Monday, July 21, 2008

Muzakarah, Muzakarah Everywhere

The Israelis are holding direct talks with Hamas, the US is talking to Iran and in the local scene UMNO (United Malay National Organisation) is reportedly engaging with PAS (Pan Malaysian Islamic Party). The US-Iran talks have reached a cul-de- sac, a dead end, apparently. And in no time, I expect the Israel-Hamas talks will come a grinding halt.
From the outset, I do not foresee any possible convergence of thoughts between these political giants who are diametrically opposed to one another in matters concerning Islamic issues. They are poles apart. It is rather unimaginable to think of a rapproachment between them. Though Malay-based, UMNO is secular and while PAS is Islamist in their respective political pursuits. UMNO believes in the separation of religion from politics while PAS looks at politics as an integral part of religion. UMNO will vehemently deny this on the strength of its recent advocacy for Islam Hadhari (civilised Islam) while still rejecting the integration of politics with Islam. As an ordinary layman myself, I keep on questioning whether Islam as originally propagated by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has never been "civilised" such that there is a need to introduce a fresh version of Islam when Islam has already been perfected as the true religion for all mankind during the life of the Prophet (pbuh). Clearly Islam Hadhari purportedly advocated by Abdullah Badawi, the UMNO President, does not subscribe to the principles of "enjoining the good and forbidding the evils". What kind of Islam is this when the evils are liberally tolerated ?
For the present UMNO-PAS talks to have any chance of durable sustainability, UMNO should consider the following fundamental premises : (a) to streamline it's ideology in accordance with the teachings of the Hadith and the Quran, (b) to accept politics as an integral part of Islam, i.e. to reject secularism totally, and (c) to withdraw the concept of Islam Hadhari.
PAS under the leadership of Asri has in the past had experience of being treated badly by UMNO whilst in the National Front government as well as in the Kelantan State coalition government respectively. Enough is enough. Ustaz Nik Aziz, PAS Mushidul'am (spiritual leader) is the best living mortal to be consulted with over these UMNO political overtures.
To the PAS representatives presently engaged in the talks, I just want to caution them from being gullible or politically naive.

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