Report : Closed Discussion with Prof Thariq Ramadhan

Professor Dr Tariq Ramadan (Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies, Oxford University, UK)
visited IAIS Malaysia and engaged in dialogue with the members/fellows of IAIS
including the invited participants.

representing IDFR in a round table discussion with regard to
the Islamic Contemporary Issue Around The World with Prof Thariq Ramadhan.

Recently, the prominent scholar Prof Thariq Ramadhan had visited Malaysia to give talks and speeches to the Malaysians. One of his schedule during this short yet meaningful visit was to have a round table discussion at Institute of Advance Islamic Studies (IAIS) in Petaling Jaya. The discussion was held on Monday, 16^th July 2012.

Several guest attended the event which include former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, for Chief Judge of Malaysia Tun Abdul Hamid and former minister Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar. Others were representative from academic institution form IIUM, Ngo’s as well as amembers from the public at large. There approximately around 30 people in the discussion exclusive Prof Thariq Ramadhan.

The discussion began with an opening speech by Prof Dr Hashim Kamali who was the moderator of the discussion. He introduced a bit about Prof Thariq Ramadhan before passing the microphone to him to begin the discussion. There is no specific topic with regard to this discussion and it is an open discussion whereby the people are allowed any questions as long as it is appropriate.

Most of the issues discussed are quite general and it is with regard to the Islamic Contemporary Issues. Many issues were discussed such as the role of Islam in Education, knowledge and economics. There is also issue with regard to the understanding of Islam by others as well as how Muslim understands others. However, the most controversial issue is regard to the issue of interfaith marriage between a Muslim and a non-Muslim without converting to Islam. The issue was later settled well by Prof Thariq Ramadhan and the Prof himself does not agree too such matter.

The discussion that began at 10.15am ended 2hours later at 12.15pm. The  discussion was later concluded by Prof Thariq Ramadhan that Muslim today should focus more on improving Islamic Ethics. IDFR hope that such discussion will be continually held in order to benefit the society at large especially the Muslims.

The Game that Unite a Nation

August 5th 2012, will be always be remembered in the hearts of all the Malaysians. Those who love badminton will remember the date till they die and those who never liked nor watched badminton must surely fall in love to the game. It is the day that Dato' Lee Chong Wei had fought with all his life knowing the burden of the whole country is upon.

Dato' Lee Chong Wei knows that he is the carrying the hope of the nation to see Malaysia win their first ever gold medal. Not once since this Olympic was established nearly a century ago have Malaysia won a gold medal. Never had the proud song of the nation "NEGARAKU" being heard and played in the Olympics. The closest Malaysia had ever come  in reaching gold is in Beijing 4 years ago and by the same person Dato' Lee Chong Wei as well as in 1992 also in badminton.

With the burden that he has to carry, he played the game beautifully. He is just back from a nasty injury that kept him out for about 3months and only have 2 weeks to train. Yet, he utilized those 2weeks and train his best. The word "tired and exhaustion" never come to his mind. He is focus in his mission,  to get the GOLD. Dato' Lee Chong Wei fought hard with all he can. His rival? Non other than the great Lin Dan or Super Dan they called them, the same man that beat him at the same stage in Beijing, 4 years ago. The rivalry of these 2 champions is not a stranger to the badminton fans around the world. Thousands of badminton players certified as professional by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), but none can beat this two champions as they are at a class of their own.

It is the Tiger vs the Dragon. Both played with perfection and cautiously. The first set goes to Dato' Lee Chong Wei, 21-15. The second goes to Super Dan 21-11. Then the third stage is set up. The game was full with emotion, anxiety and excitement. Finally the game was tied at 19-19. Yet at the end of the day, Super Dan managed to win it 21-19. It broke the heart of all Malaysian. Tears can be seen all around the country and the face and emotion shown by Dato' Lee Chong Wei says it all. He knows, he might had just lost his one last opportunity in grabbing the gold. All hopes are lost.

He might have lost the gold but he had won a bigger prize, the heart of the nation. Dato' Lee Chong Wei had managed to bring back the spirit of Malaysia putting aside religion, belief and race differences aside, all eyes were on Dato' Lee Chong Wei cheering for him until the very end. The country that had in recent times fall into chaos with "fools" fighting for money and power, the country is once again united. In a country where time move so fast, he stopped it. A country that is losing hope, he gave them light. A country that is falling behind, he pushed it forward.

