Are We So Afraid Of Islam That The Sight Of Free Quran Sparks Fear?
Distributing religious books to promote interfaith understanding should not be a big deal, but in multiracial Malaysia, it is. Mei Mei Chu mulls why a good intention could be so easily misconstrued in this multiracial country.
By Mei Mei Chu — 06 Mar 2015, 06:52 PM
Over the past week, a Whatsapp message alerting people to be careful of free Qurans being distributed in Klang sparked fears that it is a ploy to convert non-Muslims into Muslims
Attached with an image of a van belonging to Malaysia Reverted Muslim (MRM), the message warned that once you receive the Quran and provide your information for "record purposes", you will be converted
he picture of a van carrying free copies of the Quran, which accompanied a text message claiming a Muslim group was out to alter non-Muslims' religious records.
Image via The Malaysian InsiderOne of the two pictures that accompanied the message showed a yellow and purple van, belonging to the MRM; the other picture depicted several Muslims apparently speaking at an evangelical event.
themalaysianinsider.com
Speaking from a non-Muslim's perspective, it is understandable that the Whatsapp message, though has no proof of its validity, stirred up a considerable amount of anxiety
Though unsure of its validity, this alert quickly went viral with people sighing that things in Malaysia are getting "crazier" again.
Over the past month, the controversial story about a school in Sabah converting a young 16-year-old girl to Islam without her parents' knowledge made headlines
The Malaysian Insider reports that Jilius Yapoo's underage daughter came home from school one day wearing a tudung and said she had converted to Islam. The Christian father was shocked that the conversion had been hidden from him and that it was done without his consent.
Their lawyer said it was believed that more such conversions were taking place covertly among students without their parents' knowledge, and also among adults in interior parts of the state.
Adding to the religion's bad reputation are rising extremism in the country, shocking statements from activists like Ridhuan Tee and ISMA, and reports of young Malaysians joining ISIS
Bukit Aman has identified two Malaysians, Mohd Faris Anuar (left) and Muhamd Wanndy Muhamad Jedi who were in a beheading video release by Isis.
Image via themalaysianinsider.comTun Mahathir says that misleading interpretations of Islam as a cruel religion have sparked a fear of Islam in Malaysia
“Before this, there was no controversy over the teachings of Islam. But now, a lot of things and reactions have surfaced where people do things that may not be agreeable to the Muslims.
He said there were many interpretations and teachings on Islam these days that were not actually based on the religion. “There are so many interpretations now by so-called leaders and we get obsessed with the leaders and what they say, when the truth is, their interpretations do not follow the real teachings.
“They like to portray Islam as a cruel, unreasonable or unjust religion and that makes non-Muslims in Malaysia afraid of Islam, when the reality is, there is nothing to fear,” he added.
“For example, the verse that allowed Muslims to kill non-Muslims only touched on one event in the history of Islam. It does not mean we are told to kill other people,” he said.
For instant, the National Fatwa Council blacklisted ISIS last year to stop Malaysians from joining the war. They clearly explained that those killed in the war are not martyrs.
National Fatwa Council chairman, Tan Sri Dr Abd Shukor Hussin said the move was aimed at preventing Malaysian Muslims from being influenced by the terrorist organisation, which claims to be fighting under the banner of jihad, or holy war.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said it was inaccurate to say that they were fighting for jihad, adding that such deaths were a waste. “In the name of jihad, people are influenced and willing to die because they think they will become martyred, when in fact their deaths are futile,” he said.
themalaysianinsider.com
To correct this misconception and fear of Islam amongst non-Muslims, Tun M launched the "One Soul, One Quran" project that aims to distribute one million translated copies of the Quran
Under the project organised by the Islamic Information and Services Foundation, one million copies of the Quran will be produced and translated into Tamil, Chinese, English and Malay, and distributed to the public. Apart from the translated copies, the project will also distribute explanations on specific verses to prevent misunderstanding.
Dr Mahathir said it was important for Muslims to return to the teachings of the Quran to avoid misinterpretations.
However, skepticism was quick to surface. The interfaith council questioned the actual intention of the project, saying that it seems to be a disguise to propagate Islam.
“The reason and example advanced by Tun Dr Mahathir on the need to distribute the translated version of the Quran to non-Muslims specifically does not make sense,” the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST).
“It is Muslims who are indulging in killing and condemnation of other religions and religionist. Therefore, the need is for Muslims to be educated on the true teachings of Islam and not non-Muslims,” the statement said.
The statement said the actual intention appeared to be to propagate the Islamic faith to the non-Muslims under the guise of removing misconceptions of Islam.
