerana GST menepati standard antarabangsa. Sbb itulah maka majoriti negara di dunia ini sudah laksanakannya. 9 drpd 10 penduduk di dunia berada dlm negara yg laksanakan GST/VAT.

Namun jika GST baik mengapa harga barang naik? Hakikatnya tidak semua peniaga naikkan harga. Peniaga2 yg sokong pembangkang tidak akan jayakan inisiatif baik Kerajaan BN. Mereka suka "sabotaj" ekonomi negara ini, dgn naikkan harga barang agar rakyat marah kpd BN.

Peniaga yg beretika spt puluhan cawangan Mydin, 165 Kedai Rakyat 1Msia, lebih 300 cawangan Pasar Tani, 21 cawangan Jakel, lebih 600 cawangan KFC, Domino Pizza, sbhg besar pasar2 raya besar seluruh negara, hampir semua pengeluar kereta spt Proton dll menjual barang dgn sama harga atau lebih rendah dibanding sebelum GST. Ya GST yg sebenar boleh menurunkan harga barang. Jika barang turun maka pembangkang akan susah hati. Oleh itu adalah menjadi kegembiraan pembangkang jika GST dapat dimanipulasi dgn menaikkan harga barangan.

Penguatkuasaan sedang dilaksanakan oleh KPDNKK & Kastam. Rakyat sedang menanti ada peniaga yg akan dihadapkan ke mahkamah kerana melanggar Akta Kawalan Harga & Anti Pencatutan dll Akta yg berkaitan dgn perlindungan  rakyat & pengguna. Mahkamah baru itu kini ada di setiap buah negeri utk percepatkan perbicaraan.

Denda & penjarakan mereka yg mengambil kesempatan dgn naikkan harga spt kpd barang2 yg sebelum ini ada 10% SST maka patut turun harga kerana tolak SST 10% baru dicampur GST 6% jadi barang turun sekitar 4%. Peniaga mesti ikut SOP GST yg sebenar. Pengguna pula gunakan kuasa 3M, memilih, melapor & memboikot peniaga yg degil.

Sifar GST utk makanan asas yg dibeli dlm peratusan yg tinggi drpd belanja rakyat yg berpendapatan rendah, 4200 ubat2an, buku2, air paip, gas masak, susu bayi. Juga sifar GST utk beras, tepong, gula, garam, rempah, sayur, ulam, buah2an, semua makanan laut basah & kering, daging lembu, kambing, ayam, itik, telur dll.

Kedai kecil, warung2, pasar2 kecil yg pendapatan mereka kurang rm500 ribu setahun tiada GST. Perkhidmatan asas spt pendidikan, kesihatan, pengangkutan awam, penyewaan rumah & urusan Kjaan juga dikecualikan GST. Model GST sifar yg banyak begini hanya ada di Msia. Kadar 6% pula adalah terendah di dunia selepas 3 negara lain yg kadarnya 5%.

Kerana GST maka cukai SST turun 10% kpd 6%, cukai pendapatan individu turun 1-3%, cukai koperasi diturunkan 1-2%, cukai syarikat turun 25% kpd 24% dan cukai PKS/SME turun 20% kpd 19%. Kerana GST maka BR1M dinaikkan kpd rm950. Rakyat tentu inginkan akan ada lagi program2 kebajikan lain yg akan diumumkan dari semasa ke semasa.

GST adalah perubahan sistem cukai yg terbesar dlm sejarah Msia. Perdana Menteri sebut fakta ini dlm perjumpaan dgn Kastam pada 30/3/2015. GST akan stabil dlm masa 6 bulan drpd tarikh 1/4/15, menurut Kastam. Saya harap GST boleh stabil dlm masa 3-4 bulan, mudah-mudahan.

Ada orang minta saya berhenti bercakap ttg GST. Jika saya ikut kata mereka itu maka pembangkang akan menang dlm putar belit mereka merosakkan minda rakyat. Saya tidak akan berhenti menjelaskan yg GST lebih baik drpd SST. Anda boleh ikuti penjelasan GST saya dlm twitter @ahmadmaslan.

Atau dapatkan maklumat GST yg ada di hujung jari kita drpd telefon pintar dll di alamat:
www.gst.customs.gov.my
www.gstmalaysiainfo.com
www.gstpedia.my
www.treasury.gov.my
www.kpdnkk.gov.my

Terima Kasih.

