RACE AND ISLAM

It is odd, to say the least, that after more than fourteen centuries there remain some people who claim to be Muslims but who still have not internalised the universal values of Islam. Odder still that there remain those who on the one hand can embrace Islam’s universal claim of brotherhood (and sisterhood), but still cannot get around to understanding the simple idea that Islam and racism do not mix.

Evidence of such discrepancies can be found pretty much everywhere these days: It has, sadly, become the normative cultural norm in so many Muslim societies today that those who are fair are better off and given the privileges that they feel is the natural right of all light-skinned people. It is also interesting to note that Muslims tend to rejoice whenever a white American or European converts to Islam, but seem less enthusiastic in their recognition of the fact that thousands of Africans and Asians are converting to Islam every year.

Furthermore when it comes to governance and politics, it remains painfully clear that some Muslims still place blood and race above competency and merit till today; and that despite their profession of faith they remain embedded in the stagnant mode of racialised thinking that operates on the basis that some races are better than others.

One such case has popped up recently in multi-culti Malaysia, where a row was sparked off by the nomination of a Chinese woman – Low Siew Moi – as the head of a state institution linked to the economic management and development of the state of Selangor, the PKNS. Despite the fact that Low Siew Moi was selected by the Chief Minister of the state, Tan Sri Khalid, on the basis of merit; some quarters chose to publicly disagree with her appointment on the grounds that the Malay-Muslims of the state would object to the appointment. But objection on what grounds? On the basis that she is a Chinese woman?

Here the already convoluted waters of Malaysia’s racialised politics turns a shade murkier; for among those who objected to the appointment of Low Siew Moi were some members of the Malaysian Islamic party PAS.

Malaysia’s politics has been defined by racial concerns and the communitarian demands of the various religious and ethnic groups of the country since its independence in 1957. Over the past three decades, however, the tone and tenor of the country’s conservative, right-wing ethno-nationalist politics was further coloured by the Islamisation race in the country with the Malaysian government attempting to further inculcate Islamic values into the norms of governance in Malaysia as well.

Ironically however, Malaysia’s Islamisation programme seems to be more concerned with book-banning, fatwas on social behaviour (including the recent revelation that there may be a fatwa on Yoga soon, wait for it), and moral policing instead. Where, the Islamic scholar may ask, were the universal values of Islam in the midst of all this social engineering? Did the leaders of Malaysia not realise, or forget, the simple idea that Islam is an egalitarian faith that is colour-blind; and that the concept of ‘race’ is an alien idea in Islam?

The dilemma that Malaysia is facing now is the same dilemma faced by many other Muslim societies where the defence and promotion of Islam often goes hand-in-hand with the defence and promotion of the communitarian interests of Muslims. In Malaysia’s case, where Muslims are overwhelmingly Malay, then this also translates as the defence of Malay interests – to the extent of propagating the ethno-nationalist idea of Malay cultural dominance as well. Now what on earth is Islamic about this?

Here is where orthodox Muslim scholarship has to come in and make its timely intervention: For it has to be remembered that the success of Islam and the success of Muslims are two entirely different things, that may also clash and negate each other at times. The victory of Islam, so to speak, has to be understood as the victory of universal values such as egalitarianism and equality before God. The victory of Muslims, on the other hand, may at times be understood as political victories that may or may not conform to the standards of Islamic ethics. The defeat of the Kuwaitis at the hands of Saddam Hussein, for instance, was a case of one Muslim state defeating another: but was this a victory for Islam? Likewise, when Muslims openly and abrasively demand special rights and privileges for themselves at the cost of equality and meritocracy, is this really a victory for Islam?

Those who have criticised and opposed the appointment of Low Siew Moi as the head of PKNS on the grounds that the job should have been given to a Malay-Muslim instead should therefore look closely at themselves and ask: What is it that you are fighting for? Malay-Muslim dominance or a better form of governance that is based on merit and equality? The Islamic scholar will remind you that the latter is Islamic, while the former is not.

In any case, for Muslims to even think in racialised communitarian terms is a misnomer of sorts as such modes of communitarian, sectarian thinking has no real place in Islamic orthodoxy and ethics. To quote Tuan Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat, spiritual leader of the Malaysian Islamic Party PAS: ‘tell me, what race was Adam?’. ‘Nuff said I think.

By Farish A. Noor

Dah tahu tentang peraduan mudah ini? Jika belum, KLIK KAT SINI DULU!

