Muslims Disappointed By Cross Protest Speak Out Against Religious Discrimination In M'sia
The 50-odd protestors at the church in Taman Medan does not represent true Islam, as these moderate Muslims readily tell why.
By Mei Mei Chu — 21 Apr 2015, 04:07 PM
G25, the group of prominent Malays figures, say the Taman Medan protestors have tarnished the image of Islam
“The Taman Medan protestors, by their crude, disrespectful and unreasonable behaviour, have tarnished the image of Islam, the very religion they claim to 'protect'.
“Islam is a religion of peace, mercy and compassion and there is no place in Islam for intolerance towards other faiths and their places of worship,” G25 said in a statement sent by its coordinator Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin.
Noor Farida said the protestors should deepen their knowledge of Islam and its history, pointing out that the faith demands that its followers show respect for those of other religious beliefs and all other places of worship.
One example, she explained in the statement, is how Prophet Muhammad himself had allowed a Christian delegation from Yemen to pray in his mosque in Madinah.
themalaymailonline.com
Marina Mahathir asks since when did Muslims believe that inanimate objects have power over them?
Morning. It is a sad day indeed when Muslims start believing that inanimate objects have power over them.
— Marina Mahathir (@netraKL) April 20, 2015
“… [They] were talking about how the cross is going to influence people. It is about religion... don’t know what religion, but it was about religion,” Marina told Malay Mail Online.
“We (Muslims) do not worship crosses so it should not mean anything to us... it is the Muslims who are giving crosses, which are inanimate objects, the power to influence young people which is wrong,” Marina said.
“What is this country coming to?”
themalaymailonline.com
Taman Medan assemblyman Haniza Mohamed Talha says the protestors think the faith of Muslims is so fragile that looking at a cross can drive them away from the religion
“They assume that the faith of Muslims is so fragile that just by looking at a cross, they will be driven away from Islam,” said Haniza.
She said their excessive behaviour had resulted in a negative perception towards Islam and its followers. “Muslims are now seen as obsessed and extremist in deterring others from practising their own faiths."
“Islam teaches its followers to respect other religions. It is stated as such in Surah Al-Kaafirun, which says to each his own religion and that Islam does not force its teachings upon others.”
Sisters In Islam echoed the notion that "the cross does not have magical powers that can compromise a person's belief"
Sisters in Islam in a statement said: “Their (the protesters’) worry that young Muslims’ faith in the religion would be threatened is unfounded.
“The cross does not have magical powers that can compromise a person’s belief. As Muslims, the protestors should have faith in Allah, and should not be threatened by the symbols of other religion.”
"Only vampires fear the cross," says actress Wardina Safiyyah who believes Christians are the closest to Muslims
"I hope the cross stays there. #letthecrossstay Please don't take it down. My heart goes out to my Christian brothers and sisters. I am so sorry that you are being bullied by my fellow Muslims. The Muslims since centuries ago including during the times of Prohphet pbuh have long lived harmoniously with the Christians. I believe the Christians to be the closest to us Muslims and I sincerely with all my heart love my Christian sisters and brothers. "
"Dear Muslims, act like Muslims. Only vampires fear the cross. Let the Christians worship freely. The Prophet pbuh says 'Kindness makes things beautiful, while violence renders them defective,'"
Forcing the removal of the sacred symbol is unacceptable and disrespectful, says Selangor MB Azmin Ali
“The cross is a sacred symbol for the Christian community. To force them to remove the symbol is certainly unacceptable and disrespectful to the Christian community,” Azmin was quoted saying by The Star Online today after a meeting for state government departments.
themalaysianinsider.com
"The way to uphold Islam is through wisdom, good teachings and the best dialogue. Not by bringing down the cross at a church," former Umno leader Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah
Through a series of postings on his Twitter and Facebook accounts, the former higher education minister said demanding that a church take down its cross was un-Islamic, and called on Muslims to uphold the true message of the religion.
