Here then is a real Muslim hero

 

Like most Malaysians who watched the Hari Raya Aidilfitri greeting video clip put out by RHB Bank, I was touched.

It has been some time since a festival-related video moved me. The late talented Yasmin Ahmad made me applaud silently with her wonderful festival videos that tugged at my emotions

RHB’s festival clip is based on a true story and therefore it has a foundation of authenticity. A case of art imitating life.

I remember reading the story of lawyer Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar who went to the aid of a mother who, in desperately wanting to keep her promise to her only child, was caught and charged with shoplifting in 1998.

Ahmad Zaharil Muhaiyar.

According to that report in The Star, Ahmad Zaharil spotted an Indian woman being taken in handcuffs by policemen in a courthouse.

Something prompted him to approach the woman, a cleaner in her fifties, to ask why she had been arrested.

“She explained that she had stolen a pencil box from a supermarket. The pencil box was meant as a gift for her 10-year-old son, her only child. She said that she had promised to get her son a pencil box if he became the top student in class,” the report quoted Ahmad Zaharil as saying.

When her son did indeed come out at the top of his Year Four class, she had no money to buy him the promised pencil box. So, in order not to disappoint him, she stole a RM18 pencil box from a supermarket but was caught.

Ahmad Zaharil was quoted as saying: “I thought to myself then that if she was jailed for the offence, who would take care of her son?”

So, he asked the magistrate to postpone the case by a few hours and rushed to the boy’s school to verify the mother’s story. Everything she had said was true.

Accompanied by the boy’s teacher, he met the owner of the supermarket to plead for mercy, even offering to pay double the price of the pencil box. The supermarket owner refused.

Ahmad Zaharil then mitigated on behalf of the stranger. Based on the teacher’s testimony and the situation of the mother, the magistrate decided that justice would best be served by binding her over for a year on a good behaviour bond.

The lawyer and several court staff and policemen collected some money on the spot and gave it to the unnamed woman.

The story does not end there. In 2018, according to Ahmad Zaharil, he was approached in court by a man in his early 30s.

To Ahmad Zaharil’s surprise and joy, the man introduced himself as the boy for whom the mother had stolen the pencil box. That boy was now a lawyer.

What a heartwarming story, I had thought then. And seeing it turned into a festive greeting clip by RHB reignited those feelings.

Abdul Sani Abdul Murad, the chief marketing officer of RHB Banking Group was quoted recently as saying: “Hari Raya is a season of forgiveness and starting anew. Ahmad Zaharil’s astonishing story perfectly encapsulates these values and so much more, proving that forgiving and helping with a sincere heart will often bring not only far-reaching consequences, but also life-changing outcomes.

“A seemingly insignificant gesture from Ahmad Zaharil on that one fateful day not only changed the life of the woman he helped, but also her son and all the people he would go on to help as a lawyer.”

The way I see it, this is not just a Hari Raya greeting video clip.

Given that this is the Ramadhan period and taking into consideration recent events in the nation, I would like to suggest that Ahmad Zaharil’s story – his humanity – shows us an example of a good Muslim, a good human being.

He has done Islam greater good than politicians and others who stir the emotions of their listeners against imaginary “enemies of Islam” at ceramahs, or who take to the streets shouting slogans to show they are defenders of Islam, or who throw Molotov cocktails if they feel insulted or are unhappy.

He has done greater good for Islam than those who insist on actions, such as boycotts, that harm people’s livelihoods, or who pose with a sword to show that they are the true warriors of Islam.

He has done greater good for Islam than all those Muslim preachers who run down other religions to prove to their listeners that Islam is superior, or just to increase their flock.

The “seemingly insignificant” act of Ahmad Zaharil reminds me of a Malay friend who sends me “good morning” greetings without fail.

The greetings come in the form of posters, and sometimes these posters carry images of Hindu deities and Tamil words. The thing is, he is a very devout Muslim but, at the same time, he respects other people’s religions.

He is not any less a Muslim for sending me greetings with pictures of Hindu deities. In fact, by doing so, he is giving me an opportunity to better appreciate Islam. To me, he is a wonderful example of a good Muslim and a good human being.

I grew up in a largely Malay area and from my neighbours I learnt that Islam – like other religions – is about caring, hospitality and kindness and not about considering non-Muslims as enemies or becoming violent when unhappy.

In school I had many Malay friends – including Abdullah, Aziz, Jamil, Masood, Shahoran and Zakuan – from whom I learnt that a good Muslim respects all religions, is considerate and is there for you when you need him.

In adult life, I have come across Muslims – such as the late Tajuddin Saman, a caring journalist, the late Tuffile Nawab Din, a daring police officer, former Sungai Dua assemblyman Mohammed Yussof Abd Latiff, a humble politician and religious teacher, Mohaideen Mohd Ishack, the president of the Old Edwardians Association of Malaysia who respect all religions, and Professor Tajuddin Rasdi, a courageous public intellectual – from whom I learnt that a good Muslim stands up for justice and has a good heart.

I would like to think that people like Ahmad Zaharil, my friends Abdullah, Aziz, Jamil, Masood, Shahoran and Zakuan and the others I’ve named above – are the real face of Islam.

And I take this opportunity to wish them and all Muslims “Selamat Hari Raya – maaf zahir dan batin”. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.