Farewell and Rest In Peace Mr Lee Kuan Yew

Without doubt he is a great leader. He built up Singapore when Singapore had no natural resources at all.

I have read many books on him especially the book below since I love to analyse the mind of great political leaders. I must have read the book at least 5 times since I find it the best account.

He is indeed the father of Singapore's birth as a successful Nation State. I respect his intellect, knowledge of society and history which he exhibits in his speech and writings - a quality many leaders lack. He had a vision and I believe he achieved more than his vision for Singapore.

He also had the leadership and firmness to do what is necessary for Singapore rather than what is populist.

In short, I believe his life was useful to Singapore and probably to many others. I wish him rest in peace and my condolences to his family and Singapore.

Even at time of grieve, Singapore is efficient where the Prime Minister's announcement of Mr Lee's passing away is done in three languages - beginning in the Malay language. HOw not to respect Singapore?



Peace !

Slaves of Men in the name of God

This is nothing new. All through the history of humankind, there are many who are willing to become slaves of men in the name of God.

A belief in God is supposed to give a sense of confidence in existence, a sense of being free from the tyranny of men, a sense of gratitude for life and a sense of being good. These are some of the values and aspirations of most religions. It is equally supposed to bring inner peace to humans through the special and personal relationship with their creator/God.

In the realm of faith however, logic and rational thinking often takes a back seat as opposed to the mysterious "heart". Hence, not every conduct that is carried out in the name of religion can be explained logically. Emotions tend to be stronger than rational or scientific thought and therefore the need for proof is often dispensed with. It is almost impossible to debate with emotions.

Slavery can take many forms. One of the highest level of slavery to me is when a person gives up his thinking and his right to mould his life to someone else or a group of others.  This often happens in religion.

All forms of conduct and living which in a civilised society may be considered as primarily a private matter becomes the subject of control in a religious society . Most of these restrictions on speech, dressing, diet, thought, general behaviour and socialisation are often determined exclusively by a few men in the name of God for the vast ignorant majority. 

These few elitist men, often portrayed as knowledgable due to their attendance at certain universities or mastery of certain information and language are held in high regard almost to the level of a god when it comes to the force with which thier views are expected to be complied with. 

Often any dissent against the views of these select elitist religious groups are met with a finality of punishment including the cruel method of social and legal ostracisation.  Increasingly, due to fear of being ostracised and the unpleasant repercussions that may follow, these elitist group solidify their position as controllers of human behaviour in the name of God. People relent because they want to get on with their lives not realising that they have become slaves to a few human masters.

The position of the elitist groups as the only spokesman for all things Godly often begins with the indoctrination of children - either at home or in schools. These children are taught that there are certain "knowledgable religious persons" whose views are never to be questioned.  These children also are taught that in matters of religion, many things can be imposed or forced upon them without the need for explanation or acceptance.  

Religion hence becomes a powerful tool to control humans.

It has the power to make slaves of men to other men who speak in the name of God.

Peace !reli

How we destroy local businesses.

i can never understand how the minds of those in authority work.

One would think that authorities will seek out talents and skills and create an environment to enable them to prosper in the economy.  Laws will be enacted to enable the entrepreneurs to be more effective and the consumers protected while safeguarding other national interests. Good business is good for the country.

But we seem to do the exact opposite with the available technology and the desk knowledge that our "brains" in the authorities have studied in the universities.

Singapore is a financial hub and we are not. That is not a surprise.

Bank Negara and the latest Money Services Business Act seems  more to curb and diminish the efficiency of money changers rather than use them to develop a vibrant financial market. Everyone knows that money changers are experts and efficient in efficiently performing exchange transactions. Some of them are able to remit currencies faster than any bank. They have been around longer than even bank negara whose officers had to go to university to understand what curency exchange and remittance is !!!

Prior to the MSB Act, quite a number of money changers have been chatged for remittance without licence. Instead of studying how they are able to do it, we clamp down on them on the pretext of money laundering. No one is denying that there may have been instances of money laundering but the solution is not to "burn the kelambu because of the nyamuk!"

Thanks to the MSB Act and bank negara's failure to understand the  practicalities of doing business, many money changers have gone out of business because they do not know how to put on tht neck tie and use the complex online forms that BNM insists must be filled up.

