Enraging Incident

a note written by a dear friend, elza irdalynna, which i wish to share..

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"Ya Allah", I cried.


A group of very confused (I use this term because that would be the kindest thing I can say about them), misled Muslims, claiming to be residents of Section 23 in Shah Alam marched to the State Secretariat with a desecrated cow's head in protest over the relocation of a Hindu temple in their area. Chanting threats of bloodshed, and accusing the State Government of being liberal infidels.

On a Friday.

After Friday prayers.

In the Holy month of Ramadhan.

As I read this, my heart was enraged. And felt so much pity for these lost lambs. Their complaint was that this is a "90% Muslim area" and the "noise" made by the temple proceedings would disrupt their Islamic rituals.

Who are you kidding? This is simple racism. This has nothing to do with disrupt of your prayers. Because if prayers are what you're truly concerned about, that suggests you're men of God. Which SHOULD mean you understand Islam, or at least basic Islamic history. WHICH YOU DO NOT.

When the Prophet and his people moved to Madinah, in the Pledge of Aqaba, between Jews of Madina and the pilgrims states:

“The Jews shall maintain their own religion and the Muslims theirs. Loyalty is a protection against treachery. The close friends of Jews are as themselves. None of them shall go out on a military expedition except with the permission of Muhammad, but he shall not be prevented from taking revenge for a wound."

It was agreed then they were allowed to practice any religion of choice, in peace. This was the teaching of the Prophet.

I learnt this when I was 12. Tolerance, and harmony. 1Malaysia is not a new idea. Unity was called for long ago. Unity does not mean uniformity, but to stand together in spite of our differences.

The people of Sentul can protest that the Azan is disrupting their rituals. But they do not.
I've seen non- Muslim butchers learn the way of Slaughtering the Islamic way, all so we Muslims can eat with our peace of mind intact.

Why then, is it so difficult for us Muslims to do the same? Why are we so caught up with KeMelayuan and exclusivity of Islam to the point where we call for BLOODSHED?

Their beliefs differ. But if they can accept our differences, why cant we accept theirs? This is not the way of Islam. You know who punished people for their different religious practice?

The people of Quraisy. We now,are behaving in the same way of the very Infidels that the Prophet had to battle in order to save Islam.

What's being done now? We are a few days shy of Independence Day. Of Nuzul Quran.
What's being said in the speeches during Terawih? Have our leaders in religion called for Unity against this mindless brutality?

Why has the government, who so often resort to ISA for ridiculous reasons, not threatened to do the same with these people, who are blatantly inciting hate and racism?

I fear we live in a time where intolerance has become louder than humanity and compassion.
I weep over the fact that I share the name of a group of people who continuously disgrace Islam.
I call for help.

Something must be done.