Why I Am Critical of G25
If we continue to shove aside those that are not aligned to our specific ways, then Islam will eventually be a topic dictated by a small group rather than being a religion where all individuals can grow their relationship with Allah.
Khairul Azwan Harun, Deputy UMNO Youth Leader
Today, as we take a day off work to recognize Maulud Nabi, the birth date of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), there lies a dark cloud of uncertainty above Malaysia’s Ummah, an anxiety that disturbs the very heart of our Islamic identity.
In recent news, the G25 group, made up of retired and prominent civil servants and led by former diplomat Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, has been accused by right wing components of being “deviants” of Islam. Supposedly, their ideals and opinions have outlined a liberalist and pluralist agenda. A motion amongst the right wing groups has been passed to Putrajaya and the National Fatwa Council to officially denounce and ban G25.
The main point of this article is to showcase how G25 observes a certain conduct that is detrimental to the social fabric of Malaysia today. But before that, I wish to make this following point plain – it is un-Islamic and improper for anyone to judge others as deviants of Islam simply because they have contributed different opinions as to how a country should be run.
Asking for a moderate Islam is not deviation of Islam. As the Deputy UMNO Youth Leader, I know it to be against the beliefs of Pemuda UMNO that a group of thinkers are outcast because they have proposed a different route of policy for Malaysia. As was reiterated in the recent UMNO Youth Assembly, Pemuda UMNO believes in the importance of including all likes of thinkers within our umbrella of policymaking. If we continue to shove aside those that are not aligned to our specific ways, then Islam will eventually be a topic dictated by a small group rather than being a religion where all individuals can grow their relationship with Allah.
The groups that so-freely label G25 as “deviants” are actually engaging in one of the biggest sins in Islam: casting judgment upon other Muslims:
“O you who have faith! Avoid much suspicion. Indeed some suspicions are sins.” [Surah Hujurat: 12].
We may see someone not acting in accordance with our actions and judge them to be a bad person. But we must remember that only Allah knows their Niyyah (Intention) and later on in life they may be more successful than us. We must focus on sharpening ourselves and strengthening our good deeds rather than bickering with other people about certain details of their life.
As Mufti Ismail Menk beautifully put it: “If Allah has given you the opportunity to get close to him, don’t think that others are not close to him. There are thousands of good deeds, so if you are engaged in 20 good deeds, someone else might be engaged in 40 totally different good deeds. That person’s good deeds may be more than you in quality and quantity and you don’t even know, so stop judging.”
Perhaps, a Muslim Ummah that is so fearful of those who think differently from themselves is one that is uncertain of their own Islamic identity. You are unsure of your own roots in Islam that you shoot and run at shadows that you fear may infringe upon your fragile beliefs.
To the right wing groups urging for G25 to be banned and labeled deviant, stop it. Stop pointing fingers, stop looking at others and judging them on your own calculations of what is Islamic or not. Look at yourselves first and observe whether your actions have truly aligned to that of the example set by Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
I myself do not see myself as the perfect Muslim, but everyday I work harder to try to be. I don’t spend my time pointing at others and dismissing them for not abiding to my views on Islam.
Declaring G25 as deviants also distracts us from a more prominent concern that this group has upheld. I studied their beliefs and their articles closely and the main discomfort I held was their tone of superiority when advising fellow Malaysians. In describing themselves, G25 proclaims they are “a group of influential Malays and as such, we,” (G25 members), “believe we are in a better position than other civil society organizations to play a constructive role as the voice of moderation on religion.”
The truth is, no one is better than anyone when we talk about Islam and nation-building. Everyone has a legitimate and credible opinion as long as you seek a better future for Malaysia.
G25’s diction and dialogue assumes that their past jobs and experiences put them in “a better position” than everyone else to advise Malaysians on moderation. What this type of stance reflects on Malaysia’s social fabric is a priority on hierarchy, the value of elites, the idea that your Dato-ship or Tan Sri title means you should get a louder microphone. That is not democracy.
Yes, many within G25 are names who deserved their titles, respect should cordially be given to their achievements in representing and standing for Malaysia. But respect should not translate to unquestioned hierarchy. The Malaysia that Pemuda UMNO believes in does not belittle normal civilians to prioritize any elite.
At a time when our world is increasingly witnessing fear mongering as a response to the attacks by Daesh (formerly known as ISIS), we shouldn’t be promoting sentiments that will further divide our Ummah. To be a strong Ummah, one that can fight against the truly un-Islamic Daesh, we must come together, we must include all likes of thinkers, include all opinions so we can grow stronger. We should also not indulge in sentiments that will belittle those who don’t have Dato-ships or Tan Sri’s in their title. No matter what your professional experience, we should all be one in contributing equally credible ideas for Malaysia’s growth.
