Moderate Muslim my foot!

Wasatiyyah - an ‘Islamic’ term that I have heard over and over again. I’ve heard it in Malaysia.

I’ve heard it in the Middle-East. I’ve heard it in the West. I’ve heard it, well, everywhere.

It’s a simple term with a simple definition. It basically just means moderation. Moderation in everything that we do in life so that there is a balance. Islam condones it.

So here I shall reveal my life mission of bringing down and stopping Ridhuan Tee Abdullah from ever writing anything hate-filled against people of different faiths other than his.

What religion is he? He is a Muslim and practices the Islamic faith, the same faith that I was born into and have decided upon reaching adulthood to stick with.

There have been numerous articles that he has written which has disgusted me on so many levels that I even wonder why he keeps getting published.

Everyone should be familiar with his most recent Sinar Harian article titled ‘Kesabaran umat Islam ada had’, dated 18th February 2013.

It’s no use for me to repeat what he said here. I don’t want to contaminate my keyboard. You can, of course, search for it online if you want to read it. Be prepared to puke, though.

It would suffice to say that Tee was rude, disrespectful and uneducated in his disgustingly derogatory comments towards the Indian and Hindu community in Malaysia.

He has written and also made many other insulting and offending statements (including lengthy lectures and panel discussions) against other people of different faiths and race before this.

Once, last year, in a public forum, Tee mentioned that Hudud law has to be implemented by force in this country or the non-Muslims will just continue to oppose it.

So I had to remind him that hudud and syariah are known as fiqh or jurisprudence. This goes hand in hand with khilafat and shura.

In simple terms, it means that the issue is open to discourse, debate, and most importantly, can only be done with the consultation and consent of the people. Not by force!

Then, Tee again had to open his mouth in public, this time, at the launch of his books ‘Masih adakah ketuanan Melayu?’ and ‘Cabaran saudara baharu di Malaysia’.

It was reported in the press that he had mentioned that because he is Muslim, he had no choice but to place himself among those of the Malay race (he is a Chinese convert).

And again, I had to remind him that Islam pays no attention to what race you are. Everyone is equal as stated in Surah Al Hujurat:

“O mankind! We have created you from a single male and female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other. The most honourable of you in the sight of Allah are surety the righteous.”

So now, it is definitely my duty and obligation to remind him yet again, after his recent spat with the Indian and Hindu community in Malaysia, that he is wrong.

Remember, brother Tee, the term Wasatiyyah. You are after all, as stated on your website, part of the Panel of Islamic Consultative Council and Wasatiyyah under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Surah An Nisa states:

“Oh people of the Book. Commit no excesses in your religion, nor say of Allah except for the truth.”

Surah Al Baqarah states:

“And thus have We willed you to be a community of the middle way, so that (with your lives) you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind, and that the Apostle might bear witness to it before you.”

So please practice your supposedly moderate ways, Tee. Extremism is not our way. Respect, gentleness and moderation are the key elements to a proper way of life.

Sinar Harian’s executive editor has already apologised for letting your article slip through the cracks. When will you, the actual author, apologise? A nation is waiting.

To think about it, I wouldn’t say that my life mission is to stop Tee from ever writing again. It’s really about making Malaysia a truly harmonious multiracial and multireligious country for all Malaysians (and especially for my daughter Athena Azlee!).

I take my multiracial cue from one of my favourite Prophet Muhammad quotes (Al Bukhari):

“You should listen to and obey your ruler even if he was an Ethiopian whose head looked like a raisin.”

Peace be upon him.