’10-YEAR SENTENCE IS IN ITSELF AN INSULT TO THE PROPHET’: EVEN MALAYS SMELL THE HYPOCRISY BEHIND RIDICULOUSLY HARSH SENTENCE – WHILE UMNO CHEERS

I write in response to the recent 10-year jail sentence for insulting Islam and the Prophet. I have strong convictions that we must re-look at this law. It is not justly balanced. Ironically, it is also not in accordance to the Quran’s and the Prophet’s way of doing things.

Muslims must remember how the Prophet behaved at the conquest of Mecca – when he was at the zenith of his power. The people of Mecca whom for more than a decade before the conquest insulted and boycotted him, refused to listen to his mission, tortured him and his followers, persecuted them, drove them to exile and tried very hard to kill him. At that moment of power, did he act with cruelty or mercy? With vengeance or love?

Instead of following the rules of war, where he could avenge and punish them with a death sentence, Muhammad the Prophet whom the Quran declared as ‘the one sent as the mercy to all mankind” (Quran 21:107) flowed with kindness and love and he proclaimed,

“THIS DAY, THERE IS NO REPROOF AGAINST YOU AND YOU ARE ALL FREE. THIS DAY I TRAMPLE UNDER MY FEET ALL DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN MAN AND MAN, ALL HATRED BETWEEN MAN AND MAN.”

The Prophet’s behavior in giving pardon to even his worst enemies, even those who killed his beloved uncle, Hamzah, mangled his body, ripped it open, even chewed a piece of his liver is consistent to another Quranic declaration at Quran 3:159,

“And it was by God’s grace that thou [O Prophet] didst DEAL GENTLY WITH THY FOLLOWERS: FOR IF THOU HADST BEEN HARSH AND HARD OF HEART, they would indeed have broken away from thee. PARDON THEM, THEN, AND PRAY THAT THEY BE FORGIVEN. And take counsel with them in all matters of public concern; then, when thou hast decided upon a course of action, place thy trust in God: for, verily, God loves those who place their trust in Him.”

It is obvious that the 10-year sentence is in itself is an insult to the Prophet. Is it not ironic?

So where do we go from here? We need to practice Mercy, just like the Prophet did. Let me unpack why Mercy must play a bigger role in these kinds of situation.

Mercy is central to everything that is good. When all else fail, Mercy is our savior. The Prophet knew this. His goal is Peace, not vengeance. As such, our framework to make things good and move forward must emerge from Mercy. Once we have Mercy as our operating system, our worldview, our intentions, our journey, our plans, actions and behavior cannot but come back to moderation in action. Mercy is the core of being a good human. Without mercy, there would be no humanity. With mercy, we create a chain reaction that has the powerful ability and capacity to convert enemies into friends. Those who insult the other, into those who appreciates.

Mercy helps us to forgive and forget. We are a young nation chasing after big dreams. We come from different backgrounds, religions, cultures and ethnicity. It is natural that along the way, we may intentionally or unintentionally hurt each other. If we are not quick to forgive and forget, we will create a tit-for-tat cycle. Mercy will help us choose to be the bigger person and may even turn the other cheek. Mercy will help us be able to see the greater good in forgiveness.

How to punish then? We need to change our goal. The goal is to educate, not to punish. To open one’s heart, not to hardened them. I suggest a two-prong approach.

1. Anyone found insulting another religion-culture-tradition must spend time studying and understanding the religion-culture-tradition under a kind & merciful teacher from that faith. This should include time to do social services.

2. The religious and community leader of the offender should also play a role in re-educating him or her based oh his or her religious tradition. In other words, if a Christian mock another faith, the Church leaders must engage the person with their own tradition and core values that corrects his or her wrongful behavior. Similarly, when a Muslim mock another religion, a Muslim religious leader should bring him back to the behavior of the Prophet.

As a Muslim Malaysian, I have strong convictions that we need to be the first to practice Mercy and follow this method. After all we are the majority citizen, the country’s official religion is Islam and the main leaders of the nation are Malay Muslims. We need to be the standard bearer if we want to claim leadership. We must be the community that make the first move. When a non-Muslim insults Islam and is punished with a ten-year sentence but a Muslim preacher who insults another religion is given protection, we are seen as unjust.

