Syahredzan Johan asks during this holy month, are Malay-Muslims entitled to better rights than others?
So you are fasting. The sun is bearing down on you, your stomach is growling and your throat is parched. It is only 12.30 in the afternoon; you still have hours to go before you may break your fast. All of a sudden, a non-Muslim person appears before you, enjoying an icy cold can of your favourite cola. He looks like he is savouring the cola. You could imagine the sensation of that very same cola filling your throat with diabetes-inducing caffeine goodness. So you flare up. How dare this person drink in front of you? Does he have no respect for the holy month of Ramadhan, to be wantonly quenching his thirst in full view of Muslims? Does he not know that Muslims form the majority of this country and therefore must be respected?
This is the basic premise prevalent amongst many Malay-Muslims in this country. Muslims form the majority and therefore they are entitled to be respected. Malay-Muslim sensitivities must not be offended; the Malay-Muslim public must be protected from harm, confusion and many other bad and insidious things that may threaten the ummah. In recent times, these deep rooted sentiments are brought to the fore by opportunistic politicians. Thus it appeared as if Malay-Muslims have become more and more intolerant of minorities.
Malay-Muslims are entitled not to have a Hindu temple in the vicinity of their housing estate. Malay-Muslims are entitled to dictate what names others may use to invoke the Creator. Malay-Muslims are entitled to stop the sale of alcohol beverages and deny the establishment of a cinema in Malay majority areas.
Every Friday, Malay-Muslims are entitled to abandon their civic consciousness and park all over the place as if the streets belong to them. Malays-Muslims are entitled to blare religious ceramahs to every corner of the neighbourhood and into the wee hours of the night.
The prime minister must be Malay-Muslim, the civil service must be filled with Malay-Muslims and government bodies are seen as Malay institutions, tasked first and foremost to safeguard Malay and Muslim interests.
This premise of entitlement has also been used to justify the persecution and discrimination against sexual and religious minorities, purportedly because Article 3 provides that Islam is the religion of the Federation. So we say that LBGTs do not enjoy protection of the Constitution because their sexual orientations are against Islam, although we conveniently forget that other things, like gambling, are also forbidden in Islam but are still legal in this country. Books are seized and banned and fatwas are made absolute. In a recent decision, the Federal Court went so far to say that the integrity of the religion needs to be safeguarded at all costs. Does ‘at all costs’ include the supremacy of the Federal Constitution as the highest law of the land?
Make no mistake, this is not about Islam. It is about how we justify the discrimination, persecution and blatant disregard for fundamental liberties, all in the name of religion. It is how we view and treat others as inferior to us because we believe that we are entitled to do so. We permit transgressions because we labour under this presumption that Malay-Muslims, by virtue of being Malays and Muslims, are entitled to the best of the country as they occupy a higher standing than the rest of the rakyat out there.
There is no legal or constitutional basis for this. Article 3 does not make Malaysia an Islamic state and Article 4 expressly provides that the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Article 8 provides that every citizen is equal before the law and enjoys equal protection of the law. The oft quoted Article 153 does not make Malay-Muslims superior in law or fact, it only provides for the reservation of quotas for Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak in certain matters.
So what if Muslims are the majority? We have such a flawed understanding of democracy; as if in a democracy, the rights of minorities are inferior to the rights of the majority. That is why we have a Constitution, which protects and guarantees the fundamental liberties of citizens from the tyranny of the majority.
We find ourselves up in arms at the fate of Muslims minorities in other countries like Thailand, Philippines, Myanmar and China. We invoke freedom of religion when we hear of minarets being banned in Switzerland or burqas being banned in France. But if the rights of Muslim minorities should be protected in the face of the majority, why is it that we do not have the same vigour to protect the rights our non-Muslim minorities? Why must the rights of others here only be exercised if we deem those rights as exercisable?
So before you take offence at someone who is drinking in front of you while you are fasting, take a step back and think of your religion. Put aside your sense of entitlement and think; just because you are fasting, does it mean that everyone else around you must stow away their food and drinks?
Remember what Islam has instilled in you, not what Muslims have told you.
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The malays themselves have fucked up their own race…and blame the rest!
As an Arab, I am happy that you are all muslims too. Pity you all are so ugly but more souls for Islam the better.
