Is Muslim’s faith so fragile?

While commending government’s effort to fight apostasy as noble, PAS vice president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man however questioned why the government is not putting effort in strengthening the faith of Muslims.

Responding to the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS)’s raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) Jan 2, Tuan Ibrahim pointed out that the crux of the matter was on the fear that the usage of several terms exclusive to Muslims by non-Muslims would create confusion, misunderstanding and in the end lead to apostasy.

“The main issue is on the ban to non-Muslims to use the few terms exclusive to Muslims such as Allah, Insya Allah, Masya Allah, zikir, sembahyang and others. There few terms are exclusive to Muslims only. It is strange and weird; in fact, Malaysia may be the only country executing such laws.

Why it forbids non-Muslims from using those terms? The answer is on the fear that it will create misunderstanding, confusion and in the end causing the Muslims to be influenced and leave Islam, by professing to other religions, because thinking other religions are just as same for using the same terms.

But, the main question is the Malaysian Muslims’ faith is so fragile to the extent that certain terms like this can lead to apostasy?” Tuan Ibrahim questioned in a statement issued this morning.

The Pahang PAS commissioner said it would be impossible for the government to stop others from using the terms given the availability of variety of new media.

“Everyone can write, spread and distribute information about their information,” he said.

“The more important question will be where’s the government’s effort to strengthen the faith of Muslims? Why Islamic subject was not made compulsory in our education system?

Why other subjects are deemed more important from Islamic faith to the extent they are made compulsory passed but not the Islamic subject? How many hours are utilised to strengthen the faith of Muslims? Have the mosques being utilised properly to strengthen the faith of the congregate?” questioned Tuan Ibrahim.

On the Allah issue, Tuan Ibrahim questioned why there is no blanket ban on Malay version Bible, including Sabah and Sarawak, if it is a matter related to Muslim’s faith.

“This is why, the Allah issue is more political than about strengthening of one’s faith. If it is truly related to Muslim’s faith, why the government is only taking care of Islam in the peninsular region, and how many Muslims in Sabah and Sarawak have left Islam due to this issue?” he asked.

Amid the economic pressure and burden faced by the people, Tuan Ibrahim said it would not be surprising if the latest controversy was just escapism from the real issues affecting the people.

“To shift from an issue to another is a typical strategy in countries where its government fails to come out with solution to people’s problem, then it creates new issue to divert from the real issue.

Every party must be careful to tackle such sensitive issues that can bring harm to the country. We must realise that the issue of religion, race and language are among those sensitive subjects that must be handle delicately,” he advised. -HD