Al-Fateh Grand Mosque
"No, you cannot enter! Visiting hours have ended!"
"Oh, ok.. But, can I pray inside? Or is it closed?"
"You're a muslim? Where you're from?"
"Yes. We're from Malaysia."
"Why don't you say you're a Muslim?! Are you not proud being a Muslim?"
"I am proud to be a Muslim! It's just not custom to me to announce myself, "I am a Muslim"."
"Then you should say, "I am a Muslim." I'll hug you and say, "Welcome, my brother".. Well of course you can enter. Is he a Muslim too?"
"No, he's not."
"Well, you can bring him inside too. Show him around. Teach him about Islam. Just don't let him touch the Qur'an, OK?"
"OK. Jazakallah khairan kathiran!"
Me and Lucas inside the Grand Mosque
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
Assalamualaikum wbth and Salam Sejahtera dear readers,
Above are some of the lines of the dialogue between me and the Imam of Al-Fateh Grand Mosque in Manama City, Bahrain, 2nd September 2010; 23rd Ramadhan 1431.
Well, for a start, me and my friend Lucas (nickname) are exchange students from Malaysia, at Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria for 6 months. We left Malaysia at 11pm (Malaysian time) to transit at Bahrain, then transit to Frankfurt, Germany. Finally to Graz, Austria. Our transit in Bahrain is for 12 hours, so we decided to wonder around Manama City. We visited the Grand Al-Fateh Mosque near the city in the evening (around 5.00pm), about 1.5 hours after Asar.
That's enough about me. Lets get into the topic. See my picture, and examine it closely. Can u guess what am I going to write? Yeah.. That's it.. If you read the papers/news in Malaysia, you should already know from the first look at my picture.
Getting straight to the point; As a Muslim, for me, the recent issue in Malaysia where YB Teo Nie Ching (DAP MP for Serdang) came to the Surau Al-Huda, Serdang and YB William Leong (PKR Treasurer, Member of Parliament for Selayang PKR) into the Masjid At-Taqwa, Selayang baru, is non other than typical political polemic of Malaysia. I am not being prejudice to the government, but seriously, if anything got to do with Chinese/Indian affairs with Islam, have always been sensitive in Malaysia. Well, typically, Chinese and Indian is common to be known as non-Muslim in Malaysia, right?
YB teo nie ching giving her speech in the Surau Al-Huda, Serdang regarding her donation.
Photo (taken from the blog stated on it): YB William Leong in Masjid At-Taqwa
Anyways, my point in the previous paragraph are;
1. In the context of Race: Why should you prejudice to them (Chinese and Indian-mainly)? We are always being brain-washed that Malaysian are living in Multi-racial society, in harmony. I do NOT agree. Malays typically has always been RACIST. Sorry if I'm being harsh. But its true. Try prove me wrong. I am open-minded, and we can discuss. And to Chinese and Indian out there, you guys, too, ARE racist. Malays: Have you ever heard of words like,"Cina memang macam tu. Sombong", or "Suka menipu je dalam bisnes" or "Orang India (something2)". Sorry, I'm not that familiar with words agains Indians, or Malays.
Try making friends with them. Get to know them. Maybe there are, some of them like in the statement. Maybe there are like that when they are actually not close to you. You just don't realise the potential in them; Eg: You do realise, that majority of all the businesses in Malaysia controlled by Chinese. Or that Malays are very particular about manners and attitude, and you don't see another race in the world that actually is like the Malays. Or do you know that among the most feared army in the old times is the Indians,
because of their courage and straight-forward attitude? So do get to know them., and create that "harmony" multi-racial society. Put away your pride and false perceptions. And that goes to me too.
2. More importantly, in the context of ISLAM: Why do we need to fight or create the tense atmosphere among the races, or the religions when it comes to any of these affairs? For an instance, in the case of YB Teo Nie Ching, aChinese (or non-muslim) entering the Mosque (surau, actually). Do not simply say, "Cannot, I can't accept this!! No means NO!". let me ask,
Where is your duty of Dakwah with Wisdom (Hikmah)?
ٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلۡحِكۡمَةِ وَٱلۡمَوۡعِظَةِ ٱلۡحَسَنَةِۖ وَجَـٰدِلۡهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحۡسَنُۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦۖ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ
Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance. (16:125)
Regarding this issue in Malaysia, actually in Islam, non-Muslim can enter the mosque. Refer to the Great Scholars in Islam. You will get the same answer. In this issue, you can visit this blog: http://jiwokelate.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/yb-nie-ching-ching-gembira-bertemu-tok-guru/. However, what I can conclude is, in this issue, is that you can enter a mosque (or a surau, of course), WITH a supervision of a Muslim. Well, you cannot touch the Quran, because you have to be clean and pure (sorry, I don't think the word "pure" can replace what I meant "suci". Or in Arabic, "Thaharah") to actually touch it. Muslim also cannot touch it if he/she is not "suci". We need to take the ablution or"Wudhu'/Air Sembahyang", beforehand, or if haven't Mandi Wajib/janabahafter junub, we need to do so to touch the Quran.
