Sumpah Seranah bencana ummah

Apabila seorang pemuda melakukan sumpah laknat dengan menggunakan nama Allah serta memegang Al-Quran di dalam masjid di ibu negara bagi meyakinkan bahawa kejadian hina terhadap dirinya memang benar berlaku, sebahagian orang Melayu/Islam menjadi kebingungan dengan sumpah laknat yang dilakukan oleh si penuduh ini.

Apa yang dikatakan permasalahan umat Islam berlegar di antara kedaifan umat dan kelesuan ulama nyata berlaku. Para ahli ulama juga menjadi mangsa keadaan berpolemik dalam memberikan pandangan samada sumpah tersebut sah atau tidak dan adakan ia mengikut tuntutan Islam. Isu pokok dan tunjang kepada keseluruhan permasalahan iaitu pemerataan fasad, penularan korupsi, fitnah jahat dan qazaf tidak ditangani dengan jelas dan tegas.

Maka cabar mencabar pun berlakulah sehingga ke hari ini oleh pelbagai manusia berkepentingan mendesak supaya Anwar bersumpah laknat bagi menafikan bahawa beliau bersalah. Namun Anwar tidak melayannya desakan-desakan tersebut dan menggunakan fatwa pengerusi ulama sedunia Dr Yusuf Al Qardawi serta para mufti tempatan bahawa tiada keperluan untuk Anwar bersumpah.

Melihat kepada komentar dada-dada akhbar mengenai isu ini, jelas menampakkan kejahilan tentang hukum syara’. Tetapi mereka tetap mengajak orang ramai mempercayai kejahilan atau yang lebih tepat digelar propaganda. Lebih malang lagi, apabila ada ulama rasmi – kecuali yang dirahmati oleh Allah swt, yang sepatutnya memimpin dan memandu para pemimpin tersebut dalam perkara agama – hanya mengesahkan sahaja.

Kebangkitan gempar Ustaz Ramlang Porigi untuk membantah secara terbuka dan mendedahkan kebatilan aksi sumpah di Masjid Wilayah satu fenomena mengkagumkan masyarakat. Dia dilaporkan telah dihentikan perkhidmatannya di Masjid berkenaan.

Padahal kita diajar untuk merenung ayat al-Quran, dalam surah al-Mujadalah, ayat 14 hingga 16, di mana Allah swt menceritakan tentang sifat kaum munafiqin yang selalu bersumpah palsu.

“Tidakkah engkau melihat (bagaimana jahatnya) orang-orang yang bersahabat karib dengan kaum yang telah dimurkai Allah (dengan sebab kekufuran dan khianatnya)? Mereka itu bukanlah dari golongan kamu dan bukan pula dari golongan kaum yang tersebut itu (kerana mereka ialah golongan munafik); dan lagi mereka selalu bersumpah dengan dusta, sedang mereka mengetahui (bahawa mereka adalah berdusta). Allah telah menyediakan bagi mereka azab seksa yang berat; sesungguhnya amatlah buruk apa yang mereka telah lakukan. Mereka menjadikan sumpahnya sebagai perisai (untuk menyelamatkan diri dan harta bendanya daripada dirampas atau dibunuh), maka dengan yang demikian dapatlah mereka menghalang (dirinya dan orang lain) dari jalan Allah; oleh itu mereka beroleh azab seksa yang menghina.”

Terjemahan Al Quran dalam Surah Al Qalam ayat 10 - 14 pula,

Dan janganlah engkau (berkisar dari pendirianmu yang benar, dan jangan) menurut kemahuan orang yang selalu bersumpah, lagi yang hina (pendapatnya dan amalannya),

Yang suka mencaci, lagi yang suka menyebarkan fitnah hasutan (untuk memecah belahkan orang ramai), -

Yang sering menghalangi amalan-amalan kebajikan, yang melanggar hukum-hukum ugama, lagi yang amat berdosa, -

Yang jahat kejam, yang selain itu tidak tentu pula bapanya.

