Maulidur Rasul Marches
I am not sure of the reasons about the hoo-has surrounding the 'decision NOT to have the maulidur rasul march' this year in Penang.
Maulidur rasul marches have one overriding aim in mind- that of publicly showing our love to the Prophet and showing to the world, that here in Malaysia, we are good Muslims. Good Muslims march in processions. They sing selawats loudly.
The essence of Muhammad and his message are often lost in noisy marches.
Firstly, there wasn't any decision to ban at all. if Lim Guan Eng does that, it would be politically suicidal for him. As a non Muslim, he must have Muslim advisers. Go ask them what happened. Listening to the head of Jabatan Agama Islam Penang, he didn't indicate of any decisions not to hold events celebrating Prophet Muhammad. Indeed he was indicating looking at alternative forms/events on how to celebrate Prophet Muhammad meaningfully. If it's true that Penang is going to have a 3 day celebration of the Prophet by way of several programs, those events may turn out to be more meaningful.
The newspaper which made the reports didn't get the facts right and in the end, made the DPM look stupid. If Mohd Ali aka Cassius Clay were to be in Malaysia, he would be saying to DPM- you are stupid as you look. Tun Pak Lah? Well you know, maybe he was sleeping and people doubt whether he reads newspapers.
Second thing, about this maulidur rasul. It is insulting to Muslims to suggest that marching and sweating it out is the way to express our love to the prophet. Perhimpunan ummah, having special prayers, recounting the life of the prophet are better ways to celebrate our Prophets.
Some of the UMNO children don't know what to respond when hearing the name Muhammad SAW uttered. Some UMNO people and some remembers of the royalty I know, uttered the literal SAW( as in wood saw). So they will say, Muhammad S.A.W or saw instead of Sallalla hualai hiwasallam. Some even said Muhamad Subhanahu wataala. Yet these are the people who be pulling their hair and jump in showy tantrums, when maulidur rasul marches are not held.
It could be that holding maulidur rasul is essentially a political decision whether Islamic or secular. It could very also be a bidaah practice.
Many states under UMNO control don't hold maulidur rasul marches. They wisely decide that holding special prayers, reading of Yassin, holding out tazkirah, having majlis maulids are better. I would rather go to a ratib haddad session than to a maulidur rasul march. Or maybe I could suggest that marchers go visit the madrasah at taufiqiah al husainiah of Fuad al Rembawi. Those in Negeri Sembilan will achieve more listening to ustaz Fuad than marching with MB Hassan.
After the march, what?Your Faith go up a few notches? 
12 comments:
excellant piece dato
Nevertheless i am tad a bit curious to know whether those who are calling the shots in UMNO listening to you?
Are they reading ur blog and doing some kinda reflection and prepared to take the road less taken?
whats ur call in this dato dearest?
Dear Dato',
I won't comment on the Malidur Rasul Marches per say because I won't be able to understand it fully as I am not a Muslim. All I do understand is that it is an important religious event for the Muslims and whether or not LGE was trying to downplay its significance or not. The answer is 'yes' or 'no' - I believe the answer is still 'yes', your post withstanding.
But I can comment on this jibe of Pak Lah being a 'sleepy' PM. This jibe may have fact but its implication is taken totally out of context due to the many venomous allegations spewed against PL.
Right now, we can rebutt some of these venomous allegations. In fact we were challenged to do so, and I quote this portion from the web blog Chedet (source of venom against Pak Lah)
<"7. I am still trying to figure this out. Maybe those who read this blog might be able to enlighten me."
But when we provide the facts to dispel these notions of PL being an ineffective PM, our comments are censored.
On your blog is written clearly the words
"CHALLENGE EVERY ASSUMPTION"
Do we challenge assumptions only made by Pak Lah (who had been ridiculed and kicked to oblivion) or can we also challenge assumptions by the so called Grand Old Man?
I do hope that you will ponder on this, because this issue was blasted on the blogosophere like crazy, and it is my sincere hope, as one of the few remaining elder statesman of the sopo blogging world, you would be willing to lend your mighty platform to challenge the assumption that there was an element of hanky panky in the sale of MV for RM 4.
Yeah....me thinks it is bidaah. Yet KJ tried to make it an issue. Trying to gain support from his own race rather than putting things right. I am surprised.
And to the UMNO leaders, you must verify the facts before making statements lest you will be branded as stupid or idiot no matter how high your position maybe.
Let us be honest, LGE is smarter than many UMNO leaders. Like you said, it suicidal if he ban the Maulidur rasul procession. But sadly UMNO leaders never use their head....the aim is only to incite hatred even when LGE is doing a good job in Penang.
That Zahrain guy, merajuk sebab tak dapat contract. Itu saja. If LGE agree to award the contract to the RM2 company, he will praise LGE sky high. It is all about money, wealth and greed. The country and people's welfare is not the real agenda.
but DAP government in Penang did issue letter to all state government agencies on the 'pembatalan perarakan maulidur rasul'.
did you not read the letter datuk?