The MSB Act itself is a joke to the point of being oppressive when one considers the overbearing punishments contained in it. Even efficient Sinagpore does not have punishments like RM5 million for a simple offence!

The cost of doing businessfor money changers have gone up and it can be foreseen that in the long run, the small money changers may be a distant past taken over by bigger boys - this is called progress! The fact that even thier association is controlled by BNM is another joke in a democracy.

On another note, the forceful implementation of the GST against small traders who are not IT savvy is yet another cruel joke. We are very busy with enforcement until we forget completely about assisting the traders to understand the new technology. It is a "I don't care attitude".

If this is the way forward, we are going to kill our small businesses which are the fundamentals of our economy.

Peace !

No Draft Hudud Bill Yet By PAS ????

I read this report in the malaymailonline with total surpirse !!!

I thought that PAS was still hanging on to its controversial 1993 Draft Bill which had received much opposition, even from Muslims.

If the Malay Mail report is true, why is PAS not letting the Muslim Public view its draft Hudud Bill which it wants to implement as "Islamic Law". It is so easy - just upload it on their website and make and announcement. Why hide? If it is already there, can someone point out the link to me?

I want to support it if it is consistent with the justice element as ordained by Allah. Otherwise, how can I determine if I am being led astray or not ???

Don't the Muslim have a Allah given right to determine whether it is consistent with the principles of the Quran and the most authentic Sunnah ???

Or is PAS expecting the ordinary Muslims to just accept everything that PAS claims to be Islamic and reject surah 17 verse 36?

 I recall reading parts of the 1993 Hudud Bill where PAS placed six offences as hudud completely contrary to even the jurists understanding of what "hudud laws" mean.

PAS categorised six as "hudud" while the juristic definition what "hudud" means only admits four.

I recall that PAS even put irrtidad or ridddah (apostasy) as a hudud offence despite the clear evidence in the Quran that there is no temporal punishment for apostasy. Also, the Quran is as clear as daylight that there is absolutely no compulsion in faith. All you have to do is study the Quran and you will know this. There are so many verses to this effect ( see also 10:99).

I recall clearly that the only character that imposes punishment for change of faith in the Quran is Firaun.

However, I stand to be corrected whether PAS has made amendments to its 1993 Bill.

I support completely Allah's will but not man made designs masquerading as Allah's will.

I am sure (hope) PAS leaders must have read the following verses:

"068.036  What is the matter with you? How judge you?

068.037  Or have you a book through which you learn-

068.038  That you shall have, through it whatever you choose?

068.039  Or have you Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgement,

(providing) that you shall have whatever you shall demand?

068.040  Ask you of them, which of them will stand surety for that!

068.041  Or have they some "Partners" (in Godhead)? Then let them produce their

"partners", if they are truthful!"

(Yusuf Ali translation).

So are PAS leaders giving the guarantee that they know what is Allah's will and they stand guarantee that their "Islamic Law" is Allah's will - or should I not ask that question and just accept?

Peace !

NOTE' NO ONE INCLUDING PAS LEADERS ARE EXPECTED TO AGREE WITH THE VIEWS ABOVE. I WISH NOT TO, (FOR I CANNOT) PLAY GOD ON EARTH WITH THE FAITH OF OTHERS BECAUSE THAT IS CLEARLY ALLAH'S JURISDICTION. ALSO,  PLEASE REFER TO YOUR OWN COPY OF THE QURAN TO ASCERTAIN WHAT VIEWS YOU HEAR OR READ.

Future Earth : Scary things that will Happen in Future (Full Documentary)

What does “protecting Islam” mean?

(This article was inspired by Kadir Jasin’s latest posting where he mentioned what is important is to “protect the future of UMNO. Malays and Islam..”  No fault of his.)

We often hear this phrase “protecting Islam”, “protecting the sanctity of Islam”, “memartabatkan kedudukan Islam”, “mempertahankan Islam” and so on. What do they exactly mean when they say that?

Firstly, I must confess that I as a Muslim do not know exactly which interpretation of “Islam” they are referring to though I know that there is no single interpretation. All the evidence is out there and in particular, globally, the Muslim world is theologically and politically divided in two major denominations - the “Sunni” and “Shia” Islam world.  The Shias and the Sunnis do not accept each other’s collection of hadiths (“saying of the Prophet”), notwithstanding the fact that each claims “authenticity” and academic verification of the same .

