UMNO'S UNITY TALK A Lucid Dream And Reality
In a tumultuous world of religious and sectarian divides, the mystic message of attaining Divine Love through the love of mankind is more relevant than ever before.
"As Muslims we are encouraged to forgive. That was in the past," he said.
Muhyiddin said PAS leaders who were disagreeable should see that the past conflicts had occurred under the old administration and PAS was now helmed by new leaders with a new direction and objective.
Nik Abdul Aziz, who strongly opposed the unity government proposal, told Nasharuddin Mat Isa on Wednesday to quit as PAS deputy president and Member of Parliament for Bachok and join Umno if he persisted in discussing the matter with Umno.
Muhyiddin said Nik Abdul Aziz's rejection of the proposal was an internal matter which PAS had to resolve.
To him, the important thing was PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's aspiration to make the unity government a success, he said, adding that PAS must make the first move to initiate the effort.
"We hope (that the meeting takes place) in the next few days, anytime, no problem," he added.
Prophet Mohammed was born on a Monday, the twelfth night of Rabi ul awwal in Mecca in the year 570 CE. It is a day to rejoice as God sent him as a rahmat tul alamin, “We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures” (21:107). God is all praise for the Prophet of whom He was the Nurturer (Rab). “And thou standst on an exalted standard of character.” (68:4). He commands us to follow the Messenger. “If you do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (3:31).
PAS focuses on direct experience of ALLAH. UMNO has always focussed on a person to gain direct experience of his soul.
WHAT UMNO WANTS FROM NIK AZIS is important?
Slogans have altered the course of history but our political parties are indulging in mud-slinging. None of the parties have a slogan to define themselves and their party’s ideology. In the recent history, two slogans had a profound impact on people all across the COUNTRY“The public can intepret. To me the difference is vague,’’ said PAS veteran Mustafa Ali .
I somehow tend to agree with Cikgu Pa, as Mustafa is affectionally known in the party. Ulama is Arabic for Islamic scholar i.e. they have an indepth knowledge of Islam, they know the content and meaning of the holy Quran, the kitab or books on religion etc. And ulamas to say the least are ‘practising Muslims’.
By that I mean they do what Muslims are ordained to do and refrain from things Muslims must not do. Most PAS leaders especially in the top rung , fit that bill. At least seen from a wide and a ‘general’ standpoint.
So I say it now. There are only ulamas in PAS leadership, meaning they are all ulamas. The leaders seen or rather labelled as Erdogans are in fact ulamas.
The so called difference is just a matter of approach (hardline, strict or moderate) and the dress code (a choice of wearing the jubah or robe, baju Melayu“ or shirt , tie and suit).
PAS members call their leaders ustaz. And ustaz is Arabic for teachers. Although ustaz can also be used to call our sekolah rendah sekolah menengah cikgu, we do not. Simply because in the Malaysian context ustaz is for Islamic religious male teachers.We call the ladies ustazah.
By calling their leaders ustaz, PAS members are in fact acknowledging that their leaders are well versed in religion, good enough to teach and show the way to the right path’. In short, ulamas.
Hence Nasharudin Mat Isa,Deputy President is Ustaz Nasa to PAS members. So too is Ustaz Hadi (PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang). To them ustaz is much more revered compared to other title.
And speaking about Nasharudin, it’s interesting to note that when he won the party deputy presidency in 2005, he was labelled by the media as ‘golongan profesional’ or member of the professionals in PAS. At that time the term Erdogan was yet be coined. But now Nasharudin is dubbed by the media as an ulama. No more professional.
A look at the party structure and we find the various wings as we would in other political parties. In PAS it’s called Dewan. There’s Dewan Pemuda for the youth wing, Dewan Muslimah or the women’s wing. Something not in other parties is of course the Dewan Ulama. Each with its head or chief and office bearers.
Then there’s the “jawatan kuasa PAS Pusat” or PAS Central Committee. That would be the Majlis Tertinggi in UMNO or the MCA CWC.
In UMNO the Majlis Tertinggi is supreme. But the same can’t be said for PAS “jawatankuasa pusat”. While it is chaired by the president and can decide on many important issues , there’s another body which is higher that the jawatankuasa pusat. That would be the Majlis Syura.
It is a council of leaders, perhaps to show that PAS is governed through a collective political leadership, one which is consultatative and concensus seeking. It’s not dominated by one individual. In it sit both president and Murshidul Am or spiritual leader,
So who’s bigger? Who’s more powerful? President or Murshidul Am? Structure wise it’s the president but then they don’t have a Murshidul Am, spiritual leader for nothing. Again Mustafa’‘s words come to mind. The difference is vague.
But one thing’s for sure. In PAS, ulamas are in control. Always have been and always will be.
MOHSIN ABDULLAH is Editor-in-Chief News and Current Affairs ntv7 & 8TV
UMNO'S UNITY TALK A Lucid Dream And Reality
In a tumultuous world of religious and sectarian divides, the mystic message of attaining Divine Love through the love of mankind is more relevant than ever before.
