Is the dignity of Islam dependent on the conduct of Muslims? It’s rubbish!
A bad Muslim is a bad Muslim. His indignity does not rub off on Islam. His behaviour does not affect the image of Islam. To imply that it does, only shows how stupid some Muslims can be!
P. Ramakrishnan
Recently as reported by Bernama on 9 July, 2022, a woman, Siti Nuramira Abdullah, performed an act at the comedy club in Taman Tun Dr Ismail by removing her tudung and bajukurung on stage, revealing a low-cut blouse and mini skirt underneath her previous clothing. It was seemingly meant to be a stand-up comedy. It didn’t turn out to be one! It wasn’t funny, it was stupid!
Islamists took offence to her act as an insult to Islam. She was detained and remanded for three days and released on bail of RM20,000.
Now the question arises: Is the dignity of Islam dependent on the conduct of Muslims. How can that be? Unbecoming acts of Muslims condemn them for misbehaviour. Their behaviour does not in the least reflect on the sanctity of Islam. Islam is pristine. It doesn’t depend on the conduct of Muslims to safeguard its prestige or stand out as a respectable religion.
A bad Muslim is a bad Muslim. His indignity does not rub off on Islam. His behaviour does not affect the image of Islam. To imply that it does, only shows how stupid some Muslims can be!
If we are to judge Islam by the conduct of Muslims, Islam must be the most insulted religion in Malaysia. Look at the crooked and corrupt Malay/Muslims in Malaysian politicians. So many of them cheat and loot, rob and plunder, lie and steal and disgrace themselves, put their hands into the public till and steal as they please, rape and commit incest and adultery, don’t follow the path of righteousness, discriminate and deny justice to the others, kill and murder to put away their enemies. All this atrocious behaviour and conduct does not insult Islam. Islam is not responsible for their unbecoming behaviour.
With so much offences committed and practised, such Muslims cannot be a credit to Islam. But their conduct doesn’t insult Islam in any way; they condemn themselves as bad Muslims. Their conduct doesn’t bring a bad name to Islam.
After all, doesn’t Islam, like all the other religions, exhort its followers to lead an exemplary life that will project them as decent human beings?
If they don’t follow the precepts of Islam, they are bad Muslims. Islam is not insulted when a Muslim denigrates himself.
Islam stands pure and pristine. Islam can never be tainted and tarnished by the misconduct of any of its adherents.
We hope that Jakim and all the muftis will understand this simple logic and stop accusing misbehaving Muslims of insulting Islam by their unbecoming conduct.
Their conduct only condemns them as non-Islamic in their behaviour. Their conduct does not lower the image of Islam. It does not sully the standing of Islam. It does not denigrate Islam.
We hope that we can put a stop to this cavalier attachment of the misconduct of such adherents to the religion of peace. Islam is beyond reproach when silly Muslims don’t live up to the teachings of Islam. Let’s not be misguided by unenlightened religious personages and politicians.
P. Ramakrishnan
Former President of Aliran
