Reclaiming pluralism as a Malaysian way of life

These days, one can no longer be certain what constitutes sedition, but I will go ahead and say it anyway: pluralism is a blessing. Why? Because God said so:

“O mankind! Indeed, We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (Al-Hujurat: 13)

In other words, pluralism – a state in which minority groups maintain their cultural differences but at the same time are fully accepted as part of the wider, dominant society – is as inherent as humanity itself.

As observed, the Quran explicitly states that humans were created in a state of plurality, that we are all different by gender, race and culture.

More importantly, we are also told that the reason for this diversity is so we can understand and learn from one another. Our differences should therefore be celebrated and not used as a wedge to divide us. In the same verse, it is also clearly specified that people will be judged not by the colour of their skin or their race, but by their faith and their deeds alone.

My way or the highway

Despite how straightforward this Quranic verse is, there are still many Muslims who fail or refuse to understand it, including those in our country who have somehow conflated race with religion.

Not only have they conferred a special status upon themselves, they actually believe this to mean that they are innately superior to people of other races and religions. What’s more, they also believe that only their interpretation of Islam is correct and permissible, as if they have a monopoly on the religion.

Over the years, this group of people have institutionalised their misplaced beliefs and now act through the authority of the state. Today, they adopt a zero-sum approach to Islam, in which any view that is contrary to theirs is deemed illegal and punishable.

A case in point is the “I want to touch a dog” event recently organised by a social activist in Bandar Utama, Selangor. The religious authorities took such offence to the notion of Muslims touching dogs that they initiated investigations against the organiser for allegedly promoting liberalism and pluralism.

Meanwhile, the National Fatwa Council quickly decreed that touching dogs is against Islam, or at least the state-approved version of the religion.

This ruling is not only patronising towards Muslims, it also ignores the diverse range of scholarly opinions on this matter. The Maliki school of jurisprudence, for example, takes a different stand with regard to dogs compared with the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence.

Clearly, we are heading towards a very exclusivist and parochial form of Islam. Such an approach is not only divisive, it also goes against our very own cultural traditions. Having always been a plural society, Islamic practice in Malaysia has generally been accommodative of the colourful variety of Islamic traditions without holding fanatically to any one particular view.

For example, the established practice of paying the zakat fitrah in this country is more in line with the Hanafi school of thought, even though the government claims to follow Imam Shafie.

In truth, this obsession with ensuring conformity and punishing those who are different has little to do with religion. Dogs have co-existed with Malaysians since the beginning, but somehow a fatwa is needed today. The same goes for Malay Bibles and the use of the word “Allah” – neither are recent innovations, yet after 57 years of accepting these practices, the government suddenly had a change of heart.

Now, if only the religious authorities were as diligent and uncompromising on corruption and abuse of power. Would it not serve the greater good if a fatwa declared that Muslims are not allowed to touch money from ill-gotten gains?

Extremism as a result of political insecurity

Alas, it is clear that an idea is only deemed a threat if it challenges the authorities’ ideological monopoly. Hence, in the eyes of the state, diversity is a danger while conformity is a virtue.

This sudden extremist stance by the government actually stems from political insecurity. With their mandate severely reduced and their dominance challenged, the government has reacted by exerting a stronger grip on religious institutions in order to legitimise its moral authority.

It does not matter to them if their actions are actually belittling not only centuries of Islamic civilisational knowledge, but also the very mental faculties that God has granted humans.

Neither do they care if they are being inconsistent with their own rules. For example, the National Fatwa Council has forbidden the smoking of cigarettes and shisha by Muslims, yet somehow there has never been any political will to ensure this ruling is observed.

It is therefore obvious that the enforcement of religion in this country is selective and politically motivated. How else would one explain that certain books are banned in the Malay language on grounds that it contravenes the teachings of the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah, yet remain freely available in English? It is nothing less than an insult to Malaysians and the Malays in particular.

This hypocrisy is now extended to the values associated with liberalism, pluralism and secularism. Fifty years ago, these were choice characteristics espoused by our leaders as national aspirations.

Unfortunately, because the government now views societal freedom and collective enlightenment as a threat to their stranglehold on power, these same terms have been demonised as Western inventions designed to divide the ummah.

In these foreboding times, a strong collective response is needed lest Malaysia succumbs to the extremist whims of the powers that be.

Over the last 30 years, we have seen how, in the hands of an unrivalled authoritarian government, our public institutions have been emasculated and our constitution amended in ways that may never be undone. If we do not stand up to those now using religion to suppress dissent and solidify their power, Malaysia may never be able to reclaim its identity as a moderate, peaceful and pluralistic nation.

In this light, the recent open letter by 25 distinguished “prominent Malays” calling upon moderate Malaysians to speak up and reject the growing “extremist, immoderate and intolerant voices” is most welcome. However, as some commentators have pointed out, 25 people, no matter how prominent they are, is not nearly enough.

The first step has been taken, now it is up to the rest of us. – January 3, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.