Adakah kerana ia seorang hartawan dan ramai anak-pinaknya (maka ia mendustakan ugama Kami)?

Menurut Ustazah Fatimah Az-Zahra, kerja bersumpah ini sebenarnya kerja orang munafik. Sebab mereka tahu mereka bohong, demi untuk meyakinkan orang ramai supaya pembohongan mereka diterima, maka mereka pun beriya-iya mahu bersumpah.

Mengikut Imam Syafie, Sumpah adalah makruh berdasarkan Surah Al-Baqarah ayat 224 :- Dan janganlah kamu jadikan (nama) Allah dalam sumpah kamu sebagai penghalang untuk berbuat kebajikan, bertakwa dan mengadakan islah di antara manusia. Dan Allah Maha Mendengar lagi Maha Mengetahui.

Satu kajian terperinci oleh USIM menyatakan perlaksanaan sumpah dianggap batal sekiranya tidak menepati syarat-syarat yang telah ditetapkan oleh syarak. Tidak semua kes-kes boleh dilaksanakan sumpah. Para ulama bersepakat, tidak harus melaksanakan sumpah pada hak-hak Allah SWT semata-mata seperti zina, Qazaf dan lain-lain lagi. Para ulamak bersepakat mengenai pengharusan melaksanakan sumpah dalam kes-kes mal. (rujukan baik tentang amalan sumpah di mahkamah syariah di laman:- http://zulkiflihasan.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/konsep-sumpah-dalam-islam2.pdf

Ini telah ditegaskan oleh fatwa Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan pada 2008 bahawa sumpah hanya berlaku selepas proses perundangan dan ia hanya ditentukan oleh mahkamah syariah.

Pandangan dan nasihat mantan menteri hal ehwal Islam JPM dan penasihat agama kepada Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Othman adalah bernas, jujur dan baik diteladani:-

"Perbuatan bermubahalah (sumpah laknat) adalah bercanggah dengan ajaran Islam terutama jika ia membabitkan unsur-unsur politik."

Beliau berkata, "Sumpah adalah suatu perkara yang tidak boleh dipermain-mainkan dan hanya perlu dilakukan ketika dalam mahkamah membabitkan peruntukan undang-undang atau kanun tertentu."

''Sumpah bukan boleh dibuat sewenang-wenangnya, jika yang bersumpah itu mahu menunjukkan bahawa kalau dia benar-benar bersalah maka akan turun azab daripada Tuhan."

''Tetapi bagaimana pula keadaannya jika orang yang bersumpah itu tidak dikenakan azab (di dunia), adakah itu menunjukkan dia benar-benar tidak bersalah?"

''Sedangkan ajaran Islam hanya mempercayai bahawa azab Allah kepada umat-Nya akan dikenakan di akhirat dan bukannya di dunia," katanya.

Being on the wrong side of history

A friend of mine told me that while on the board the flight that was taking Malaysian students safely back from Egypt, officials asked them to prepare thank you notes and posters showering praise on the government for helping them. It seems anything goes for propaganda and cheap political mileage. It shows the shallow state of mind of some of us.

The Malaysian prime minister made some baffling statements concerning Sheikh Yusuf al Qaradawi and the Ikhwan Muslimin - the Muslim Brotherhood. He was said to paint them as extremists. But probably upon realising the implications, the strong reaction and condemnation from many quarters, he made some twists of adjustments. He clarified that he only wanted them to change their ways and reject extremism. This made it even more astounding. People do remember that it was his august office that awarded the prestigious Malaysian Maal Hijrah title in 2009 to Yusuf al Qaradawi in recognition of his outstanding scholarship and contributions in the world today. Malaysian politicians do say and do awful things sometimes.

The PM's mission to Turkey was to probably get endorsements as he desperately wanted to be seen as the the voice and star of Muslim moderation in the world today. People probably believe he got an earful from Turkish PM Erdogan concerning Anwar. Some say that the PM received the same from Qaradawi when he was here.