Anything with regards to the affair of Islam, refer to Islam. Do not refer to your feelings or "sensitivity" towards a nation/race. Allah said in the Quran,
ـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِى ٱلۡأَمۡرِ مِنكُمۡۖ فَإِن تَنَـٰزَعۡتُمۡ فِى شَىۡءٍ۬ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِۚ ذَٲلِكَ خَيۡرٌ۬ وَأَحۡسَنُ تَأۡوِيلاً
"O ye who believe! Obey God, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to God and His Messenger, if ye do believe in God and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination." (4:59)
He reminded us that, If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to God and His Messenger. Or in other words, refer to Islam. Refer to the Great Scholars. Surely you can resolve the issue without having such hassle in Malaysia. Then, I'd like to share another verse;
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُہَدَآءَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ وَلَا يَجۡرِمَنَّڪُمۡ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوۡمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعۡدِلُواْۚ ٱعۡدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقۡرَبُ لِلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ
O ye who believe! stand out firmly for God, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others
(other race) to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear God. For God is well-acquainted with all that ye do. (5:8)
Allah reminded us in this verse, that we should not let hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. the word used is "qaum" or "kaum", a Malay word. Do not because of your hatred towards Chinese/Indian people, lets you divert from justice. These
people deserves justice!
3. On both contexts: To all the Non-Muslims all the Muslims out there! Do not be prejudice about Islam! Do not rely on your false perceptions. Please.. Study Islam. Get to know Islam better. Islam covers every single aspects in life. Study the Quran. It IS the greatest book ever, the words of my Lord and your Lord, Allah. It is preserved by Allah Himself till the Doomsday, or the Day of Judgement. Quoting the words from Almarhum Sheikh Ahmad Deedat;
"For instance, if you take all the Quran, every single one, (even in the internet) and destroy ALL (and he means, ALL) of them! Then I will call 7 true Muslims Hafiz (the one who memorize the Quran) from 7 different continents all around the World, (and they do not know each other at all!) to write the Quran. Believe me, you will get the exact same Quran revealed to the Prophet Muhammad SAW 1400 years ago!"
Why is that? Because it is preserve by the Lord Himself. Get to know the True WAY OF LIFE, why are we born on this planet. And I say this because the Quran is not exclusively for Muslims. It is for ALL Mankind (and all other creatures too!). Why did i say that? Because of this verse;
"We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures." (21:107)
So you should study it (goes to me too!).
Speaking of the verse above, You also need to get to know the personality of the Number 1 Most Influential Person in History,
Muhammad Rasulullah (PBUH), the Last Prophet, Messenger of Allah. ("thee" in the verse refers to Muhammad Rasulullah (PBUH))
Enter Islam wholly (not partially). Be a good Muslim. Do what is told by Allah and His Messenger. Do not do what is forbidden by Allah and His Messenger. DON'T WORRY! If you are born as Chinese, you will die as Chinese. If you're born as an Indian, die as an Indian. If you are Malay, die as Malay. You cannot change your race no matter what you do. And it makes no difference which race you are. However, dying as a Muslim makes a difference.
Allah guarantees you the Heaven/Paradise/Jannah.
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ
"O ye who believe! Fear God as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam. (3:102)"
ـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱدۡخُلُواْ فِى ٱلسِّلۡمِ ڪَآفَّةً۬ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ خُطُوَٲتِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَڪُمۡ عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬
"O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the Evil One; for he is to you an avowed enemy. (2:208)"
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said;
من قال لا اله الا الله دخل الجنة
man qaala laa ilaaha ill-Allah dakhal al-Jannah.
Whoever says, "Laailaaha ill-Allah" enters Paradise."
and the phrase "Laailaaha ill-Allah" meant "No (other) God other than Allah". Take time, and think about it k! Do leave a comment~ Thank you very much for your time! Jazakumullah Khair!
Lucas walking towards the Al-Fateh Grand Mosque (with Hidayah, InsyaAllah)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى تِجَارَةٍ تُنجِيكُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ . تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ"
Hai orang-orang yang beriman, sukakah kamu aku tunjukkan suatu perniagaan yang dapat menyelamatkanmu dariazab yang pedih? (yaitu) kamu beriman kepada Allah dan RasulNya dan berjihad di jalan Allah dengan harta dan jiwamu. Itulah yanglebih baik bagimu, jika kamu mengetahui."[As-Saf, 61:10-11]
