I'm an atheist. However, each year when it comes to the month of Ramadan, it is often referred to as a Holy month for the Muslims. I have watched how political opponents refrain from attacking each other. This has been a healthy practice.
However, remembering September 13 this year, I'm all too confused about the meaning of Ramadan. I've Googled the web and found many entries to explain the meaning of Ramadan but non explains what's happening in Malaysia in the holy month of Ramadan.
What surprises me is that one of the search results brought me to the Whitehouse. It defines Ramadan as 'Ramadan is a special month of the year for over one billion muslims throughout the world. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self control'.
I understand that our flip-flopping lame duck Prime Minister had introduced Islam Hadhari to the world. As I'm an atheist, I didn't care to understand what Islam Hadhari is. But the recent developments in this country; the ISA arrests of Raja Botak Petra, Tan Hoon Cheng and Teresa Kok that I assume is to provoke the people to take to the street, they are all against the meaning of Ramadan.
When Islam Hadhari was introduced, what was the objectives? On 31-5-2005, flip-flopping lame duck Prime Minister Badawi gave a speech at the Victoria University in New Zealand titled 'Islam Hadhari and Good Governance'.
Reproduced in parts, excerpts:
4. EXTREMISM AND RADICALISM HAVE INDEED BECOME THE SCOURGE IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD TODAY. I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT WE IN MALAYSIA HAVE SUCCEEDED IN CONTAINING EXTREMISM AND RADICALISM. NEVERTHELESS, WE DO WISH TO FURTHER BUILD UPON THE INTER-RACIAL TOLERANCE WE ALREADY OBSERVE AND THE INTER-FAITH COEXISTENCE WE ALREADY PRACTISE IN MALAYSIA. BASED ON OUR OWN EXPERIENCE IN SOCIAL ENGINEERING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE ELIMINATION OF POVERTY AND THE PROVISION OF GOOD GOVERNANCE ARE KEY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST EXTREMISM AND RADICALISM.
5. IN MALAYSIA, WE HAVE INTRODUCED ISLAM HADHARI AS THE APPROACH FOR INSTITUTING A NATIONAL ORDER, IN A MUSLIM COUNTRY SUCH AS OURS, THAT IS FAIR AND JUST TO ALL IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE OR RELIGION. WE HAVE TRANSLATED ISLAM HADHARI INTO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AS CIVILIZATIONAL ISLAM. ISLAM HADHARI IS NOT THE CODE WORD FOR ANY SECRET MISSION. IT IS AN OPEN AGENDA SETTING OUT THE APPROACH WE WISH TO TAKE IN PROVIDING WHAT IS BEST FOR MALAYSIA AS A MULTI-RELIGIOUS AND MULTI-RACIAL SOCIETY WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IS MUSLIM.
6. WE VIEW ISLAM HADHARI AS THE WAY TO GOOD GOVERNANCE, THAT IS TO SAY THE WAY IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HOPES TO ADMINISTER TO THE WELLBEING OF THE COUNTRY AND THE WELFARE OF ITS MULTI-RELIGIOUS AND MULTI-RACIAL POPULATION. THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM ARE UNDOUBTEDLY THE FOUNDATION AND INSPIRATION FOR OUR ACTIONS BUT THE BENEFITS ARE INTENDED FOR EQUITABLE SHARING BY ALL MALAYSIANS, MUSLIMS AS WELL AS NON-MUSLIMS ALIKE.
6. WE VIEW ISLAM HADHARI AS THE WAY TO GOOD GOVERNANCE, THAT IS TO SAY THE WAY IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HOPES TO ADMINISTER TO THE WELLBEING OF THE COUNTRY AND THE WELFARE OF ITS MULTI-RELIGIOUS AND MULTI-RACIAL POPULATION. THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM ARE UNDOUBTEDLY THE FOUNDATION AND INSPIRATION FOR OUR ACTIONS BUT THE BENEFITS ARE INTENDED FOR EQUITABLE SHARING BY ALL MALAYSIANS, MUSLIMS AS WELL AS NON-MUSLIMS ALIKE.