The prime minister's sudden alarmist interest in the views of al Qaradawi is not surprising if he seems to want to align himself to those of Tony Blair, old Europe, the Neo cons and the Liebermans. His choice of media in Washington seems to be the extremely right wing conservative press like the National Review although he claims to be a moderate Muslim. This sort of appeasement may be acceptable and expedient in the short term but in the end, the world has changed and the right wing agenda shall never have a place anymore in liberated Arab and Muslim minds. Even the US and its allies will have to change to accepting the will and free determination of the people of the Middle East or anywhere else.

The Muslim brotherhood has a long and illustrious history. They were the resistance to colonialism, fighting against imperialism and the Israel project. They raised the dignity of the people and transformed the youth to be principled Muslims and to be upright upholding truth and justice. They rejuvenated and reformed Muslim society. They were put down brutally and suffered decades of severe suppression but kept on going with faithful resilience. They never took up arms against the state no matter what it did to them. They were never greedy for power. They were the voice of moderation and the conscience of the majority. The people were forever with them even through banishment and years of persecution. It is then for the Egyptian people to decide and not for us.

They certainly do not need dubious analysis or misguided advice from a prime minister who is headed for the wrong side of history.

In the time of fitnah

In September 1998, when my daughter was only 12 years old, she helped me to translate from Malay to English, Professor Yusuf Qaradawi's fatwa or edict on the slander or qazaf befalling Anwar Ibrahim. When we came to the verses of the Qur'an's surah al hujurat, she read the translation concerning a slanderous person being compared to eating his own brother's flesh, she said "yurrgh". We were deeply moved and engrossed in Qaradawi's views which clearly spelt out Islam's abhorrence of slander and false accusations (qazaf), the upholding of honour, truth and justice , brotherhood and protecting the dignity of mankind.

Our translation was sent out in those days to abimlink and other mailing lists, and later it turned out that the PAS newspaper Harakah published it in full in its English section albeit without any form of acknowledgement. We were both surprised but contented. We felt that we had done our part.

Back then, when the masses were up in huge protests, the voices of official religious authorities were quite muted. So there were no local fatwas on such shameful, heinous and humiliating accusations being spouted and splashed daily by an insane and diabolical media onslaught which damaged the Muslim psyche in particular and challenged the clear position of the Islamic principles and shariah concerning testimony, morality, dignity and slander. Although pronouncements were made by many local scholars but the authoritative figures remained hushed. If there were private gestures, these efforts were not enough to bring back justice and righteousness to the fore as principles and values to uphold. It showed Malays and Muslims in reprehensible bad light.

So it came to pass, the second qazaf surfaced exactly 10 years on. Again, apparently it was all quiet on the part of the religious authorities. Instead, muftis were engaged on the issue of the taking of oaths or arbitration by swearing upon the holy book, the Qur'an. The real issue was fear of coming out in the open for a cause. The cause should have been the consensus for the accusations (qazaf) to be tried in the shariah court. It could have been nipped in the bud if those in authority had spoken out but it seems that ma'siat and fasad kept reigning their ugly heads.

Ma'siat was an unfortunate term used when the shariah court dismissed Anwar's attempt to seek justice through the shariah system in Wilayah Persekutuan. Professor Qaradawi had in his latest fatwa, specifically pronounced that the accusations against Anwar be tried under the shariah laws but to no avail.

Recently, two newly self declared UMNO young alims with salafi tendencies, succeeded in constitutionally challenging the Negri Sembilan Islamic enactment by going to the secular apex federal court. Self proclaimed salafis had sought secular judgements to overturn religious authority rulings. With friends and brothers like these, why fear the liberals, some may say.

When sports gambling was about to be legalized after being privatized, which does say a lot about Malaysia's governance, people were restive, leading it up to be one of the most unpopular government proposals of the decade. Religious authorities were restless but remained private or maybe preferring back-channels which were probably meant to save the government's appalling face. State governments which opposed the move became practical administrative stumbling blocks. Malaysian public anger and a loss of political nerve had prevented a major vice being promoted legally.

