Islam is wonderful, but I can’t stand the Muslims

Raja Petra Kamarudin

There is currently a raging debate going on in the MONDAY MORNING BLUES column under the article entitled ‘I am a Malaysian and you better believe it’. Basically, there seems to be two groups opposed to my views on nation building, racial integration, religious tolerance, harmony, consideration, compassion, decency, maturity, intellectual discourse, etiquette (sopan santun) and all those other noble values.

One group seems to think that I am propagating a new manmade and unIslamic concept that is frowned upon by God. The other thinks this is mere idealism and unachievable and that Islam is actually contra to all this. Then there is probably a third group that is either so confused and do not know what the shit we are arguing about or could not care a damn as it is not their problem anyway.


Well, this has always been Malaysia’s problem; Malays, Chinese, Indians, and all others included. They grumble and bitch and complain about all and sundry. Then, when we whack the government, they say, “Why just whack? Offer solutions to the problem if you think all is not well.” Then, when we offer solutions, they either say it is unIslamic or they say this is mere pie in the sky and never achievable in a million years.

Sigh… you can please all the people some of the time, some of the people all the time, but never all the people all the time. So I suppose we have to accept that there will be sceptics and hypochondriacs amongst us who will say ‘black’ when we say ‘white’ and will say ‘white’ when we say ‘black’.

That’s Malaysians for you.

Okay, let us talk about the issue of whether Islam can actually fulfil all our worldly needs (I will not touch on our afterlife needs because this is a matter of faith and we are all of different faiths so this discussion would be a non-starter). There are those who point to the shortcomings of Islam by using real-life examples. I suppose this would be quite sensible as it is no use speaking hypothetically. Examples must be offered to either prove or disprove an argument.

At the moment, the idea of an Islamic State is not appealing to both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Even those Muslims who subscribe to the idea of an Islamic State are in the minority and not majority as PAS’ recent performance in the 11th General Elections has proven — not withstanding that its performance suffered even more because of Gerrymandering and vote rigging. Nevertheless, even with the absence of Gerrymandering and vote rigging, PAS would still have seen its fortunes decline and this is basically because Malays themselves shun an Islamic State — if not, Terengganu and Kelantan, where the voters are predominantly Malay, would not have been so disastrous.

And whose fault is this? Well, the Muslims are Islam’s worse enemy. When a Christian, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist and so on commits a crime, it is committed in his own name and the crime is personal to holder. When a Muslim commits a crime, he does so for Allah and in the name of Islam. So that Muslim is not the criminal but his religion, Islam, is.

So, when non-Muslims frown upon Islam, whose fault is it if not the Muslims themselves? If you want to maim and kill, carry on, but why drag Islam into it? Why declare that this is Jihad as stipulated by Allah in the Koran? You make Allah and the Koran look crappy. Then, when non-Muslims look down on Islam and the Koran, Muslims get upset.

Today, millions of Muslims have just completed their Haj in Mecca, Arafah and Mina. Soon they will be heading home and will be amongst us again save those who died performing their Haj and have been buried in Mecca. It is maybe appropriate if I quote you some excerpts from Prophet Muhammad’s last sermon delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H. in the Uranah valley of Mount Arafah in Mecca.

After praising, and thanking God, this is what Prophet Muhammad said:

“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.


O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. God has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. God has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn ‘Abd’al Muttalib (Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived.


Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.


O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under God’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.


O People, listen to me in earnest, worship God, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.


All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.


Remember, one day you will appear before God and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.


O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.


All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O God, that I have conveyed your message to your people”.

That, my dear Malaysians, is Prophet Muhammad’s last message to us. My MONDAY MORNING BLUES article addresses this very issue, contrary to what some say is pluralism and therefore unIslamic.

“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action,” said Prophet Muhammad. Are we too dumb to understand that Ketuanan Melayu or Malay Supremacy has no place in Islam and that Muslims who practice this will pay a heavy price for it in the hereafter?

In verse 13, chapter 49 of the Koran (The Chambers) it reinforces this as follows:

49.13- ياايها الناس انا خلقناكم من ذكر وانثى وجعلناكم شعوبا وقبائل لتعارفوا ان اكرمكم عند الله اتقاكم ان الله عليم خبير

Translated it means:

O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).

Of course, there will be Muslims (in particular Malays) who will argue against this and offer alternative quotes to support their argument that non-Muslims can never be treated equal to Muslims. Well, to those people, British convert to Islam, Michael A. Malik, has this to say in his article, ‘Islam is wonderful, but I can’t stand the Muslims’:

“Why should I try to convert my non-Muslim friends when I often prefer them to the Muslims that I know? How will being Muslim change their lives for the better if they already display more of the Islamic virtues than most of the Muslims they are likely to meet?”

said Michael Malik.

Hmm…and do I share his view!