13. MALAYSIA HAS ADOPTED ISLAM HADHARI AS THE LONG TERM NATIONAL APPROACH FOR PROVIDING SOCIO-ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS TO ITS CITIZENS. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS APPROACH HAS ALSO BEEN INSPIRED BY OUR FIRM BELIEF THAT GOOD GOVERNANCE, HEALTHY DEMOCRATIC PRACTICES, EMPOWERMENT OF THE CITIZENRY THROUGH EDUCATION AND EQUITABLE SHARING OF THE BENEFITS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH WILL REMOVE ANY ATTRACTIVENESS TOWARDS RADICALISM AND BLUNT ANY TENDENCIES TOWARDS EXTREMISM.
14. WE IN MALAYSIA WOULD LIKE TO SHOW BY EXAMPLE THAT A MUSLIM COUNTRY CAN BE MODERN, DEMOCRATIC, TOLERANT AND ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE. ISLAM CERTAINLY DOES NOT ENJOIN US TO TURN OUR BACKS AGAINST THE REST OF THE WORLD. IN FACT, ISLAM TEACHES US TO FIND SUCCESS NOT ONLY IN THE HEREAFTER BUT ALSO IN THIS WORLD.
15. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT ISLAM HADHARI CAN HELP BRING MUSLIMS INTO THE MODERN WORLD AND INTEGRATE THEM IN THE MODERN ECONOMY. ISLAM HADHARI PROMOTES TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING, MODERATION AND PEACE, CERTAINLY ENLIGHTENMENT.
14. WE IN MALAYSIA WOULD LIKE TO SHOW BY EXAMPLE THAT A MUSLIM COUNTRY CAN BE MODERN, DEMOCRATIC, TOLERANT AND ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE. ISLAM CERTAINLY DOES NOT ENJOIN US TO TURN OUR BACKS AGAINST THE REST OF THE WORLD. IN FACT, ISLAM TEACHES US TO FIND SUCCESS NOT ONLY IN THE HEREAFTER BUT ALSO IN THIS WORLD.
15. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT ISLAM HADHARI CAN HELP BRING MUSLIMS INTO THE MODERN WORLD AND INTEGRATE THEM IN THE MODERN ECONOMY. ISLAM HADHARI PROMOTES TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING, MODERATION AND PEACE, CERTAINLY ENLIGHTENMENT.
By going through and reviewing what our lame duck Prime Minister said above, and compared to the current situation in Malaysia, is this another flip-flop or is it the true hidden manifestation of what Islam Hadhari is? Please note #13 above.
I am of the opinion and I strongly hold the believe that Islam is a beautiful religion and is a peaceful religion. As reproduced below, cut-and-paste from here,it teaches Muslims to repeat the line "I am fasting" twice when abused or when someone attempts to draw you to a fight.
If I were a Muslim, I would surely repeat these two lines yesterday, today and tomorrow. The ISA arrests is nothing but a scheme to bring out the anger in us to take to the street. So far, we have proven to be smarter than they thought we were. We have moved on and progressed over time since 1969 and 1987.
Ramadan is also the month of mercy. Muslims are called to show mercy, compassion, generosity, and care for all Gods creatures, including themselves, other human beings, animals and the environment as the vicegerents of God on earth. By partaking in Ramadan, and experiencing it together creates a social space that is shared by many Muslims across the globe. This creates a unique sense of solidarity among Muslims around the world. By sharing the feast with friends and relatives during Eid ul Fitr, and by giving charity (fitra) and alms to the poor and needy (zakat), Muslims take part in healing social wounds, knitting closer ties with others, redistributing wealth, connecting with those who are in need. This aspect of Ramadan contributes to creating a just and compassionate society based on sharing and giving rather than focusing on consumerism.
The following Hadith captures this aspect of fasting: "Allah (SWT) (the name for The Almighty God, used by Muslims) said that: All services of the son of Adam are for him except fasting. It is for Me, and I will reward him for it. Fasting is a shield. On the day you fast, do not use obscenity, nor yell at others, nor act ignorantly towards them. However, if anyone abuses you verbally or attempts to draw you to fight with him, say 'I am fasting' two times. The Prophet (pbuh) then states: I swore by the One (Allah) in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath of the faster is sweeter to Allah on the Day of Judgment than the scent of musk. The faster experiences enjoyment twice: he is pleased when he breaks his fast, and he is pleased when he meets his Maker" (Muslim).
http://www.tentofabraham.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=18
Finally, I dedicate this poem to all the Muslims worldwide.
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