Well done Bro Syah, for giving a crystal clear view in this auspicious month of Ramadan regarding (Quran 5:48)
"Then we revealed to you this scripture, truthfully, confirming previous scriptures, and superseding them. You shall rule among them in accordance with GOD's revelations, and do not follow their wishes if they differ from the truth that came to you. For each of you, we have decreed laws and different rites. Had GOD willed, He could have made you one congregation. But He thus puts you to the test through the revelations He has given each of you. You shall compete in righteousness. To GOD is your final destiny—all of you—then He will inform you of everything you had disputed."
So who are the real Muslim for Allah swt and hope the "Melayu-Muslims" understand this in this auspicious month.
Wassalam
most of them does not get the point of fasting. fasting is supposed to show restraints from these temptations. they should NOT force other people NOT to eat infront of them, as they are the ones that are supposed to restrain themselves in the first place. it is to strengthen their will.
but dont la overdo it and purposely eat in front of them.
I hope you guys are not only getting freedom of religion, but freedom from religion for anyone who wants to..
Being a muslim and a foreignor in malaysia i think we should view this issue from two sides as there are two sides to a coin and in this case we have; being human and also understanding the essence of fasting to my muslim brothers and sisters.
1. Being human is accepting that there are other religions in the the world and respecting them is taught in islam (Quran: chapter 60, verse 8. Chapter 5, verse 8; chapter 4, verse 90 etc). So disrespecting someone of another faith based on religious discrimination is not allowed in islam. So malay, Chinese, Indian, foreignor etc who do it in the name of Islam it's not acceptable and can even spoil you're fasting. I know we have differences in religion but one human being should not think they will oppress others because they don't believe in their faith that's wrong and for such, our beloved prophet gave us many examples like when he wanted to enter mecca and he was refused by non – muslim he dint disrespect them but he decided to negotiate with them. This should be an example to us my dear muslims. And remember anything bad you do in this holy month that's truly yoy as Saturn is locked up and has no influence over you.
2. Regarding fasting, I personally enjoy sitting across someone eating when am fasting because it tests me. It tests my patience. It shows that am strong in what I believe in. So I think muslim who want non – muslim not eat in this holy month are being unfair because they are not entitled to fasting. This is not there's. So if it disturbing a muslim I think that is having week faith or looking for an excuse to throw some words to a non – muslim. Fasting is a form of worship, a test for patience, resilience and submission. So we shouldn't crucify non – muslim friends for eating. If u cannot handle it's as a muslim, there are very many options like during eating time don't join them just go to surau and prat, recite quran etc.
3. From a human approach, I think it's also considerate not to eat infront of you're friend when he is fasting. They might see it as a sign of provocation so to avoid this its always better to just eat away from them Or go to a restaurant.
In conclusion, the burden lays with my fellow muslim. We shouldn't use ramadhan as an excuse. I personally hate it when one use ramadhan as an excuse, if you want fast cause I don't think you're forced because if you're forced to fast then it's a for nothing as your not fasting because of Allah but foe the person who is forcing you and that person Wi give you you're reward. Do everything for you, yourself and with expectation of reward from only Allah NOT from anyone else.
Thanks for reading. Hope I have helped
Hiss, aku dah 50 tahun, x pernah dengar Malay Muslim tumbuk non Muslim makan depan mereka!
Benda yg Tidak pernah diungkit oleh kami, tiba2 dibesar2kan!
Kawan2 yg cina dok bising kerana banyak kedai melayu tutup, nak makan susah! Itu ada.
Itu pun dlm bahasa melawak! Depa marah p.agama tak bagi buka kedai sebelum 3ptg…
Aku tak tau sapa yg dok kalut ni!
Any muslim who doesnt fast is between him n god. Frankly it is not my business. Anyone who wants to eat n drink infront of muslims but done unintentionally should be ok. The Quran says there is no compulsion in Islam
this is why malaysia is going to die
im muslim n im not offended by non muslim eat or drink around me…as far as i know islam didnt say that non muslim cannot eat in front of fasting muslim…the purpose of fasting not just not eating n drink during the day but god tested muslim's virtue n patient…experiance how very poors people hunger…
of course when u r hungry thirsty n exhusted…u r easily hot tempered…n fasting is battle to control urself in such condition…
the worst is muslim who ponteng puasa n eat drink or smoke infront non muslim…
no need to mention officer's asking for bribery for duit raya in fasting month…
for those non muslim who offended by good or bad fasting muslim…sorry for that…