Islam for Muslims or Islam for all?

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.

IKLAN               IKLAN             IKLAN           IKLAN        IKLAN         IKLAN 

SELEPAS PENCEN (usia 55 tahun pada 17 Februari 2017) penulis (LanH) berusaha menambah pendapatan dengan menjual buku terpakai (second hand) daripada koleksi sendiri. Semoga penulis LanH mendapat kebarakahan daripada usaha ini yang juga bertujuan untuk berdakwah. Untuk makluman, penulis tidak mahir dalam dunia IT, jadi hebahan ini dibuat seadanya. Sila lihat paparan sisi untuk urusan pembayaran dan sebagainya. Alamat e-mel: Lanh14@gmail.com

BUKU TERBUKA UNTUK JUALAN

2. Tajuk: Rahsia Madinah (Jejak Rasul 2)

Penulis: Khalil Ibrahim Mulla Khothir 

Penerbit: Al-Hidayah Publishers

Muka surat: 218 (Harga tertulis di buku RM14)

Hanya RM10 (termasuk belanja hantaran pos biasa)

Penilaian LanH terhadap buku ini yang sudah dibaca beliau: Sangat bagus

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1. Tajuk: Rahsia Mekah (Jejak Rasul 1)

Penulis: 'Atiq bin Ghaits Al-Biladi

Penerbit: Al-Hidayah Publishers

Muka surat: 300 (Harga tertulis di buku RM15)

Hanya RM10 (termasuk belanja hantaran pos biasa)

Penilaian LanH terhadap buku ini yang sudah dibaca beliau: Sangat bagus

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RECENTLY S Thayaparan of Malaysiakini penned an article with a provoking heading asking: 'Islam for Muslims or Islam for all?'  As a Muslim, it was a call for me to try to answer it even though I was a layman...but 'side stepping' the issue discussed by the columnist, I would go for a straight answer based on his questioning-header.

When I was in Standard Four in 1972 (barely 10 years old then), I found an English book on Islam in my school library and since then I opened up my mind from my previous thinking that Islam is only for the Malays. Well, Islam is also a religion for the ‘mat salehs’ (Englishmen), I thought.

Oh how naive I was during those good old days! Well, what 'rubbish' was my thinking because Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. himself was not a Malay and the holy book, the Qur'an is in Arabic!

Then during Islamic religious lessons when our class learnt about the five pillars of Islam (Rukun Islam) such ‘solat’ (praying) and ‘puasa’ (fasting), I noticed it was stated that the first ‘syarat’ (requirement) for a person to perform the ‘ibadat’ (acts of devotion to Allah SWT) is that he or she must be a Muslim. 

I was curious as to why the first ‘syarat’ for a person to do the ‘ibadat’ he or she must be a Muslim. Why must it be Muslim; isn’t the religion of Islam is for Muslim?

I kept on thinking and jumped to a conclusion that this ‘agama’ (religion) of Islam is not only for Muslims, it is an universal religion for all; a way of life, only Muslims were required to perform the special ‘ibadat’ such as ‘solat’ and ‘puasa’. For the non-Muslims, they were not required to perform this special ‘ibadat’. 

Then as I grew older, while studying the Qur’an, I realized there are ayahs (verses of the Holy Qur'an) which begin with ‘ya ayyuhannas’ which means ‘Oh people’ and ayahs begin with ‘ya ayyuhal lazina amanu’ yang means ‘Oh people who believe’. There are a little over 90 ayahs in the Qur’an that begin with ‘ya ayyuhal lazina amanu’. 

Allah sent the Qur’an for all of mankind, not just for the people during the time of the Prophet peace be upon him (pbuh, s.a.w.) and only for Muslims. The phrase ‘ya ayyuhannas which occurs 20 times in the holy Qur’an, has a general and collective meaning that envelops all human beings of any race, tribe, or colour. Example of an ayah beginning with ‘ya ayyuhannas’ is Ayah 21 of Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) with the meaning: “O’ mankind! Worship your Lord Who created you, and those before you, so that you may guard youselves (against evil).”

And example of an ayah beginning with ‘ya ayyuhal lazina amanu’ is Ayah 183 of Surah Al-Baqarah with the meaning: “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you that ye may ward off (evil).” 

God, out of His abundant Love and Mercy for mankind, has not left us in darkness to discover the right path by trial and error alone. Coupled with our intellectual capability to reason, God bestowed upon us Divine Guidance that outlines the Criterion for truth and the knowledge and reality of our existence in this world and Hereafter. 

From the beginning of mankind God sent Exemplers of Prophets to convey His revelation and to invite all mankind to the path of true peace and obedience in one true God. This is Islam. This message was conveyed to all nations and tribes in this world throughout successive generations through more than 124,000 prophets with Muhammad s.a.w. as the final Messenger – all inviting mankind to the same path. - The Light of Revelation (Islamic Outreach-ABIM) 

Thus Islam is for all, but nobody can be forced to be a Muslim. Harun Yahya in his book ‘Learning from the Qur’an', quoted many ayahs regarding this matter, an example, Qur’an, 2:256 with the meaning; “There is no compulsion where the religion is concerned. Right guidance has become clearly distinct from error. Anyone who rejects false gods and believes in Allah has grasped the Firmest Handhold, which will never give way. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” 

As for some non Muslims such as members of PAS Supporters’ Congress (DHPP), they willingly accepted that Islam brings benefits for all.

In fact, DHPP chairman, N Balasubramaniam said the 40,000 strong members of the PAS wing support of amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as Act 355.

He was quoted saying: “If DHPP  that is made up of non-Muslims trust and fully support this Islamic code and the amendment to Act 355 which will bring wellness TO ALL, why are the Muslims divided and not confident?”

“This has nothing to do with non-Muslims, as how it is fixed under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution. Therefore, why must non-Muslims be afraid and oppose? The right to practise one’s faith for non-Muslims is still guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.

“What I understand is that those who are afraid of this, is the criminals or owner of gambling dens who are afraid their business might be affected. That they will lose their Muslim customers,” he said.

Balasubramaniam said that he is also confident that if 'Allah’s laws'  are implemented, those from all walks of life will reap the benefits. It was widely known among the 'not yet Muslims' that Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.and his four best companions of the Al-Rasyidin caliphate (Abu Bakar, Umar, Uthman and Ali) had always preached equality for all, even those who are not Muslim.

In Islam, even the highest official, the Caliph, is subject to the same rules of justice as everyone else. There is a famous incident in which Ali Ibn Abu Talib lost a court case to a Christian because he lacked evidence, even though Ali was the Caliph at the time.

If we were to look at the holy book, the Qur'an in was mentioned in Surah Al-Anbiya (21) verse 107 - "Wama arsalnaka illa rahmatan lil' alameen" - with the meaning Allah The Almighty says: {And We have sent you (O Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).} [Al-Anbiya 21:107] 

Thus Islam is for all; Muslims and non-Muslims, it is an universal religion for all. Yes Islam is for all, only Muslims were required to perform the special ‘ibadat’ such as ‘solat’ and ‘puasa’. For the non-Muslims, they were not required to perform this special ‘ibadat’.