Share on Google Plus

About Orang Melaka

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.
    Blogger Comment
    Facebook Comment

3 comments:

  1. Salam

    Betul tu, bangsa,Adam,DAN AGAMA ISLAM,BUKANNYA MELAYU.
    DALAM KEADAAN SEBENAR (REALITY).
    ORANG CINA DI MALAYSIA TIDAK MAHU/TIDAK SUKA (MESRA DENGAN KAUM MELAYU).kALAU DI KILANG DIMILIKI OLEH BANGSA CINA,MELAYU KENA BULI DAN DIBERI GAJI YANG KECIL.KECUALI MEREKA NIAGA DAN HENDAKKAN PELANGGANG.KALAU DI NEGARA LUAR DIA ORANG PERASANGKA DG ORANG ISLAM.
    KITA....BAGI DIA PELUANG BERDASARKAN/ basis of merit.ORANG MELAYU ADA YANG LEBIH BAIK.
    SEBAB ITU KERAJAAN TELAH BERI SYARAT KEPADA PIHAK KILANG,PENGURUSNYA/SUMBER MANUSIA KEPADA ORANG MELAYU.
    KALAU TIDAK ORANG MELAYU TIDAK AKAN MERASA BERKERJA DIKILANG KERANA DISEKAT OLEH BANGSA ASING.
    PELUANG DINEGARA SENDIRI- SUSAH.
    MAKA BORANG SPA DI ISI DENGAN RIBUAN PARA LULUSAN PENGAJIAN TINGGI HENDAK MASUK PERKHIDMATAN AWAM ,HENDAK PAKAI HANYA 2 AT 3 ORG SJA.
    PERBALAHAN AKAN BERLAKU DISEBABKAN ISI POLITIK.
    KALAU MELAYU BANYAK YANG MENGANGGUR APA AKAN TERJADI NANTI.
    SEKARANG INI RAKYAT KENA BERNIAGA..
    KITA KENA TOLONG BANGSA KITA.KAUM KITA.INI NEGARA KITA.
    KITA ADA KUASA.
    TETAPI BUKAN UNTUK MENINDAS.TAPI SAYANG KITA TINDAS BANGSA SENDIRI SENDIRI.
    KALAU MEREKA ITU ISLAM ,HATI HENDAK MENOLONG ORANG ISLAM ITU ADA.
    NAMUM KALAU BUKAN.........?????
    DIA JUGA AKAN TOLONG BANGSA SENDIRI.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Salam Aflah,

    Bagi saya secara peribadi, inilah akibat apabila Ketuanan Melayu keterlaluan didoktrinkan UMNO sehingga menenggelamkan Ketuanan Islam itu sendiri.

    Soal Melayu yang berijazah yang banyak mengganggur, saya rasa disebabkan oleh purata mata gred yang rendah jika dibandingkan dengan kaum lain. Lagipun kebanyakan ibu bapa Melayu sudah berkenduri besar hanya apabila anak mereka layak memasuki universiti dan jarang mengambil tahu tentang pelajaran atau kelakuan anak mereka selepas itu, faktor inilah menjadikan ramai Melayu sekadar lulus cukup makan...bagaimana hendak dipertimbangkan jika bersandarkan kelulusan dan merit mereka itu jika mereka memang tidak layak.
    Sebagai contoh, puluhan ribu yang memohon untuk menjadi guru selepas gagal untuk mendapatkan pekerjaan dalam bidang yang mereka belajar di universiti, kesannya, kerajaan terpaksa menggaji ramai orang muda yang bekerja makan gaji sebagai guru semata-mata. Bukannya menjadikan profesion keguruan itu sebagai satu bidang yang dipilih berdasarkan Al-Quwwah Wa Al-Amanah...

    thx!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Saya nak tanya kat mana nya kuota bumiputera 30 % yang menjadi kesusahan kapada MCA dll ? Tolong lah jawab MCA,adekah 30 % itu merampas hak orang bukan Melayu secara ape pun? 30 % bukan 100 % !
    Orang bangsa Cina yang pandai matematiks dan perakaunan mesti tahu kira bahawa 30 % bukannya sama dengan 100 %.Seingatan saya tiada satu pun Parti Melayu minta rampas atau sudah rampas kesemua harta asset bisnes bangunan bank kilang ladang hotel farmaci warung kedai makan lori kenderaan wang saham rumah perabot emas dan apa saje harta kepunyaan dan milik orang Cina ke atau orang lain !!! Kalau ada pengambilaan itu pun pakai duit PNB dll pakai duit cash money dan beli overpriced.MCA suda lupa.Lupa bolih maaf.Tapi jangan main dengan sentimen mentang PM sekarang dah buat “keterbukaan”.Orang melayu sudah lama sikap baik sangka.Tetapi dengan kemudahan akibat kemerdekanan ,peluang perniagaan dan peluang mengumpul harta yang amat luas dan kebebasan mengunakan bahase ibubunda membuat orang keturunan Cina menjadi bongkak sombong dan pandang rendah terhadap orang Melayu.Duit orang melayu hendak. Kerana dapat lesen dapat balak dapat pangkat dari istana baru buat baik dengan Orang melayu.Tapi kalau tade kene mengena,gesel bahu dalam bas ke LRT, marah.Ini bukan cerita.mustapha ,ulasan dan pengelaman anda tepat .syabas.
    arjuna waspada

    ReplyDelete

PERINGATAN: Portal Melaka News tidak bertanggungjawab terhadap komentar yang diutarakan melalui laman sosial ini. Ia pandangan peribadi pemilik akaun dan tidak semestinya menggambarkan pendirian sidang redaksi kami. Segala risiko akibat komen yang disiarkan menjadi tanggungjawab pemilik akaun sendiri.