 By my observation, even until today people are giving strength and encouragement to Datuk Lee Chong Wei. I believe that Datuk Lee Chong Wei had managed to unite the country better than what '1 MALAYSIA' could ever do. Congratulations Datuk. You may not win the gold, but you have managed to win our heart, a true Malaysian Hero.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Third Gender : Rights vs Laws

Everyday we read the newspapers and we can see many headlines all around the globe that people everywhere are claiming for their rights. We want our rights! Its our rights! People are yelling this all around the world. Malaysia is no exception The LGBT group had been asking their rights to be recognized. These people are demanding and yelling the word RIGHTS but do they know what RIGHTS is all about?

Yes everyone deserves their rights but remember rights have their limits. Imagine this world if everyone is asking their rights to be upheld. The drugs users manage to get their rights upheld and can freely take marijuana. A married couple wants their right to be upheld so they can have sex freely in the public. Even better, a woman wants their right to be upheld that they can marry as many man as they want? If we allow such rights, what would actually happen to this world.

Yes everyone has their rights and deservedly so. Right to life, right to food and right to shelter. Yet, remember these rights are limited and it is here where the Law comes. The Law limits the right of the people in order to create a better society. The function of the law is not just to sanction or to scare but to limits the right of the people. Imagine a society living without laws with an unlimited rights, surely the society will lead into chaos and even to destruction. The function of the law is to preserve and protect the people.

If today we are recognizing rights of Homosexuality especially in a Muslim majority country, what next? Legalizing marijuana or even an inter-religious marriage like Indonesia. As for Malaysian perspective, we are not ready to accept the existence of such people and as far as I am concern, we should not even bother to accept such people. They might argue that it is not them that wanted to be this way but God created them the way they are. Well, God created you as a man and there are people out there wants to be a woman and claiming its their right to do so. Its just a mere excuse that you do not want to admit your mistake. If you know you had done something wrong, by right change it.

This world is never a democracy world. the right of 49 people may be taken away by 51 people in a 100 people meeting. the right of one person may be taken away by 2 people in a three people meeting. This life is not about right. No. It is about how together we can create a better world and for standing up for something that is wrong, will not in any way help.

segalanya kerana sebuah niat

Pernahkah anda merasa lelah dalam mengatur rentak kehidupan?

Pernahkah anda rasa ingin kibarkan bendera putih walau perjalanan dan matlamat masih jauh?

Pernahkah anda rasa ingin hentikan langkah walau destinasi belum dijejak?

Pernahkah anda rasa seolah-olah pintu keluar tertutup semuanya?

Terfikirkah anda apa sebabnya?

“Berhenti di tengah perjalanan adalah kerana kesilapan di titik permulaan.”

Mari kita 'refresh' kembali niat tatkala kita memulakan sesuatu.

Adakah niat yang dipasang benar-benar tulus dan ikhlas kerana Yang Esa?

Atau masih ada perkara-perkara sia  lain pada niat suci itu?

Atau masih berbaki cebisan-cebisan alasan tentang darjat, balasan dan sebagainya?

Niat adalah penimbang tara dan aras amal seseorang.

Ia adalah teras dan paksi dalam menentukan kesudahahan amal kita.

Daripada Amirul Mukminin Abu Hafsin ‘Umar ibn al-Katthab r.a. beliau berkata: Aku mendengar Rasulullah SAW bersabda:

“Bahawa sesungguhnya setiap amalan itu bergantung kepada niat, dan bahawa sesungguhnya bagi setiap orang apa yang dia niatkan. Barangsiapa yang hijrahnya menuju kepada Allah dan RasulNya, maka hijrahnya kepada Allah dan RasulNya. Barangsiapa yang hijrahnya kerana dunia yang dia mahu mencari habuannya, atau kerana seorang perempuan yang dia mahu kahwininya, maka hijrahnya ke arah perkara yang ditujuinya itu.”

Ayuh kita perbetulkan kembali niat!

Mummy, my friend brought pork to school!

I was jogging one evening while hearing the radio on my phone. I tune up the radio to listen to Business F.M (89.9) when there were discussing quite an interesting topic. A non-muslim students was punished for bringing pork meat to school. It caused quite a chaos among the listeners and a few were pretty angry with it but some minorities said it was the right decision.

