Criticism is mandatory in Islam

I feel His Majesty the Agong should pardon that woman who was arrested for insulting His Majesty in the spirit that Muslim leaders and rulers are not exempt from criticism. I know I said that insults are not criticism and that there is a difference. Nevertheless, let this be a lesson to all Malaysians that under Islam criticism of leaders and rulers is allowed as long as you know the difference between a criticism and an insult.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

In The Age of Faith, Will Durant says, "Mohammad had appointed no successor to his power, but he had chosen Abu Bakar to conduct the prayers in the Medina mosque. This mark of preference persuaded Moslem leaders to elect Abu Bakar the first Caliph of Islam. Abu Bakar was simple and abstemious, kindly but resolute; attending personally to details of administration and judgement, and never resting till justice was done; serving without pay till his people overruled his austerity; and then, in his will, returning to the new state the stipends it had paid him.”

According to Islamic history, when Prophet Muhammad died, the local Medina tribes wanted to appoint one of their own as the successor to the Prophet. This led to friction between the Medinan ‘converts’ and the Meccan ‘immigrants’. Finally, after a debate and a consensus, it was agreed that Abu Bakar, a Meccan ‘immigrant’, would become the successor. (Actually, the story is much longer and more complicated than that).

There were some, however, who did not agree to Abu Bakar’s appointment. And it is said that they questioned him as to how could they be sure that he would be a just, fair, honest, noble, etc., leader. It is reported that Abu Bakar then took out his sword and placed it in front of him and replied that if he were to deviate from his duties in any way then they were to take his sword and cut off his head.

The first Caliph of Islam not only invited criticism, he invited the rakyat to use his own sword to cut off his head. Hence was the example set by the First Caliph of Islam that rulers, even ‘divinely appointed’ rulers such as ‘Rightly Guided Caliphs’ the likes of Abu Bakar, are not exempt from criticism. And mind you, Abu Bakar is one of the four whom Muslims regard as ‘Rightly Guided Caliphs’ -- meaning they are guided by God.

So this is the proper Muslim way. The rakyat can tegur (criticise) their leaders and rulers. It is not wrong. It is the Islamic thing to do. In fact, Abu Bakar asked the rakyat to not only tegur but to cut off their heads if they commit a sin against God or a crime against the rakyat.

Taking this principle of Islam as the backdrop, should Malaysians be allowed to criticise their rulers and leaders? I would say yes. It is okay to criticise our rulers and leaders. But it must be proper criticism, and probably done with civility as well, and not insults as an excuse for criticism. This is how we draw the line between criticism and insults.

The news report below is another interesting issue. I have always criticised the PAS Youth Leader, Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi, for his silly and narrow-minded statements regarding shows and whatnot. In this case, however, I have to commend his. I mean, praise should be given whenever it is due as should criticism be given whenever it is due.

Basically, Nasrudin said he invites criticism and will accept any criticism. If this is the official stand of PAS then PAS certainly practices what Islam preaches. I just wish PKR and DAP were more Islamic in their ways and invite and accept criticism just like PAS and not vilify and disparage those who criticise them. As it now stands, criticising Pakatan Rakyat is akin to insulting Islam and criticising any of the leaders of Pakatan Rakyat is treated as if you are insulting Prophet Muhammad.

I feel His Majesty the Agong should pardon that woman who was arrested for insulting His Majesty in the spirit that Muslim leaders and rulers are not exempt from criticism. I know I said that insults are not criticism and that there is a difference. Nevertheless, let this be a lesson to all Malaysians that under Islam criticism of leaders and rulers is allowed as long as you know the difference between a criticism and an insult.

What that woman did was an insult to His Majesty the Agong. The problem is most Malaysians do not understand the difference between criticism and insult. And they think that freedom of speech means freedom to vilify and disparage. Maybe with this latest episode they can become a bit wiser. If not then expect a few more arrests and this time with no pardon.

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Terima kasih kerana kritik PAS

(Free Malaysia Today, 29 May 2013) - Sebagai sebuah Gerakan Islam, kami senantiasa terbuka dan bersedia untuk dikritik dan diaudit, kata Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi.

Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia (DPPM) Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi hari ini mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua pihak yang memberi perhatian kepada PAS lantas sudi mengkritik PAS dan pemimpinnya.

“Saya selaku Ketua Dewan Pemuda PAS Malaysia menyambut dan menerima apa jua kritikan yang dilemparkan.

“Kalian semua secara tidak langsung adalah agen yang membangun dan mendewasakan PAS dengan kritikan dan teguran yang dihulurkan,” kata beliau yang juga Ahli Parlimen Temerloh dalam tulisannya hari ini.

Ujar beliau, “sebagai sebuah Gerakan Islam, kami senantiasa terbuka dan sedia untuk dikritik dan diaudit serta meletakkan kami pada situasi sebagaimana yang diajar oleh Allah swt iaitu bersedia mendengar apa jua perkataan lalu mengikut apa yang terbaik daripadanya. 

“Namun terbuka dan bersedia menerima kritikan bukan bermakna kami mesti diam membatu atau bungkam membisu dalam menerima kritikan tersebut,” katanya. 

Katanya, memberi jawab balas, menangkis serta membuat pencerahan semula terhadap kritikan adalah sebahagian dari kaedah mengurus dan menangani kritikan yang normal.

Kaedah ini dibenarkan sebagaimana uslub biasa digunakan oleh al Quran al Karim sewaktu menjawab kritikan pelbagai pihak terhadap Islam dan syariat yang dibawa oleh Rasulullah saw, utusan Allah swt.

“Apatah lagi jika sesuatu kritikan itu dibuat secara terbuka. Ia boleh mencipta prasangka dan mencetus persepsi masyarakat awam, justeru itu mahu atau tidak, jawap balas mesti dikemukakan terhadap kritikan tersebut bagi meluruskan persepsi dan memurnikan prasangka.

“Contoh apabila pelbagai tuduhan yang tidak berasas dilemparkan kepada Presiden PAS, sememangnya menjadi tanggungjawab pemimpin dan ahli PAS membuat pencerahan dan mempertahankannya,” kata Nasrudin.

Ketika berlangsungnya Kongres PKR ke 9 di Petaling Jaya, hujung minggu lalu, Ketua Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin mengkritik Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang berhubung isu pertindihan kerusi pada Pilihan Raya Umum yang lalu.

Shamsul yang juga Ahli Parlimen Bukit Katil dalam ucapannya menyalahkan Hadi kerana kekalahan PKR di kawasan-kawasan bertindih terutama di dua kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor, Kota Damansara dan Semenyih.