Prophet forbade insults, don tells Ku Li after he backs Akmal

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh is within his rights to question DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok over her remarks on the halal certification issue, said academic Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi.

However, he should not have hurled insults such as calling her “nyonya tua” (old nyonya) or asking the government to prepare a non-halal logo to be stuck on her forehead.

Tajuddin (above) was responding to Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, better known as Ku Li, who brushed aside a call for Akmal to apologise.

“Why should he apologise? I believe this is a sincere opinion from our youth chief. He’s expressing his feelings, and it’s not about whether the halal certification is valid or not, but about his dissatisfaction,” he had said.

Only agreeable ‘name-calling’

However, Tajuddin said that Prophet Muhammad had forbidden Muslims from hurling insults.

The academic said in the Islamic teaching quoted by the great Imam Al-Ghazali in his magnum opus, Ihya Ulumuddin on the rule of speeches and sayings, Imam Ghazali explained that it is permitted for Muslims to use certain names or callings on others in an affectionate manner.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

“For instance, Prophet Muhammad had called one of his companions Abu Hurayra or Father of Cats because the Companion loved to play with cats and the companion loved this name given to him.

“Similarly, the Prophet Muhammad had called his son-in-law, Ali Ibni Abu Talib (husband to his daughter Fatimah) as Abu Turab or Father of Dust when he found the latter sleeping in the prophet’s mosque in Medina and he was covered with dust, and Ali did not mind being called as such.

“If the name given was not agreeable to the one directed, then it is a sin to use such names. The sin can only be eliminated by a true apology to the person directed. If not, in the afterlife and Day of Judgment, this sin will be raised as evidence,” he told Malaysiakini.

Tajuddin, who had criticised Akmal in the past over his firebrand antics, pointed out that the Umno Youth chief’s remarks against Kok “were clearly unwarranted, unprovoked and thus can be considered a sin”.

“It may be the culture of Umno to use derogatory terms against political opponents especially a non-Muslim, it is prohibited by Prophet Muhammad in Islam.

“If muftis do not tell Tengku Razaleigh this matter, then permit me to do so,” he added.

Mutual respect, harmony

The professor of architecture said such behaviour sullies mutual respect and harmony in Malaysia.

“What example is Akmal displaying as an elected representative, an exco and a person honoured with a prestigious title of dignity?” he asked.

Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh

“As Muslims, the Prophet Muhammad even forbade name-calling of derogatory nature to the enemies of Islam who have fallen in battle for fear of dishonouring their family members.

“More so if a Muslim dishonours the name of a highly respected elected representative as Kok who is alive, has a family and is part of a larger ethnic group contributing to the greatness and prosperity of Malaysia,” he added. - Mkini