The Defector and Religious Conviction

In these times, it is always tricky and it needs some degree of astuteness to observe religious rulings in certain simple matters and in some encounters. The universal handshake is quite challenging for Muslims who hold strong convictions concerning the prohibitive injunction on the direct touching or contact of a non-muhrim's hand without just cause. For instance, the Iranian diplomatic staff after their 1979 Revolution put up posters reminding guests to their embassies of such prohibition in a polite and subtle manner so as to assure visitors that their staff had no intention to offend but were simply observing Islamic rulings. In the early days of Reformasi when Dr Wan Azizah or affectionately known as Kak Wan launched ADIL as an organized movement and as she went about touring the country, she was usually spotted with a shawl over her shoulders. The shawl was used to fulfil the ruling but without offending well wishers and supporters who came from all walks of life to shake hands with such a wonderful person. Later on, she wore a glove. This is similar to the one worn by Tabung Haji desk officers in handling customers when they come into contact who are non-muhrim.

Why then did such a simple gesture done to observe a religious ruling by Dr Wan Azizah is being mocked by the one and only political gung-ho defector MP representing Kulim Bandar Bharu is anyone's guess. It seems that among the common traits of defectors are to attack and vilify those who once ago were held in their high esteem and confidence. Investigating further, there is the attempt to ridicule and deride the high regard morally that the public has consistently had with Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Wan Azizah and her family. We can observe and record these attacks from the speeches and statements that come from various defectors as if they were set pre-conditions of their rehabilitation to get back into the governing regime. Defectors look for her vulnerability to take cowardly pot shots to swipe and stain her family name while sometimes stopping short to show that as if they still cared. How pathetic.

Dr Wan Azizah and family have been through this over and over again. We pray and hope that they shall persevere and remain strong. They are the symbol of a decent and upright family somehow caught in a strong test of faith and will. We are demanding such high moral standards from them without even being in their shoes and thus lose sense of the reality that sinks in that makes certain people run cowering for their lives to defect. Can anyone imagine how is was for an eye doctor who became a housewife albeit a very important one to come to lead such a new fledgling rainbow political party while at the same time caring for her incarcerated husband and taking care of the whole family. Just consider the challenges going to parliament after the disastrous 2004 elections, being the sole KeAdilan MP amidst the stares, the vilification, the slurs and the innuendos of hostile ruling MPs'. Women's rights groups simply ignored her plight being more concerned about assailing anything non-secular and religious.

We shall relate an incident observed by my other half during the heated and intense nomination day of the November 1999 elections at Tengku Bainon Educational College nomination centre for the Permatang Pauh seat. Dr Wan Azizah's candidacy was up against Dr Ibrahim Saad, a close family friend and Anwar Ibrahim's former political colleague and loyalist. My significant other was with one of Dr Wan Azizah's daughter engaging in conversation. Then, a voice, a lady called out gently to the daughter and asked her (called herself auntie) to fetch a cup of cold drinks. The daughter dutifully went to deliver the drink to the lady. My other half enquired, "Who was that?". The daughter replied, "O, that is Auntie Zainab, the wife of Dr Ibrahim Saad". When asked further, she said they as a family had no grievances against them and still regarded them as friends of the family. She could say that even when their father was taken away from them, slandered, beaten up and jailed, and their mother was for the first time facing a political tussle with an erstwhile family friend who had turned on them.

Indeed, this was a truly noble family and they bore no vindictiveness.

Whatever the Kulim MP might say, he has left something invaluable behind for some illusive and misleading pot of gold.

Corruption and Betrayal

“In the name of Allah, I left the party not because of money, power or anything else but principles. I’ll have you know that I stood by Anwar till the day he was released from prison. I had defended him when no one else would,” said Ezam to a 100-odd people, mostly grassroots Umno supporters in Wangsa Maju. "Anwar cared so much for Azmin, almost like a second wife. Azmin is very close to Anwar, so close that they have had “moments” together,” said Ezam, hinting that Azmin’s relationship with Anwar was more than just that of colleagues. Like Ezam, Anuar Shaari also insinuated that Azmin had been “intimate” with Anwar in the past. He said that the campaign to smear Anwar and Pakatan had only just begun and they would be doubling their efforts in weeks to come with similar ceramahs.

(Malaysian Insider)

Wow, with comrades like these around, you do not really need enemies. They'll be there to stab your back anytime, over and over again. Why are they zealously offering themselves like a pack of attacking hounds on a crusade to crucify Anwar Ibrahim when he is already being engulfed viciously in fitnah 2? Have they lost every bit of human decency, honour and dignity? Will they be celebrating in the event of Anwar's demise and second imprisonment? How do they sleep nights, relishing thoughts of treachery and betrayal? Surely, is by doing what they are doing, the only thing that brings bread to their families' table? They shall inevitably atone for all of their actions whether they like it or not, or else be buried in shame forever.

In September 1998, at Anwar Ibrahim's former house in Damansara days after his inglorious sacking, just after maghrib prayers Sheikh Taha Jabir of the International Institute of Islamic Thought gave a short sermon. He delivered a tadhkirah, on the relevant verse in surah An Nur concerning the hadith al ifk, the fitnah. In it he reminded everyone that those who are accomplices to the fitnah shall have their testimony and their trust revoked forever - abada. The two men above who were Anwar's confidants staunchly supporting him then , were there but they must have forgotten. How tragic.

My Son

My son who is 15 years old asked me a question in the car recently. He asked whether Professor Yusuf Qaradawi met with our Religious Affairs Minister when he was over here. I said he must have since he was to receive the national Maal Hijrah award. My son asked whether Prof Qaradawi brought up the fitnah II issue with the minister. Again, I said he must have offered his advice and caution to the minister. My son asked what did the minister say which I replied I could only guess that he would say that he was personally not involved and it is a pending court case so let the court decide, which maybe is so more or less. My son argued that surely the minister is religiously knowledgeable and should have done the right thing. I had to say that knowledge is not everything especially if it is subdued by power and dictated by interests. Sometimes my son goes on about the muftis, why are they not doing this or that. My son has this fascination, respect and high regard for religious teachers and scholars which he should have and proudly so. But the realities are mighty challenging. We pray that our son remains steadfast to the religion and maintains his respect for knowledge and people of knowledge.

In 1999, a friend who is a senior architect somewhere in the north asked one of the members of the state fatwa committee why they did not make a stand in the first fitnah seeing that it was such a shameful and malicious episode. The scholar replied that they were not fighters but the one put in prison is the fighter. Possessing knowledge and to act upon it is a major test for everyone and there is no exception.

So it came to pass that a group of religious teachers and upright educators were intimidated by administrators for carrying on with tadhkirah which were not in the regime's favour and flavour. Suddenly these well meaning and knowledgeable people were given the test of their lives by being made to be subject to reprimand, fear and pressure. Now, everyone came to realise the true meaning of tadhkirah, it is not something shallow nor empty , meant for a docile crowd. It is something which has to face and come to terms with hostility. These incidences shape the outlook and worldview of things, material hardship and promotion chances are dangled as if the administrators know and have power over other humans in being beneficent. How far it is from the truth. Has corruption come to this lowest level that good people are being forced to succumb and surrender their will and suppress their noble knowledge in the pursuit of people in power.

We hope that our sons and daughters do not have to come to this stage where evil is upheld and truth is suppressed knowingly. If it comes to this then we have condemned our own future generation.