Zaid: Shallow Islamic teaching is breeding hypocrites

Zaid Ibrahim says there is too much sexist bias against women encouraged by religious preachers who claim to know everything about Islam.

PETALING JAYA: Religious classes that do not permit students to ask probing questions or engage in dialogue have resulted in a growing number of Muslim students who simply mimic their teachers by criticising others despite knowing very little about the world, much less Islam, said Zaid Ibrahim.

In an article he wrote, now posted on his blog, the former law minister said, “I have always maintained that these Malays are hypocrites of the highest order.

“They are always quick to complain and criticise other Muslims for not being Islamic in their dressing or their way of life, as if they were faultless Muslims themselves.”

He was commenting on the scathing criticism local gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Ghani suffered at the hands of Muslims who condemned her for wearing a costume at the SEA Games that did not cover her aurat.

“This disease springs from our system of religious education, which teaches a brand of faith that is shallow and misinformed.”

He said religious preachers did as they pleased, judging the personal conduct of other Muslims because they claimed to understand Islam better than others did.

“The bizarre thing is how freely these preachers pass judgment on other people when they have achieved nothing that the country can be proud of,” Zaid said, adding that this had created “deeply sexist bias against women in society”.

Remarking how religious teachers today often got angry when probing questions were asked, he related how as a student, his religious teacher, instead of scolding him, allowed him to ask a question about the reason behind fasting. “I will always remember him for allowing me the satisfaction of seeing that religious belief can be grounded by our own thinking, and not by blindly following what others tell us to do.”

Saying “busybody” Muslims were also practising a double standard by criticising Farah’s exposed legs but closing an eye to male footballers who wore shorts, Zaid added, “They truly are hypocrites of the highest order but we should have pity on them.

“We are the ones who produced them in large numbers, thanks to the poor quality of religious education we give to young Muslims in this country.”