Liberal Malay ticks off brethren for inclination “to publicly pray” non-Muslims would accept Islam

 

THANK YOU for bringing this up; finally, someone with senses. Yes, it’s uncomfortable when that happened, and kind of awkward, too, although they meant well.

We also segan (embarrass) to reply, “tak boleh, nanti nenek moyang marah (we can’t for our ancestors will be enraged).” 

Buat baik (do good) is not exclusively Islam; actually, it’s a basic humanity instinct with or without religion.

Such is the reaction from one presumably Chinese commenter to a Facebook post whereby moderate Muslim influencer Nasri Azhar chastised his brethren (and sistren) for their lack of empathy.

Editor’s Note: The main image depicts Chee Hoi Lan, an 86-year-old Malaysian Chinese woman who tenderly raised Rohana Abdullah, a Muslim child abandoned at two months old as her own daughter for over 26 years.

Despite cultural and religious differences, Chee ensured Rohana practiced Islam, provided her halal food and sent her to religious classes.

In 1999, Rohana was left behind by her Indonesian mother who worked at a daycare centre where Chee was a teacher. Following public attention, Rohana was granted Malaysian citizenship in 2022 and Chee received the Maulidur Rasul award for her devotion.

“They really only see the world through their own lenses in almost everything,” snubbed the advocate of liberal Islam. “Many Malays like to make comments like this (expecting non-Muslims to receive divine guidance and eventually embrace Islam) when they see non-Muslims doing good.”

Added an infuriated Nasri:

Hey my Malay brothers and sisters. Would you like it if someone tell you or your family member, “May you be guided to convert to Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism”?

Of course you don’t like it. If you don’t like it, why do you do the same to others? If you want to pray for others to join your faith, suffice to do so quietly in your heart.

Interestingly, instead of attracting brickbats from his brethren, many of his brethren concurred with Nasri with one raising concern as to how non-Muslims “would ultimately felt annoyed with Islam if exposed too often to those social media prayers”.

Another was spot on when he berated such gestures as “portraying other religions as evil and unworthy in this world”.

“They’ve been taught since primary school that non-Muslims will go to hell. That’s why Malay Muslim thinking is like that,” revealed the Sarawakian commenter.

One commenter even applauded the “Chinese aunt who has long been received hidayah (divine guidance) to do good to fellow human beings regardless of religion”.

“That hidayah has a greater meaning than the ‘hidayah’ of embracing Islam. If more people receive the hidayah that the aunty receives, there would definitely be no conflict in the world.”

Another Malay commenter agreed that it has become habituial for Malays to behave in that manner given “many are living under the coconut shell”.

“They feel that people of other faiths don’t do good deeds. If someone from another religion does good, that person should be guided to convert to Islam. Even after being reprimanded many times, it’s hard to change this habit,” he fumed.

Thankfully, the Chinese aunty has inspired one Muslim convert to be as benevolent and able to shower love and kindness to others.

“I want to be that aunty whose humility transcends beyond the marked differences. I want to be that aunty who cares to be nice, knowing people will judge anyhow and anyway. I want to be as kind as that aunty.” 

 - Focus Malaysia