Perhaps time for rightists to look up to peace-loving ‘mualaf’ like Prof Farid Ravi or Hussain Yee

 

SUCH could be the message Gua Musang DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) head Shafiq Razak hinted by hailing four Malaysian Muslim convert figures – two each of Chinese and Indian origins – as “the Real Mualaf (Muslim converts)”.

The quartet who has chosen a non-confrontational path in their Islamic evangelism a.k.a. dakwah are Hindu-born Shah Kirit Kakulal Govindji, Christian-born Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Farid Ravi Abdullah, and both Buddhist-born Mohd Hussain Yee Abdullah and Ann Wan Seng.

Needless to say, the revelation came at an opportune time to rebuke rightists who prefer to hail the heroics of controversial preachers Firdaus Wong Wai Hung and Zamri Vinoth who in recent times have ignited racial/religious tension with their anti-kuil haram agenda which they claim is intended to uphold the law.

Briefly, Shah Kirit who specialises in comparative religion is the president of faith-oriented NGO, Global Unity Network; Farid Ravi who specialises in Quranic interpretation is the Universiti Islam Selangor (UIS) rector; Hussain Yee founded humanitarian charitable body Al Khadeem and is currently an advisor to the Japan Halal Foundation; and author/preacher Ann focuses on Islam in the Chinese community.

However, rightists are seemingly defensive of Firdaus and Zamri as gauged from the snubbing one detractor received for mocking the duo by stating that “they changed religion – not race – yet they behave more Malay than the Malays”.

Imagine the commenter who passed such remark was slammed as being “a foolish Malay” till he had to defend himself by hitting out that Malays have made a big mistake by blindly conspiring with both preachers, thus falling for their hidden agenda.

Indeed, it was surprising as to how rightists can hail Firdaus, Zamri and their fellow Muslim convert preacher Prof Ridhuan Tee Abdullah as “exemplary mualaf (converts)” with one detractor wanting the authorities to block the trio “frome inciting Muslims with their more Malay than the Malay ceramah”.

This is when some rightists claimed that dakwah is “not limited to struggle to implement the truth but also calls for the rejection of all evil”.

“It is necessary to be brave and speak out firmly when matters that contradict the religion occur,” justified one rightist.

“The truth is that what Firdaus, Vinod and Cikgu Chandra (pro-rightist Indian activist) are fighting for is not a struggle to become Malay but to uphold the dignity of Islam in terms of forming a society with moral values and adhere to rules.”

Another argued that there are many branches of dakwah, hence “Muslims will be weakened if all preachers follow a similar (peaceful) pattern”.

“Be thankful that there’re preachers who are firm and wise. Even during the time of the Prophet, not all companions bore the same character. Some were great at war, some were great at memorisation, some were patient.”

To sum up, Ann Wang Seng who is one of the four exemplary mualaf has subtly chided the so-called confrontational dakwah method espoused by Firdaus and Zamri by siding the action of anti-kuil haram vigilante Tamim Dahri in trampling on the Trisoolam which is deemed a sacred symbol closely associated with Lord Shiva.

He did so by insinuating how the action of the Gerakan Anti Rumah Anutan Haram (GARAH) co-founder “has raised temperature (anger)” yet was mocked by Firdaus who poked fun at the Trisula as an Aquaman weapon.

- focus malaysia