Even within the said denominations, there are diverse sects with their own interpretation of what constitutes “Islam”. In the Sunni world itself there are four main schools of thought namely, Maliki, Shafie, Hanbali and Hanafi equally diverse in views on many topics including those related to pure faith issues.

Fundamentally the divisions in the “Islamic” world arises due to the differences in the sources relied upon to build the structure of Islam.  While all of them claim to accept the Quran, much of the structure of Islam today is build not necessarily from the explicit injunctions of the Quran per se but mostly from the jurists or fuqahas efforts of exegesis. In simple words, derived from the reasoning and interpretation of the jurists.

In the Sunni world, it is “accepted” by their collective mainstream clergy that the sources of Islam in Islamic jurisprudence or usul al-fiqh is primarily the Quran, the Sunnah and hadith, Ijma’ (consensus of the scholars) and Qias (anology).  There are many other sources of islam that have been created to assist in addressing a particular issue such as istihsan, urf and so on.

Even the idea of maqasid al-syariah (objectives of the shariah) is a concept created by the jurists or religious scholars/clergy by way of deducing and inferring from the “accepted” sources aforementioned.

It is understandable that human beings will have to interpret, deduce, and infer from facts and evidence to arrive at a conclusion or to create a concept from which everything else is build. There is nothing unique about this process of thinking and is common to all aspects of our life. This is how values and systems of beliefs and behaviour evolve in societies.

The problem only arises when we deny our interpretative role and equate our ideas, concepts and conclusions to that of the Divine or God. Hence, criticisms and alternative interpretations become impossible and would immediately be cast as blasphemous or unthinkable.

This is what I call the confusion between the views of the Interpreter (“the clergy or anyone) and the actual intent of  the Giver of the Text (“Divine/God”).  Would not equating the views of the interpreter (clergy) absolutely with the intent of the Giver of the Text (“God”) equate the position of the clergy with the position of God?

So back to the question of “protecting Islam”, those who say this cannot and should not assume the serious reader or serious audience knows what they are talking about. They must specify which “Islam” they are talking about.  A generalisation in matters pertaining to Islam is completely unhelpful if they understand the realities of the situation and the diverse academic discussions on Islam and most importantly, the contents of the Quran itself.

Say for example, they were to say “protect the Shia Islam”, then it will be easy to make a choice whereby those who prefer the Sunni version can reject that call. And similarly if one was to say “protect the Sunni version”, then those in favour can support that call.  Even this however may pose a problem in a seemingly Sunni society because of the differences in the opinions of the four schools of thought.  

So, maybe it becomes clearer if the caller was to say “protect the Shafie views of Islam” and so on.

However, do we see this manner of calls as promoting unity among the Muslims? What then will those adhere to the Maliki or Hanafi view do? If you say accept all, then what do you do when there is a conflict of views?

Would it not be easier and more efficient for Muslims to make the call from one book which all of them do not dispute – the Quran?  And mean it too when the call is made and Muslims heed the call by adhering to the Quran. Otherwise, you will be guilty of causing further disunity among the Muslims.

Hence, be careful when you say you want to “protect Islam” for you may be doing the exact reverse by your futile call due to your ignorance of the complexities and the Quran.

Peace !

NOTE: THE AUTHOR DOES NOT REQUIRE NOR EXPECT ANYONE TO ACCEPT OR AGREE WITH HIS VIEWS STATED HEREIN. IN MATTERS OF ISLAM, THE AUTHOR WARNS THAT THE READER SHOULD CHECK WITH HIS OWN COPY OF THE QURAN AND MAKE UP HIS OWN MIND.

Ok, If I am Ok !!!

By: ASP Nik Ezanee

 1. When the topic of corruption comes up, people are quick to point
fingers and the usual suspects are the politicians and the police.

2. There are probably many good reasons why most fingers are pointed
to that few direction. Some may agree, some not. However, we can agree
that many people want this to change.

3. Have we checked in with ourselves lately? What I have notice is
that people are quick to point the mistakes of others, while condone
the very same mistake if it benefits them personally. Hence, "It is ok
if I am ok with it."