Prophet Mohammed was born on a Monday, the twelfth night of Rabi ul awwal in Mecca in the year 570 CE. It is a day to rejoice as God sent him as a rahmat tul alamin, “We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures” (21:107). God is all praise for the Prophet of whom He was the Nurturer (Rab). “And thou standst on an exalted standard of character.” (68:4). He commands us to follow the Messenger. “If you do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (3:31).
PAS focuses on direct experience of ALLAH. UMNO has always focussed on a person to gain direct experience of his soul.
IT IS WHAT UMNO WANTS FROM NIK AZIS
Slogans have altered the course of history but our political parties are indulging in mud-slinging. None of the parties have a slogan to define themselves and their party’s ideology. In the recent history, two slogans had a profound impact on people all across the COUNTRY“The public can intepret. To me the difference is vague,’’ said PAS veteran Mustafa Ali .
I somehow tend to agree with Cikgu Pa, as Mustafa is affectionally known in the party. Ulama is Arabic for Islamic scholar i.e. they have an indepth knowledge of Islam, they know the content and meaning of the holy Quran, the kitab or books on religion etc. And ulamas to say the least are ‘practising Muslims’.
By that I mean they do what Muslims are ordained to do and refrain from things Muslims must not do. Most PAS leaders especially in the top rung , fit that bill. At least seen from a wide and a ‘general’ standpoint.
So I say it now. There are only ulamas in PAS leadership, meaning they are all ulamas. The leaders seen or rather labelled as Erdogans are in fact ulamas.
The so called difference is just a matter of approach (hardline, strict or moderate) and the dress code (a choice of wearing the jubah or robe, baju Melayu“ or shirt , tie and suit).
PAS members call their leaders ustaz. And ustaz is Arabic for teachers. Although ustaz can also be used to call our sekolah rendah sekolah menengah cikgu, we do not. Simply because in the Malaysian context ustaz is for Islamic religious male teachers.We call the ladies ustazah.
By calling their leaders ustaz, PAS members are in fact acknowledging that their leaders are well versed in religion, good enough to teach and show the way to the right path’. In short, ulamas.
Hence Nasharudin Mat Isa,Deputy President is Ustaz Nasa to PAS members. So too is Ustaz Hadi (PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang). To them ustaz is much more revered compared to other title.
And speaking about Nasharudin, it’s interesting to note that when he won the party deputy presidency in 2005, he was labelled by the media as ‘golongan profesional’ or member of the professionals in PAS. At that time the term Erdogan was yet be coined. But now Nasharudin is dubbed by the media as an ulama. No more professional.
A look at the party structure and we find the various wings as we would in other political parties. In PAS it’s called Dewan. There’s Dewan Pemuda for the youth wing, Dewan Muslimah or the women’s wing. Something not in other parties is of course the Dewan Ulama. Each with its head or chief and office bearers.
Then there’s the “jawatan kuasa PAS Pusat” or PAS Central Committee. That would be the Majlis Tertinggi in UMNO or the MCA CWC.
In UMNO the Majlis Tertinggi is supreme. But the same can’t be said for PAS “jawatankuasa pusat”. While it is chaired by the president and can decide on many important issues , there’s another body which is higher that the jawatankuasa pusat. That would be the Majlis Syura.
It is a council of leaders, perhaps to show that PAS is governed through a collective political leadership, one which is consultatative and concensus seeking. It’s not dominated by one individual. In it sit both president and Murshidul Am or spiritual leader,
So who’s bigger? Who’s more powerful? President or Murshidul Am? Structure wise it’s the president but then they don’t have a Murshidul Am, spiritual leader for nothing. Again Mustafa’‘s words come to mind. The difference is vague.
But one thing’s for sure. In PAS, ulamas are in control. Always have been and always will be.
MOHSIN ABDULLAH is Editor-in-Chief News and Current Affairs ntv7 & 8TV
To understand the puzzle note that Political Islam draws its lifeblood from the ideology of fighting the oppressor, but has clearly become the oppressor. Even though some Islamist groups have renounced violence and accepted the principles of democracy, marginally improved their stand on women and minority rights, they remain socially conservative. In Jordan, the Islamist party does not support the rights of women to file for divorce. In Kuwait the Islamists fought against the right of women to vote. In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood will not allow a woman or a person from a minority community to become head of state. Unfortunately, each major ethnic community has readied itself by highlighting their major issues for the political parties. The only exception is the Muslim community. The leaders of the Muslims in mainstream parties remain unfocussed and fragmented like remain beholden to the agendas of others and shelve discussion of their community’s issues with the top leadership of their parties.Muslims must stop blaming the problem of extremism on catastrophic foreign policies for two wrongs simply do not make a right. Islamism is primarily a Muslim problem, threatening both Muslim and non- Muslim societies. We need to acknowledge there is a problem of theology when extremists talk of going straight to heaven after voting should stopThe inability to present a picture of Islam as a peaceful religion is a collective failure of global Muslim communities. We could begin with increasing the decibel in condemning violence, sectarianism, standing up for the rights of women, stop demonising the other as kufaar (infidels) and show increased support for democratic movements in Muslim countries. It is time for the devout, silent peace-loving Muslim majority to speak for Islam. Let us become louder than the radical voices that claim to represent us.
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