“The first objection to this is that the intended distribution of the translated Quran to non-Muslims is being done in bad faith as the main reason given to remove misconceptions does not hold water as the misconception is with the Muslims and not the non-Muslims.
themalaysianinsider.com
The council's fear stems from the fact that the Federal Constitution allows Muslims to persuade non-Muslims to convert, but not vice versa
“The Quran being a holy book should not be distributed freely as there may not be proper respect shown to it. Some Muslims may think that the possession by non-Muslims of the translated copies of the Quran is blasphemous. What happens if the translated copies have words which have been forbidden for use by non-Muslims by the various state enactments?” it asked.
themalaysianinsider.com
Article 11 of the country’s highest law guarantees religious freedom for all, but Article 11 (4) allows state laws to impose restrictions on the propagation of religious doctrine or belief among Muslims.
In Malaysia, the proselytisation of non-Islamic religions to Muslims is an offence, but not vice-versa.
themalaymailonline.com
The distribution of Bibles is seen as an "extreme provocation" and proselytisation of the religion to Muslims
Events including Halloween and Oktoberfest although do not involve Muslims, have also been seen as a threat to the religion.
There is a discrepancy on who is responsible for the distribution of the Quran to non-Muslims in Klang as both MRM and the Islamic Information and Services Foundation have denied their involvement
Two groups, the Malaysia Reverted Muslims (MRM) and the Islamic Information and Services Foundation which produced translation of the Quran, have both denied handing out the texts to non-Muslims in Klang.
themalaysianinsider.com
Malaysia Reverted Muslims (MRM) called the message a lie and a false accusation against them, adding that there was no compulsion in embracing the religion. "There is a message with two images circulating around in WhatsApp. We in MRM strongly deny the false accusation and we will lodge a police report soon on this matter," it said in a posting on its Facebook page.
themalaysianinsider.com
One thing's for sure, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) has dispelled myths that merely providing your details on paper will convert you to Islam
Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha sasy that any non-Muslim who received the Quran and wished to dispose of them could return them to Multiracial Reverted Muslims (MRM) or any nearby mosque, or donate them to Muslims.
Image via themalaymailonline.comNon-Muslims can return copies of the Quran after accepting them and it is also untrue that their religion will be converted to Islam just by filling up a form, says the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).
Othman told the Chinese newspaper that for a non-Muslim to officially convert to Islam, he or she needed to take an oath before being able to go through ceremonies to complete the conversion.
“A person who decides to uphold Islamic beliefs must do so voluntarily, not under forced circumstances,” he said.
themalaysianinsider.com
A non-Muslim may enter Islam by reciting the declaration of faith, called shahadah, which declares his belief in the oneness of Allah and the acceptance of Muhammad as Allah’s prophet.
themalaymailonline.com
As for the Quran, you can always return it to the distributor, mosque, or pass it on to a Muslim friend
Datuk Othman Mustapha was also reported as saying that if a non-Muslim felt they could not keep the Quran in good condition, they could always opt to return it to the distributor, to a mosque or even another Muslim person.
“In Islamic teachings, it is imperative that the followers of the religion regard the Quran with high levels of respect. Anyone who accepts the Quran is obligated to keep it properly.
themalaysianinsider.com
But of course in a country whose law favours one religion over another, fear and anxiety is high, and skepticism will always be rife and severe
In a The Malaysian Insider report titled "Just filling-up(sic) forms doesn't make you Muslim, says Jakim", readers share their doubts.
"If MRM thinks that giving out free Qurans is not an attempt to convert non muslims (sic), then why is it that giving out a bible to a muslim is deemed to be an attempt to convert a muslim to becoming a Christian?" TunTanSri1 asks.
"If it is truly free, then why do others need to even fill any form. Just give in good faith and no strings attached. Even I feel suspicious as to why we need to provide our details. I may be interested in knowing about Islam... but when you impose conditions - something is not right." Veerasingam Gnanasegaran Nehrm.
"Filling up a form only means that JAKIM & MRM will devise a way to convert the person some time down the road. I'd rather trust a rabbit with a carrot than JAKIM or MRM," Anthony.
Unless all religions are given the same fundamental liberties, the doubt-inducing fear among non-Muslims will never go away
Malaysia has been ranked among the top 10 countries with very high government restrictions on religion, according to the latest findings of US-based think tank Pew Research Center.
The findings, which cover 2013, put Malaysia at the eighth spot in the "very high" category among countries known for state interference or curbs on religion.
These restrictions were defined as laws, policies and actions restricting religions, as well as measures such as bans on changing one's religion and preferential treatment accorded to a particular religious group in that country.
themalaysianinsider.com
It is this fundamental liberty that would give us an equal playing field to learn about each other's religion without pressure or fear of conversion