The latest clash of opinions among religious authorities concerning a popular and lucrative motivational training program shows a lack of consensus building, articulative difficulties and may yet become a major test or fitnah upon those entrusted with authority.

My son still asks about the position of scholars vis a vis current controversial issues and the answer is still the same. We respect them for their knowledge and their authority. We look up to them for guidance and we hope that they exercise their authoritative position to uphold the religion, defend truth and justice. We pray that they do all these with integrity and without fear or favour.

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.

Malaysia on Trial: What they say matters

Dr. Wahbah al Zuhaily yang juga Dekan Fakulti Fiqh dan Mazhab Islam dari Universiti Damsyik, Syria berkata, Nabi Yusoff a.s dipenjarakan walaupun dibuktikan bahawa Nabi Yusof tidak melakukan kesalahan.

"Tidak semua yang diperjara itu bersalah...seperti Nabi Yusof a.s (yang) walaupun telah ada keterangan yang jelas (iaitu) kesan koyakan baju di bahagian belakang menunjukkan Yusuf cuba melarikan diri daripada fitnah, tetapi dia tetap dipenjarakan disebabkan muslihat musuh" .

"Saya amat serius bahawa cabaran yang dihadapi Anwar ini menyusahkan hati saya...semoga Allah akan menaikkan darjatnya seperti Nabi Yusof a.s," jelasnya. "Beliau (Anwar) akan dapat kedudukan yang lebih baik dari apa yang telah pun didapati sebelum ini."

"Bagi kita semua, menjadi tanggungjawab kita untuk membantu perjuangannya yang benar dan melawan kuasa yang batil" . "Ini adalah tanggungjawab bersama (dan) ini adalah ujian bagi beliau dan dunia Islam yang sedang disaksikan dunia Barat."

(Harakah Daily)

Saya mengenali Anwar Ibrahim sejak 25 tahun yang lalu. Ketika itu Anwar adalah presiden Abim. Apabila Anwar menyertai kerajaan, hubungan kami masih akrab. Setelah Anwar difitnah dan dipenjarakan, saya sering mendoakan agar beliau tabah dan tidak mengalah. Sekarang beliau adalah harapan kepada rakyat yang mencintai keadilan dan kemanan sejagat. Saya minta tuan-tuan dan puan-puan agar bersama-sama Anwar Ibrahim untuk mengangkat martabat kemanusian yang meletakkan keadilan dan prinsip Islam sebagai asas perjuangan.”

Prof. Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi , Tokoh Maal Hijrah, 19 Disember 2009 di Masjid Shah Alam

(TV Selangor)

Veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah also tweeted his thoughts on the trial in his @razaleigh twitter account, saying "Another trial to shame the country the world over. Is this case even triable anymore?"

(Malaysian Insider)

I know that there are attempts to shame and drag Anwar Ibrahim through the mud and sludge. However for the sake of our children, may I ask the media, especially the printed newspapers, to be sensitive of their readers knowing that among them are children and minors? What surprises me is the deafening silence of the information ministry which quietly approves of such nonsense. Please don't for the sake of politics expose our children to such indecency.

Yee Siew Meng

(Malaysiakini)

Anwar's daughter upon seeing the accuser Saiful in court, "Bertaubatlah!".

(Various news report)

Ustaz Ahmad Rivai Batubara, religious teacher, passionately said , "Anwar Ibrahim adalah pemimpin umat. Pemimpin umat bukan senang untuk dilahirkan. Kita berkewajipan mempertahankan dia dan mendoakannya."

(At a Muslim gathering)

“I am not going to leave Pakatan Rakyat or PKR,” PKR’s Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne told reporters at his service centre yesterday. Loh said he had joined PKR following a request from Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “In his time of need, there’s no way I will abandon him,” he said.

(The Star)

“It’s unfortunate we have to go through this again. I would have no qualms about Anwar being defeated in a political contest. But I cannot accept him being brought down this way,” said his loyal friend Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar who is also Tumpat MP.

(The Star)