Our religion is looked down upon, and, our Prophet is misunderstood. We Muslims know and proud to profess that “being just is nearest to Taqwa – God-Consciousness (Quran 5:8)” but we must also be seen to practice it consistently. Less we become the very type that is warned by Allah as a Mutaffifin – those who give short measure.

O YOU who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity; and never let hatred of any-one lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. BE JUST: THIS IS CLOSEST TO BEING GOD-CONSCIOUS. And remain conscious of God: verily, God is aware of all that you do.

Quran 5:8

WOE UNTO THOSE WHO GIVE SHORT MEASURE, those who, when they are to receive their due from [other] people, demand that it be given in full, but when they have to measure or weigh whatever they owe to others, give less than what is due!

Quran 83:1-3

VERILY, in the Apostle of God you have a good example for everyone who looks forward [with hope and awe] to God and the Last Day, and remembers God unceasingly.

Quran 33:21

Peace.
Anas Zubedy
Kuala Lumpur

-THE STAR

Kit Siang: Malaysians must respect all religions, but 10-year sentence over FB insult excessive

PETALING JAYA: All Malaysians must uphold the Constitution and respect all religions, but there must be no excessive punishments like the 10-year jail sentence meted against a Facebook user for insulting Islam, says Lim Kit Siang.

The DAP adviser was referring to a Facebook user who was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months jail by the Kuching Sessions Court, after admitting that he had insulted Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.

Lim said as advised by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Mohamed Hanipa Maidin, the social media holder should appeal against the decision.

He added that social media has brought Malaysians to a new age, where what they say on social media was no longer private and can be immediately broadcast to the public.

“Malaysians must be conscious of the uses and abuses of social media, where its effects are magnified in an explosive manner.

“Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans or Orang Asli, must develop a skeptical and cynical attitude to the messages they receive on social media, whether Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or WhatsApp, to ask the important question with regard to every message, ‘Is this true’, and to check on the veracity of the message before sharing it with the others,” he said in a statement on Sunday (March 10).

The Iskandar Puteri MP said he was giving his advice as someone who was a victim of social media lies.

He pointed out that among the lies shared on social media about him included demonising him as an anti-Malay, anti-Islam, and a communist, as well as being a relative of Chin Peng.

“Before the 14th General Election, such toxic politics alleged that I will be the Prime Minister of Malaysia if Pakatan Harapan wins the polls.

“When such lies and falsehoods were proved wrong after May 9, 2018, new lies and falsehoods were manufactured to allege that I am the real power in the Pakatan government in Putrajaya, and that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Mohamad Sabu were merely my stooges and puppets,” he said.

Hence, Lim said if Malaysians can develop a healthy skepticism of what they receive on social media and by checking their veracity before sharing with others, it will then be a big step to check the abuses on all social media platforms. – THE STAR

Umno: FB user jail sentence a lesson to stop fanning racial and religious hatred

PETALING JAYA: The jail sentence meted out on a Facebook user for insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad should serve as a lesson for others to stop fanning racial and religious hatred.

Umno information chief Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah was commenting on the jail term of 10 years and 10 months imposed by the Sarawak Sessions Court against Alister Cogia (the holder of the Ayea Yea Facebook account).

He said the court made its decision based on the rule of law, adding that social media users are liable to hefty punishment if they undermine national unity and harmony.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun had revealed that the Sarawakian was among four social media account holders charged with insulting Islam, of which two had pleaded not guilty.

Dr Shamsul said Malaysia has enjoyed racial harmony, religious tolerance and mutual respect since independence, thanks to Perikatan (which was later renamed Barisan Nasional).

However, he claimed that this was disrupted when Pakatan Harapan came to power in May last year.

Earlier, the MCA and DAP expressed concern over the sentence against the Facebook user, saying it was excessive.

MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the accused should be allowed to appeal, adding that the sentence should serve as a reminder to all Malaysians regardless of their race and religion.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said all Malaysians must uphold the Constitution and respect all religions, but the punishment should not be excessive. Lim said the social media user should appeal against the decision. – THE STAR

THE STAR