Stop judging and start loving

Why shun Feb 14 simply because it calls for love to be remembered, in its most pure form?

COMMENT

Of the many days in a year, Feb 14 holds a special place in the hearts of many people for the simple reason that it is a day when love in all its diversity is celebrated.

But for the Malaysian Islamic Development Department or Jakim, it has declared Feb 14 as a day synonymous with vice activities. And just why has the department done so?

To Jakim head Wan Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Feb 14 is to be rejected by Muslims because he claims Valentine’s Day is associated with elements of Christianity. A fatwa or religious edict was issued seven years ago barring Muslims from giving Feb 14 any special attention.

While human beings around the world celebrate the significance of Feb 14, for Jakim it is a day to put in place the “Mind the Valentine’s Day Trap”, which it did last year to punish Muslims who chose to celebrate the day, arresting more than 100 Muslim couples who defied the ban.

Then there was a religious scholar, Siti Nor Bahyah, and host of the programme “Semanis Kurma” who in 2010 criticised Valentine’s Day for propagating sin and vice.

Clearly stirring the hornet’s nest, she went on to say that it was Christians who typically indulged in vice, be it frequenting discos or dating.

“Selalunya buat maksiat, pergi disko… couple, couple, bersunyi-sunyian, ini adalah tradisi bagi masyarakat yang beragama Kristian bukan agama Islam…,” she had said.

Siti Bahyah’s ignorance and racial arrogance had her cautioning Muslims, saying that celebrating Valentine’s Day was akin to “supporting Christianity and English”.

Sad indeed that the Malaysian scholars refuse to think out of box and be enlightened when it came to religious and non-religious issues. As far as Valentine’s Day goes, it has no religious affinity and is merely a day to show love and compassion towards all living beings and things.

Don’t hold Christianity to ransom

It is not only Jakim and Siti Bahyah who are at fault. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, too, gave his two cents worth saying the celebration of romantic love was “not suitable” for Muslims.

To discriminate between who can and cannot celebrate love is perplexing. Why shun Feb 14 simply because it calls for love to be remembered, in its most pure form?

What is worse is that dense minds are quick to label Christiantiy as encouraging immoral activities. Why hold Christianity to ransom where Valantine’s Day is concerned?

Why are the country’s Islamic scholars so quick to find a scapegoat each time things go wrong with the Muslim community?

Statistics between 2005 and 2009 showed 407 babies were abandoned in Malaysia. In 2005, too, where HIV/AIDS cases went, there was a greater proportion of Malay Muslim men, at 72.8%.

Likewise, among drug abusers, the Malays in 2005 were once again over-represented, at 68%.

In 2005, of the new addicts recorded, 71% were Malays, 11% Chinese and eight percent Indians.

Is Christianity to be blamed for the above scenario? Clearly, Muslim scholars are washing their hands off in trying to address the root cause of the problem, going into denial that there is a bigger problem afflicting their community.

Muslim scholars biased, racist

Is Siti Nor Bahyah not racist and biased in attacking the Christians, portraying them as sinful people?

Is Hasan Ali, the former Selangor PAS commissioner, not racist when he openly declared his dislike for Feb 14?

When it comes to issues of love and compassion, these scholars have little to offer. They have only one agenda – to promote and place Islam on the highest pedestal, despite the damage done along the way.

It is both amusing and amazing that while countries like Singapore, China and South Korea spare no effort in commemorating Valentine’s Day with their natives spending lavishly on Valentine’s gifts, Malaysia in the company of Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan have little patience and no understanding of the true essence of Valentine’s Day – no surprise then why these nations have jumped the gun and decided that Feb 14 does not reflect love but instead threaten the Islamic culture.

In any case, it is Valentine’s Day today, so do appreciate love in any which form it comes. Stop judging and start loving.

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.