"If we practise Islam well, non-Muslims have no reason to blame us. If they question about the azan (call to prayer), rectify/explain. Islam is a religion of advising, not vengeance."
themalaysianinsider.com
Lookg at d bigger picture: kalimah Allah,seizure of Bibles,d cross,Sedition Act etc): are we upholding Islam tht is mercy to all?
— Saifuddin Abdullah (@saifuddinabd) April 20, 2015
In a statement, the Muslims Professionals Forum gives examples of how Islam is rich with respect of other faiths, their adherents, and protection of their places of worship
This mindless act of hatred and incitement against another religion's place of worship has no place in Islam and deserves unreserved condemnation. Islam is rich with examples of respect for other faiths, their adherents and protection of their places of worship.
During Umar ibn Al-Khattabb, the second righteous caliph's reign, the religious freedom of the citizens of Ilya (Jerusalem) and the sanctity of their synagogues and places of worship were confirmed: “This is the protection which the slave-servant of Allah, Umar, the Commander of the Believers, extends to the people of Ilya: The safeguarding of their lives, properties, churches, crosses, and of their entire community. Their churches cannot be occupied, demolished, or damaged, nor are their crosses or anything belonging to them to be touched. They will never be forced to abandon their religion, nor will they be oppressed …” (At-Tabari, Tarikh, Vol III, p. 609, ed. Dar Al-Ma`arif, Egypt.)
It is evident that there is no room in Islam for intolerance towards other faiths and their places of worship and any form of disrespect and desecration is antithetical to the essence of Islam.
“If you do not believe in Jesus Christ, you cannot be a Muslim as in Islam, we believe that he is one of the messengers of God,” Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin
Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said the protection of all places of worship “is a part of jihad, and Islam does not condone any behaviour contrary to that”.
“Islam does not teach its followers to disrespect other religions or disrupt their practices,” he said.
Dr Mohd Asri said those who were occupying the building had the right to practise their chosen religion, and others should not disturb them.
Dr Wan Azizah remembered an incident where the late Nik Azi visited a church and was concerned when he saw that the cross was taken down
“The protest is obviously politically motivated because Islam does not preach this (demanding church to remove their cross),” she told reporters after handing out aid at Saidina Abu Bakar Mosque in Guar Perahu here.
Dr Wan Azizah also recalled a story of how the late Tok Guru, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat had once visited a church and when he noticed the cross was taken down, he had asked why.
The spiritual leader was then told that the cross was taken down due to renovation works at the church, she said. “He was so concerned over it and this is Islam,” she said.
themalaymailonline.com
In this opinion piece, Fa Abdul had a message to Muslim fanatics, saying that removing all the crosses in Malaysia will not make them a faithful Muslims
To those Muslim fanatics (this includes the people who support the Taman Medan residents): You can remove all the crosses from all the churches around Malaysia. That is still not going to make you a faithful Muslim.
To those non-Muslim keyboard warriors: You can continue to disgrace Islam and Allah and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) all you want until your anger subsides. While it is not going to shut these stupid Muslim fanatics up, it will probably push away even the liberal Muslims.
Hafiz Baharom apologised to the church, saying that the protest just shows how miseducated the community can be. "Put your cross back up. The cross is your symbol, so wear it with pride."
"The recent occurrence in Taman Medan did not show the best about Islam. If anything, it showed how miseducated the Malaysian Malay community can be.
To the 50 in Taman Medan, seeing a cross on a building was enough to shaken your faith, I suggest you go to a mosque or surau and pray for your weak belief."
"Malaysian Muslims must take note at the fact that our country is now being threatened by those who look at our faith in the most stupidly superficial way, and we must speak out against it."
"I extend my apologies as a Muslim, even if I’m not exactly the pinnacle of piety. Put your cross back up. The cross is your symbol, so wear it with pride. You have every right to put it on the building, provided you have the licenses for it.
You are not propagating your Christianity to the masses. You are practising your constitutional right to practice your faith.
And if any Muslim tells you otherwise, you call up an ustaz to beat them with a rotan, wielding a Koran and telling them to read.
It is high time Malaysia puts an end to religious discrimination and bullying."
themalaymailonline.com