4. It is NOT ok for Officials to accept gifts. But it is OK for me to
buy the Officials the latest Iphone 5 each to maintain good rapport
with them. Dinner, overseas trips, golf? karaoke sessions?

5. It is NOT ok for Police to accept bribe. But it is OK for me to
offer it to them to save my neck. (and later brag about it to friends
and family, "they even settled for $50", "oh I paid $100, rather than
getting $300 ticket")

6. It is NOT ok for ME to take bribes, but it is OK to ask my staff to
find sponsors for golf games, company events, overseas trips, birthday
gifts for bosses. "Sponsors" ??

7. It is NOT ok to take $100 from contractors like the previous guy!!
That is Corrupt and Arrogant! But it is OK to take $60.

8. It is NOT ok to ask for $100, but it is OK to receive $100 since it
was offered and not demanded.

9. It is NOT ok to accept bribe but it is OK to add extra milage on
that claim. How about that extra hours or 'business lunch with
friends' claim? How about using company's property for personal use?
Car, helicopter, jets? Stationaries maybe?

10. It is NOT ok that politicians live lavishly but it is definitely
OK to hide some amount of my income from the IRB.

11. It is NOT ok for everyone else to do it.. But it is definitely OK
FOR ME to do it.

12. Change doesn't mean you have go out there condemning everything
about our country.

13. Change starts from you and me.

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ApabIla bencana Berlaku

Apabila suatu bencana berlaku dia tidak memilih samada orang dan keluarga yang alaminya adalah berbangsa Melayu, CIna, India, Jepun, Indonesia, Pakistan, British atau apa-apa bangsa.

Begitu juga bencana tidak memilih agama seseorang.

Apabila bencana berlaku, mangsa-mangsa bencana mengharapkan sesiapa sahaja untuk membantunya tanpa mengira bangsa, agama mahupun keturunan.

Mangsa-mangsa bencana yang dibantu oleh manusia-manusia yang berperikemanusiaan dan yang ada kemampuan untuk membantu.

Banjir, kehilangan pesawat MH370, penembakkan MH17 dan kemalangan yang menimpa Airasia 8501 tahun lalu adalah melibatkan manusia-manusia dan bukanlah disengajakan terhadap satu bangsa atau agama yang khusus.

Semua manusia yang kehilangan adik beradik yang tersayang akan sama-sama pilu dan kehilangan kerana kita sama-sama manusia.

Kita adalah insan yang sama darah merah, sama ketakutan, sama harapan.

Saya berdoa pada tahun 2015 ini kita kembali ingatkan diri bahawa kita sama-sama insan dan tidak takkabur atau sombong dengan agama, keturunan, kedudukan atau bangsa kita.

Jangan lah kita diuji dengan lebih dahsyat lagi bagi diingati bahawa kita sama-sama insan.

Salam.

Are Muslims Really the Best of People ???

1.      Every Muslim is taught that they are the best of peoples that has evolved for mankind. That they have the Truth with them and that they are on the “right path of God”.

2.      Every Muslim believes that “Islam” is the answer to all of human ills and sufferings and the Muslim through “God’s teachings” will be able to guide human beings to a better life here and in the herefater. Hence, many Muslim today wants to implement the “syariah law” which has been touted as “divine laws” by the Muslim clerics especially the “hudud laws” which is considered sacrosanct and deemed beyond any discussion.

Indeed the Quran does in surah 3 verse 110 state the following:

“You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in God. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors”.

3.      Yes, the Quran says that the Muslims are the best of peoples. But who are these Muslims and where are they? Let Muslims not forget that Allah also speaks well of the people of the Book in surah 3 verse 113 to 114:

“Not all of them are alike: Of the People of the Book are a portion that stand (For the right): They rehearse the Signs of God all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration”. (Q3:113)

“They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous”. (Q3:114)

4.      Q3:113-114 clearly says that among the people of the book (the Jews and the Christians) there are those who enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong and do good works like some Muslims do. The Quran is equally clear that in the Muslim community itself there are hypocrites (Q4;142, 63:1) who cause mischief within the community and spread false teachings in the name of Allah with their tongue and for wealth (Q2:41, 77; Q3:77-78, Q9:009)

From the discussion above, is it not a reasonable conclusion to make that a righteous Christian and Jew who forbids wrong and enjoins what is right is better than a hypocrite who pretends to be a Muslim? Q5:69 even states “any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve”.

