A racist is a follower of Iblis
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Malays, being Muslims, are very careful about what they eat. Most Malays will not eat in a non-Muslim restaurant even if that eating establishment does not serve pork. Quite a few ‘modern’ Muslims though have no problems eating in a halal (kosher) non-Muslim restaurant though the hands of non-Muslims may have touched the food. But the ‘traditionalist’ or more ‘orthodox’ Muslim would be most uncomfortable with this.
Liquor and gambling are another two taboos for Muslims. Surprisingly though, many Muslims who refuse to even enter a restaurant selling pork, let alone eat in that restaurant, have a penchant for liquor and gambling; what Islam regards as vices worse than the sin of consuming pork.
But that is as far as Muslims would go. Consuming pork, drinking liquor, gambling, adultery, etc. would be sins most Muslims would steer clear of. But the other taboos or forbidden acts in Islam seem to be accepted as ‘unavoidable’ and Muslims would never hesitate to commit these acts in spite of Islam’s very strong stand against them.
When we refer to certain clauses or paragraphs in the Koran that clearly decree Islam’s position on these acts or attitudes, Muslims would be quick to point out that that particular decree refers to Muslims only and does not cover those not subscribing to Islam. Then, when we argue that that particular decree was pre-Prophet Muhammad, they would still defend their position by explaining that those before Prophet Muhammad who followed the other Prophets are also regarded by Islam as Muslims. Therefore, again, these references in the Koran are for Muslims and non-Muslims are not bound by them.
And that is the end of the debate. To continue would make you a bad Muslim, a deviant, or worse, a person who has ‘exited’ from Islam. And one such issue that Muslims, in particular in Malaysia, resent anyone debating is the decree on racism which Islam clearly says is forbidden. Muslims would counter this argument by saying that the propagation of a Malaysian race is in itself racism and therefore considered asabiyah. There should be only two ‘races’, Muslims and non-Muslims. To expound the ideology of a multi-religious Malaysian ‘race’ is, to these people, a despicable idea.
Let us go back to the story of how the first Prophet of the Muslims, Christians and Jews; that is, Adam; was created and the reason why Iblis, who held a ‘high position’ in heaven at par with the other angels, was excommunicated. And Iblis’ only crime was that he thought he was far superior to another of God’s creation, man. And if Iblis, a more superior creation to man, can suffer this fate just because he was arrogant in thinking he is superior to man, just imagine the fate of those who harbour this same attitude towards fellow man?
Muslims are told that Allah moulded Adam with His own hands. Allah took a handful of dust from the earth and mixed it into various colours – white, black, yellow, red, and so on. This is why there are many different ethnicities in this world.
When Allah mixed the dust with water it turned into potter’s clay and, from this clay, Allah made Adam. The lifeless form of Adam was then left to stand for forty days. Iblis passed by and wondered what was going on. Iblis kicked this clay sculpture and it made a sound. On further investigation, Iblis found that it was hollow inside, as it did not yet have any internal organs – that was why it made a sound when kicked.
After forty days, Allah blew His spirit into the lifeless form of Adam to give it life. Adam’s body quivered as life entered it. This is explained in the following verses of the Quran:
Verily, when He intends a thing, His Command is, “be”, and it is! (Ya Sin, chapter 36 verse 82)
The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: “Be”. And he was. (Ali Imran, chapter 3 verse 59)
After Allah had breathed a spirit into Adam, He instructed all other creations such as Angels and Jinns to bow down to Adam as the following verse from the Quran reveals:
“When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him.” (Al Hijr, chapter 15 verse 59)
Adam opened his eyes and saw all the Angels prostrating before him except for one creature that was standing at a distance. Iblis refused to prostrate to Adam because he regarded Adam, who was made from mere earth, as weaker and therefore inferior to Jinns, who were made from fire. In his vanity and belief that he was better than Adam, Iblis dared defy Allah.
Though Iblis was not one of the Angels but a Jinn, Allah brought him into Paradise and put him at par with the Angels. Iblis was then given a choice to bow to Adam and therefore maintain his status in Paradise. Iblis, of course, tried to explain or justify his disobedience as the following verse of the Quran reveals:
(God) said: What prevented thee from bowing down when I commanded thee?” He said: “I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay.” (Al A’raf, chapter 7 verse 12)
Iblis debated with Allah and tried to defend his actions, how misguided they may have been – which is what man do most times. Iblis explained that man, who was created from clay, is inferior to Iblis, who was created from fire. Basically, Iblis was arrogant and guided by vanity – his belief in his superiority over man. For that Allah punished Iblis and evicted him from Paradise.
Allah chided Iblis saying that he is but a humble creature. How could he be so arrogant and defy Allah? Iblis, still refusing to repent, asked Allah for a postponement of punishment till the Day of Judgment. Iblis did not want forgiveness. Neither did he want to repent to redeem himself. He accepted the punishment for his crime of disobedience but merely wanted the punishment delayed till the Day of Judgment.
And the reason Iblis wanted time was so that he could take revenge on man for what happened to him. Iblis wanted to trap man and mislead him as explained in the following verse of the Quran:
He said: “Because thou hast thrown me out of the way, lo! I will lie in wait for them on thy straight way.” (Al A’raf, chapter 7 verse 16)
In short, Iblis wanted to punish man for the fate he had suffered and, at the same time, prove to Allah that his argument as to why he refused to bow to man was justified – that is, man is weak and could be easily led astray.
And, to this day, Iblis’ main mission in life is to lead man astray and bring man to Hell together with him as is further explained in the following verse of the Quran:
“Then will I assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left: Nor wilt thou find, in most of them, gratitude (for thy mercies).” (Al A’raf, chapter 7 verse 17)
Iblis had predicted that he could lead man astray thus fulfilling his mission in life and prove that man is weak. Allah accepted Iblis’ challenge and said that if anyone followed Iblis, then he too would be condemned to Hell just like Iblis. This is clarified in the two following verses of the Quran:
(God) said: “Get out from this, disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow thee,- Hell will I fill with you all.” (Al A’raf, chapter 7 verse 18)
From the (earth) did We create you, and into it shall We return you, and from it shall We bring you out once again. (Ta Ha, chapter 20 verse 55)
The above incident sums up the creation of man, Iblis’ disobedience, the reason for this disobedience, and Iblis’ promise to bring man to Hell together with him. Iblis accepted his punishment for disobeying Allah. Iblis did not ask for forgiveness or repented. Iblis stood firm on his decision to disobey Allah. He merely asked that his punishment or ‘sentence’ be delayed to give him time to lead man astray.
Allah granted Iblis this reprieve but Iblis chose the time granted by Allah to take revenge on man rather than to redeem himself with Allah. Iblis promised Allah he would do his worst and bring man to Hell with him. Allah accepted Iblis’ challenge and warned that any man who followed Iblis would end up in Hell together with Iblis.
Man is given a choice. Follow Allah’s command and be rewarded with Paradise or follow Iblis and end up in Hell. The prerogative is left to man. Man is in charge of his own destiny and man has a choice in changing this destiny. And anyone who chooses to follow Iblis’ example by thinking he is superior to other creations of Allah, or is a being or race that is superior to another, then he is Iblis’ comrade and will share a space in Hell with Iblis.
This Allah has promised.
