Answering Ngeh Koo Ham's question...

*** In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ************** Reflection **************** The Declining Day (Al-'Asr) 1. By the declining day, 2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss, 3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance. ******************* PERAK DAP Chairman and Beruas Member of Parliament, Dato' Ngeh Koo Ham had tweeted, “Khairy wants Muslims protest against Sam Becile. For Islam or for his political gains? Are Muslims wasting too much time and energy on this?’’ ********************** After an uproar against him, Ngeh was quick to apologise to Muslims and retracted his Twitter posting saying, "I retract and apologise to any Muslim who is offended by my tweet as it was never intended to be so." *********************** After reading his posting several times, I was in the opinion Ngeh was only seeking clarification on the issue (protest rally against anti-Islam movie ‘Innocence of Muslims’), especially on Khairy’s suggeston that Muslims protest against Sam Becile. So he asked - for Islam or for his political gains? His statement ended with a question mark, so it was open to various interpretations. ************************* As for his third sentence ‘are Muslims wasting too much time and energy on this?’ also ended with a question mark. So it was also open to interpretations, and as a Muslim writer with a very limited knowledge, I would like to try answering Ngeh’s questions. ********************* Following the outburst, Ngeh too claimed that his tweet mentioning Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, Sam Becile, Islam and Muslims was merely a question and not a statement. ********************* “I was merely posing a question for us to think deep on whether the action to stage the protest is appropriate. In fact, I am on their side (Muslims) and condemn any video deemed insensitive to the Muslim world.’’ ******************* “I had no intention to politicise nor make any insulting religious remarks, I only wanted him (Khairy Jamaluddin) to think about a way to respond accordingly when matters such as this arise,’’ Ngeh was quoted saying. ****************** He also wanted to know why the Muslim anger was aimed at America when it was only the act of an individual who did not think of the consequences when he produced the movie. ******************** Dear Dato’ Ngeh, in my opinion you in the right track for asking. From the many ‘tazkirah’ (religious lessons) I attented in masjids near my house, I learnt that one of the best way for a person to gain knowledge is by posing questions. ***************** You asked, “Are Muslims wasting too much time and energy on this?’’ Of course you needed an answer but almost all criticized you for what they claimed that you were not being sensitive to the needs of Muslims. ****************** In my opinion you have posted a good and interesting question but sadly it was at a wrong time; when Muslims worldwide were protesting against the movie. So you were seen as ‘mencurahkan minyak ke dalam api’ (throwing oil into the fire). ***************** Perhaps when things cool down and when you have the opportunity to sit down with some Muslims friends, perhaps they would give you, this answer. ******************** A preacher, Dr Y Mansoor Marican notes that sharing the knowledge of Islam with the non-Muslims is a very rommended practice. ****************** A good Muslim loves the Prophet so much (above himself and his family members) so to non Muslims it is advisable for them to have some knowledge about the Prophet; only then they would understand the Muslims thinking and actions. ******************* Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) occupies a unique position in the chain of prophets. Being the last of a long line of Messengers, he was sent by God as a messenger for the whole universe. His personality, therefore, combined all that was best in morals and manners and he was the very embodiment of all that was preached and enjoined in the Holy Qur'an. ************************ The Holy Book affirms: "Certainly, there is for you in the Messenger of Allah an exellent example." (XXXIII-21) "And you stand on an exalted standard of character." (LXVIII-4) *********************** When the Holy Qur'an affirms that the Prophet was the very embodiment of all that was best in life and he was the perfect model to be followed, it was mere idle talk but a practical demonstration of it. To judge the truth, let us have a glance at his life. ******************** Taking for instance the injunctions laid down by the Qur'an for believers in respect of prayer, fasting and alms-giving, we notice that while Muslims were directed to pray five times a day, the Prophet himself, prayed eight times, superimposing on himself three extra prayers, twice after morning prayer and the third beginning at midnight and sometimes extending right up to dawn thereby causing swelling in his feet. ************************ As regards fasting, his followers were directed to fast during the month of Ramadan, but for himself he never allowed the other eleven months to pass by without fasting and sometimes the fast would continue for two or three days without taking any food or drink in between. ********************** He helped the needy and the poor, and no beggar ever left his door disappointed, while he himself live the life of a poor man even after becoming the overlord of a big country. His generosity was so great that he proclaimed that if any Muslim died leaving debts, the responsibility for payment was his, while at the time of his death his own coat of mail was pledged for a debt. ******************** Muslims had conquered the whole of Arabia and money was pouring in from all sides. He treated it as trust property and distributed it that very day, but he denied himself and his family members a share in it. His family was prohibited by him from receiving ‘zakat’ lest people, out of love for him, might bestow the choicest favours on them. ******************* The condition of his house was such that for days together nor fire was lit, and no day passed without missing a meal. Worldly things, riches and comforts had no attraction for him. His dress was patched; his house was petty, and built of mud bricks; and his furniture a crude bedstead. ***************** This was the living condition of the greatest spiritual and temporal leader and monarch who looked upon this world as a passing phase and a temporary abode. **************** He was gentle, modest, faithful , courages and never despaired even in the face of severe calamities and adverse circumstances and had unflinching faith in Divine Help. In every respect, therefore, he stood out as a shinning example for all to follow. His life throughout was without any blemish and was a wonderful exposition of all that was virtous. - Pearls of the Prophet (ABIM) **************** Muslims are thankful and grateful to Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. because it was only him that showed them God’s straight path that could save them in this world and Hereafter. The Prophet loved his ‘ummah’ (followers) not only in this world but also in the Hereafter where he would recommended his ‘syafaat’ (blessing and help). So good Muslims loved him so much and could not stand it if he was insulted. ******************* After having a glimpse a the Prophet life, let’s have a look at his actions while dealing with those who were against him including of those who make fun and insulted him. ****************** Among the Prophet’s method of dealing with people’s mistakes was remaining calm. Being to harsh could make matter worse and do more harm than good. We can learn this from looking at how the Prophet (s.a.w.) dealt with the mistake made by a Bedouin who urinated in a masjid, as was reported by Annas ibn Malik who said: ********************* “Whist we were in a masjid with the Messenger of Allah, a Bedouin came and stood urinating in the masjid. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Stop it! Stop it!’ But the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Do not interrupt him; leave him alone.’ So they left him until he had finished urinating, the Messenger of Allah called him and said to him, ‘In these masjids it is not right to do anything like urinating or defecating; they are only for remembering Allah, praying and reading the Qur’an,’ or words to that effect. Then he commended a man who was there to bring a bucket of water and throw it over (the urine), and he did so.” (Muslim, hadith no, 285) It was reported the Bedouin later embraced Islam. ********************** If a man who urinated in a masjid (he was insulting the Prophet and Islam) was treated with kindness and patience by the Prophet (s.a.w.), could there not be a just and professional way to ‘confront’ those involved in the making of the movie ‘Innocence of Muslims’ and dealing with Ngeh’s question? ****************** As mentioned, my knowledge is limited, if I am wrong in my opinion, to Allah SWT I seek forgiveness and if I have offended readers, please pardon me for my mistake.