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xAgD1bR0Mi0/S3aytSRArlI/AAAAAAAAD-g/LeoJs21IR1E/s1600-h/pen1.JPG
Indeed, some Muslim scholars outside of Malaysia consider the Maulid celebration to be bid'ah. If there is a division of opinion even among scholars, then the least we can do is make sure any celebration we do is appropriate, carrying religious value and educating people.
A march is fine, as a symbol of unity for the Muslims, as long as it's kept civil. Prayers and ceramah are better.
As much as we Malaysians like to pretend that it does not happen, there's a lot of "posturing" by wannabe Muslims to show that "I am a better Muslim" than he / she is.
That is why you have "NGO"s like Perkasa, and "racist" political parties like UMNO.
These are not true Muslims. As you've rightly pointed out in your blog, these are "people" that think they understand Islam, but they are just using it for their personal interests.
True Muslims do not "shout," "scream," "whine" and overall draw unwanted attention to themselves.
There are more peaceful ways of resolving issues / problems / misunderstandings.
What Malaysia has become in the past 10 - 15 years especially is a hardening of these "ultras."
Personally, the issues confronting Malaysia is, at its very basic "much ado about nothing." For example, this Allah issue. If the Home Ministry had kept out of it 2 or 3 years ago, no body would have cared. But then, UMNO thought that it was "smart" by restricting what had been used in East Malaysia for hundreds of years. Even now, if you ask the "regular" person on the street, they would probably say they don't care! Really. However, the issue is now blown out of porportion. The non-Muslims see it as an assault on their rights to free worship, etc. and they will now "fight" for this right. The Muslims now see this as an affront to their religion, and will not "fight" to ensure Islam is not abused.
Yet, if you again look at this issue in a different tack, UMNO is essentially telling East Malaysia NOT TO USE Bahasa Malaysia as the national language.
Why do I say this? Simple. The Allah issue arose because the East Malaysians equate "GOD" to "Allah" as a result of their use of Bahasa Malaysia / Melayu / Indonesia as the common language among the various ethnic dialects / languages.
Isn't this the goal of Bahasa Malaysia? To be the universal language for all Malaysians? So, by the East Malaysians adopting this concept, they are punished for it? If I were them, my solution would be . . . Screw Bahasa Malaysia! Let's learn English instead.
This is the fallacy that is Malaysia. It "pretends" to be a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-this, multi-that. Our true heritage is multi-faceted. However, because of the lust for power by UMNO, what makes is strong is perverted and used to make us weak!
The most hypocritical of all "slogans" is the speech that was recently given by Najib. As headlined on Malaysian Insider - "Divided, we fall" - that is exactly what UMNO has done to this country.
Now, for those that have seen the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada (it's not a big thing in Malaysia, since we aren't participating) it puts Malaysia, and most of the world to shame! The reason? Canada used the opening ceremony to highlight its rich heritage, from giving "prime" attention to its many indigenous (orang asli) people, to its languistic heritage - English and French, its diversity, it's rich resources, etc. Now, one may say that . . . well, Canada was putting its best foot forward. Perhaps.
Now, we Malaysians should ask ourselves . . . if we had the world stage, would we have highlighted our "orang asli," our minorities, our diversity in such a prominent way? If you answer honestly, you will know which direction Malaysia, as a country is heading.
That is what separates Malaysia from the developed nations of the world, and why, unless our government changes its way of thinking (BN or PR, or whoever), we will never achieve the "developed nation" status in both statistics, civics and "soul."
I am befuddled why UMNO leaders who live a life of sin - corruption, lies and deceit - defend Islam, the prophet and the use of the word Allah.
Their way of expressing love for the prophet is by procession not by abiding by his teachings.
Dato,
Pak Dodo and the mud-faced DPM does not seem to understand that neither LGE nor anyone else has the authority to cancel the Maulidur Rasul procession.
Even the Home Ministry and PDRM do not have such authority although they have the discretion to grant a permit for a procession if it is not contrary to public order and national security.
Cheng Poh Heng
.... but what about that letter to which KJ keeps referring to. May be YAB LEG should make it public to pit the issue to rest. Ramalx
Hi dato, this document vindicates LGE. Hope you will consider putting up at your site in the interest of justice and truth for which you are well known to fight for in bloggersphere. Regards,
http://www.mediafire.com/?okzhrni55w0
well somebody showed a copy of the letter sent out by the suk. cannot comment much as the lampiran A is not available for viewing. anyhow, the marches is just a ceremony.the letter did mentioned that the marches is being replaced with a majlis perhimpunan ummah. the letter did also mentioned that the decision was made by the jawatankuasa induk majlis sambutan maulidul rasul. so what is all the fuss about anyway? if the majlis perhimpunan ummah is going to have a ceramah about the prophet's life or any religious matter, if the marches is to be given 10 pahala the majlis will be given 1000 pahala insyaAllah. want to know why? ask the mufti of penang. here's a hint, it is something called one of the gardens of paradise
Why must involve or invoke God in politics;if its so important might as well call Allah to be the Chief Minister.so it will solve all the problem!LOL
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