5.      As a matter of clarity, it is important to note that all beautiful names belong to God and “Allah” is just one name ordinarily used by Muslims to refer to God the One and Only. 

“Say: "Call upon God, or call upon Rahman: by whatever name you call upon Him, (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speak your Prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between." (Q17:110)

6.      So, back to the question – are Muslims indeed the best of peoples evolved for mankind? I sincerely believe that those Muslims who adhere to the Quran and study it as it should be studied (Q2:121) and take the best meaning/interpretation from it are indeed useful for the world (Q39:18). These are people of peace (aslama), who are able to co-exist with compassion and understanding with people who have completely different belief systems or even an atheist, are diligent, productive, self-accountable and responsible, and able to engage in any discourse in an intelligent way as best as they can. In short, the best possible of a “civilized” person.

7.      Is that the image that Muslims portray today? I am sad to say that the general perception is completely the opposite.

8.      A general analysis of all the so-called “Muslim countries” shows backwardness in many ways – economically, politically and socially. They paint a gloomy and embarrassing picture of communities with poverty, abysmal record of human and women’s rights, constant civil wars, religious persecution often by the state itself, increasing lack of tolerance for other communities, overbearing sense of self righteousness, lack of respect for human privacy and freedom of thought, and most shockingly in this era of knowledge explosion, state sanctioned faith.

9.      Saudi Arabia for example, where the Quran was first revealed is a nation which has trapped its ordinary people in a time wrap completely excluded from the realities of the rest of the world. Many have noted that there is “so much religion and very little Islam” in that country. The reader can easily do further research to understand what I mean.

10.   Look at the “Muslim majority” countries in the African continent, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Libya, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Mali, Gambia, Kyrgyzstan and so on. Honestly, do these countries give meaning to the “best peoples evolved for mankind”?

11.  What have these “muslim majority” countries contributed to the betterment of the 7 billion over people living on earth in just the past 100 years that they deserve to be called the “best peoples evolved for mankind?”

12.  Muslims appear to be fond of blaming the whole world except themselves for whatever weaknesses, lackings, unhappiness or misery they suffer. When they cannot blame others, they break up into groups and sects and blame each other and often times ending up in bloodshed or persecution.

13.  How can we expect non-Muslims to have high regards for us when the perception globally is that we are intolerant, self-centered, unable to think for ourselves but completely dependent on the priests/clerics, over-sensitive to differing ideas and criticisms and hence lacking in self confidence, aggressive to the point of screaming Allah’s name in the streets and engaging in suicide bombings, that Islam is more politics and law rather than a spiritual guidance from the Creator and so on?

14.  It is also perceived that some of their ulamaks are of no help but only seek to put their followers further in a defensive position and angry position for what they lack in life. Not for a second are they encouraged or motivated to progress from whatever resources that have nor are they encouraged to use their creative minds to reap Allah’s mercy. You reap what you sow is a universal truth.

15.  All these extremely negative perceptions of Islam hurts me as a Muslim but I cannot simply get angry with them. This is a perception that my Muslim community has allowed to evolve. This is a perception that my Muslim community has failed to address because, I humbly believe, we have forsaken the teachings of the Quran (Q25:30) and gone on a frolic of our own following the teachings of men. We seem to have abandoned our God given common sense, thinking skills and compassion given by the Merciful and Compassionate Creator.

16.  Even in my own beloved country Malaysia, we witness some people abusing and subverting Islam to promote exclusivism, fascism and racism of the worst kind and in the process trying to create division, distrust, hatred and chaos among the peaceful people of Malaysia. Are these the “best of peoples evolved for mankind” as stated by Allah in the Quran? Surely not.

17.  I sincerely pray to Allah that in 2015, Muslims begin to sincerely indulge in their own soul searching and are courageous enough to be self critical (Q17:36, Q2:44), so that they can conclude for themselves whether they have indeed became the “best of peoples evolved for mankind” as stated by Allah in the Quran.

18.  Peace and Happy New Year.

NOTE: The above views are entirely my understanding and no one is required to agree with them. Kindly check with your own copy of the Quran and make up your own minds and thoughts. If I have erred in my facts, kindly highlight to me.