TWO recent news articles made me write this article. The first is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unprecedented move to hold the Raya Open House in all states. The other is the tired and disgusting news about PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang not wanting to be in DAP’s kitchen.
Anwar’s bid to close ranks and build bridges is the new Madani Islam as opposed to Hadi’s attempt to make enemies of all neighbours and others in Malaysia. Anwar’s approach to me represents the true spirit of Islam while Hadi’s stand is that of a false Muslim.
By “false” I mean a Muslim with a narrow mind and an even narrower spirit that would make building bridges across the divides of religion, race, politics and social status difficult, if not impossible.
Very quickly, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) election machinery is in a panic mode. How to respond to Anwar’s brilliant strategy of using kindness, compassion and a spiritual strength of building brotherhood among humankind?
Of course, the PN people will say this is a gimmick for the state elections. It’s funny that they did not say the same thing when Anwar visited flood victims in opposition-led states. A dirty heart is still a dirty heart.
Whatever serban (men’s headgear) or jubah (robe) one wears and however many times one goes to the mosque for prayers, a dirty heart is still a rotten one.
One of the great attributes of Islam that Anwar understands and that I, too, understood is not to make enemies of people but to forge bridges of trust, faith and understanding. It does not matter that the other is of a different culture, a different faith or even an outright self-declared enemy.
The Prophet Muhammad emphasises the character of good manners, a smiling face and a heart that thinks of the nicest aspects of another person. The Islam that Hadi now teaches is always to make enemies, to be suspicious, to sow discord and to cultivate mistrust between Muslims and others as well as between Muslims and other Muslims.
The right way
Anwar’s approach represents the true spirit of Islam while Hadi Awang’s is that of a false Muslim.
When Anwar became the PM, I told my wife that he would perform sembahyang Jumaat (Friday prayers) at all mosques in Malaysia, Allah willing. I also told my wife Anwar’s strength in cultivating the Islamic brotherhood and the nations “brethrenhood” is the key strength of his leadership.
Why? He has a generous and kind heart cultivated through years of hardship and meditation not only in the prisons of the world but more so the prisons of the mind and the heart. I know several individuals like Anwar and I make them as a beacon of humanity that is sorely missing.
It is sad that everything the PM does now will be interpreted in political and strategic terms. It is unfortunate that many are not able to see the spiritual depth and breadth of his actions.
Those who possess the depth and breadth of spirituality can see the attributes of a great soul and an open mind in Anwar’s speeches, actions and even gestures.
Those who can’t, I am afraid, are either lost in their own self-delusion or false piety or simply loss to the world as defined in realpolitik or selfish economic calculations.
Life is more than just politics. Once upon a time, I thought that Hadi and Anwar were my beacons to Islamic spirituality. But now I know that one has the true light while the other is simply evil in disguise.
How do I know this? The evil one always shows himself to be more pious than others while the true Muslim is humble in silence but full of inclusive actions. The evil one always places others of different faiths as inferior and glorify only his own misguided ideas of iman (faith on God) and righteousness.
The true Muslim accords dignity and respect to all as Allah’s wonderful creation. The evil one always says that only him and his own gang of followers will be in heaven while the true Muslim leaves Allah alone to decide and hopes that he will be accepted.
When UMNO in BN was holding the federal power, its thought was always political, hence it never organised anything that Anwar is now doing.
Anwar’s stand is the Islamic position of making friends and building bridges. In fact, there are no enemies of Islam among others. The only true enemies of Islam are the Muslims who think they themselves are special by their own sense of false piety.
Likewise, they always think themselves as more superior in every way than others of different faiths and also of the same faith but of a different political view.
The open house concept of Anwar goes beyond Hari Raya. It marks a significant shift towards the politics of brotherhood and inclusiveness as against the politics of greed and selfishness framed in bigotry and racism. – April 22, 2023
Prof Dr Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi is a Professor of Islamic Architecture at a local university and his writing reflects his own personal opinion entirely. This opinion editorial first appeared in Sin Chew Daily’s English news portal under the same title.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main pic credit: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Facebook