This is consider quite a sensitive issue but something that is very interesting to discuss and a MUST to resolve. Is it wrong for a non-muslim to bring pork to school? Something that is never being discussed in law and something that has no black and white on paper. Neither it is something that should be make as a law as one decision will cause a major upset to one of the parties.

Indeed, it is merely to me a matter of respect and sensitivity. Yes, it is not wrong for a student to bring pork to school. Yet, it is to be reminded that we are talking about school students age between seven-twelve. They are still young and very immature. At this stage, this young children were taught about morale such as sharing food and respecting each other. What if accidentally, a non-muslim children shared his/her lunch with a muslim friend? That might cause a huge up roar.

The non-muslim might argue that we can teach them not to give it to their muslim friend. Well, if they were really that understanding and mature, why send them to school. We are tend to forget that school is a place for our young people to learn and to know each other. To develop the feeling of respect and understanding and to make friends. It is a process in making toddlers to become great adults. School is not just about education but it is also the place to develop personality as nowadays, toddlers spent more time in school with their teachers and friends rather then their parents.

Bringing pork to school should not be a major issue. The non-muslim should understand the sensitivity of a muslim and respect it. Same goes for the muslim regarding the issue of meat with hindus. Let these children learn the basic of respect and sensitivity. Let us adult put aside our pride and egos that we tend to forget that our children is our main priority. Our ancestors had put aside their differences for us to come together and creating the Malaysia that we have today. Do not let small issues regarding pork and beef destroy the harmony of this country. Remember, it is our feeling of respect to one another that makes us MALAYSIANS...

FLAG....

Life Is Like A Game Of Chess

Assalamualaikum wbt.

One day when we look at the past, we might laugh and look where life had brought us today. It is funny, yesterday we were just little kids or little babies crying for our daddy. Today however we had grown and had become a better person, maybe even a better person than we thought we could be. Unfortunately today, we concern too much on how are we going to step forward in our next stage of life.

Indeed, it is not wrong in thinking and planning of what we want our future to become. Furthemore, planning is always the perfect start to everything. So then we started thinking, and we started to plan, what will we do in future? Our life, our jobs and even love, marriage and children. Here is where all the problems start. We started thinking, then we start to think too much. When this happens, even the easiest things in life becomes very difficult.

Then our life becomes like a Chess game. we started to think too much, we felt afraid of what is going to happen and we will be afraid in making our move. When we are afraid, slowly we will without us noticing, loose our confident. We tend to think of too many possibilities that can come and hit us and bring us down from every angle. We tend to take the future so serious that, we become obsess with it.

However let us rewind maybe 5years back, did you actually plan every step that brought you where you are today? I dont think so. Planning for the future is not a bad thing for example, planning your target in life such as what do you want to be or how to improve yourself in becoming a better person. Yet, planning will start to be a bad thing when we try to plan almost everything about our life. It is here that we tend to forgot that this life here, DOES NOT BELONG TO US.

Surprised? This life belong to the Al-Mighty ALLAH SWT. Remember that ALLAH also has plan for us. No matter how perfect our plan is, it is ALLAH that decide. ALLAH knows better than any single one of us. When our life turns out not how we plan,we then try to blame others, and even blame ALLAH. We even tend to commit suicide, taking the LIFE that does not belong to us in the first place. This all happened because we are to obsessed in planning that we forgot the very basic thing in our life, it is not ours.

Please, do not get the wrong idea. Do not make your life miserable by not planning at all and just live it to ALLAH. Didn't ALLAH promise us that

"Allah will not change the fate of a tribe unless themselves wanted to change"

Do not get confuse. Planning on how to move on with our life is a good thing. Even in the game of Chess, we need to plan. If we just play without planning, we will lose for sure. However, if we take too much time in planning our move, we will also lose the game. The same rule applies in our life. we can plan our life but merely our goals, our targets as well as how to attain the target. we can also plan on how can we become a better person and yes, a better MUSLIM. Yet, if we tried to plan every single step of our life, taking time sitting down and just keep thinking, it might backfired. Even by thinking, we are actually not moving forward as we are loosing to TIME.

"If you fill your heart with the regrets of yesterday, and the worries of tomorrow,

you will have no today to be thankful for"

Wallahu a'lam. May ALLAH SWT guide us to the straight path in our LIFE:)