Muslims must define Islam for themselves, says Zaid Ibrahim

Former Umno minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim says Islam is about what Muslims do, not preach. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 26, 2015.

Ordinary Muslims must not be afraid to define Islam for themselves since their leaders are not helping them understand the religion, a former Umno minister said today.

Only then can political Islam succeed in a just and fair manner, said Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who wrote on his blog today in conjunction with the publication of his latest book "Assalamualaikum" which deals with Islamisation in Malaysia.

Zaid said Muslims in Malaysia could get guidance and learn from real ulama and scholars, but at the end of the day, they ought to define the religion for themselves.

"I am proposing that ordinary Muslims in the country must not be afraid to define Islam as they see it, because their leaders are not helping them to understand the religion.

"After all, at the end of the day it is about our life, about our happiness and comfort in our relations with the Maker Allah Subhanu Wa Ta’ala.

"Any other definition of the Islamic way is fascism with a new name," the former de facto law minister said.

Although Islamisation as a policy has been in operation in Malaysia since independence, Zaid said after 40 years the country was worse off than before, with people becoming more divided.

"In matters of integrity in leadership, and in state and corporate governance, we are also worse off.

"Today leaders use Islam to promote a dress code, and as political propaganda, but nothing deeper.

"When someone had to deal with a serious accusation relating to a murder, he would just go to a mosque to declare 'Wallahi, Wabillahi, Wattalahi' and the matter ends there.

"If, as alleged, he takes a few billion ringgit from the state institution, he would just say someone gave it to him. It ends there.

"This is after 40 years of Islamisation," said Zaid.

He added that political Islam had destroyed democracy instead of strengthening it.

He also said that every Muslim should feel a sense of "revulsion" at the way Islam had been abused by some of the country's leaders.

Zaid said he wrote his book to urge Muslims to defend Islam’s honour and to do something about making a positive change.

"Islam is a way of life, and should therefore guide every aspect of life public or private.

"Unfortunately, the Islamic way of life has so far been defined by those who are political propagandists and discredited politicians. They only speak about money, power, about enemies of Islam.

"They eschew intercommunal friendship, they talk about hatred and divisions in the country.

There is nothing positive about them.

"I don’t hear any ulamak say anything positive – like about Muslims and non-Muslims living together; or being critical about 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

"Also, I would like them to comment about the plunder of timber and the forest," he said.

Zaid said Muslims should not start with slogans first, but with good deeds and right actions if they wanted Islamisation to succeed.

"Islam is about what we do, not what we preach," he said.

- TMI