Whatever the facts of the case may be, it remains true that Asri is a unique individual in the contemporary Malaysian context: an ulama who is at ease dealing with the real issues of society, and whose appeal transcends ethnic and religious barriers. He has even been seen as a moderate voice among the country's non-Muslims.

By Farish A. Noor, The Malaysian Insider

For Malaysia-watchers worldwide, this case will be seen as a litmus test for the country, the Najib administration, and the government and syariah authorities of Selangor (now under the control of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat). The outcome of the case will also tell us where Islam is headed in a country that has often been cast as an exemplary model of normative Islam at work. But is it really?

Asri's “crime” was to preach Islam without an official permit. But in the past few weeks, the man himself has been vilified by his critics and accused of being — among other things — a Wahhabi Muslim as well.

Those who have followed Asri's career would have seen in him an inclination towards rational debate and objective discourse above all else. During the recent controversies that raged over the question of whether yoga was permissible for Muslims, for instance, he noted that the fatwa against it did not make sense. His speeches have been peppered with constant reminders to Muslims to think and behave in a rational manner, and not to be blind in matters of faith.

Is this, then, the root cause of the anxiety over the man and his ideas? Asri's critics have labelled him as arrogant and confrontational. But those who have leapt to his defence — including prominent politicians from both sides of the ideological divide — have argued that his polemics have been directed mainly at outdated traditional practices that have for too long been mistakenly assumed to be Islamic.

In this respect, Asri (picture) can perhaps be likened to the kaum muda (younger generation) of Muslim progressive intellectuals of the 1920s and 1930s — who likewise challenged the authority of traditional scholars, whom they regarded as being out of touch with the times. Then, as is the case now, any critique of the traditional status quo was seen as an attack on Islam per se, and progressives were likewise called “Wahhabis”. At the heart of the matter is the question of who has the right to speak on Islam and matters Islamic. Islam does not have a clergy or priestly class. Men like Asri emphasise the role of individual reason in the search for faith.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/

Comments (8)

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written by Ocassey, November 20, 2009 23:25:03

THOSE WHO PROFESS THIS PARTICULAR FAITH IN THIS COUNTRY MUST NEVER WAIVER FROM THE DESTINED PATH. ONE cm IN STEP TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT WILL SUBJECT ONESELF TO BE REPRIMANDED OR BROUGHT TO THE APPROPRIATE COURTS SET UP.

WHO ----- WHO IS THE AUTHORITY TO DECREE THAT ONE HAS STEPPED OUT OF LINE ?
IS IT THE ONE THAT BRINGS THE SUBJECT TO COURT OR IT IS THE COURT THAT DECREES
THOSE HOLIER THAN THOUs TO BRING THE SUBJECTS TO BE TRIED ?

OR SHOULD THERE BE A HIGHER AUTHORITY THAT SHOULD BE IN CONTROL ?

EVERY STATE HAS THE RULER CONSTITUTIONALISED AS THE LEADER OR HEAD OF THAT RELIGION. WHY, O WHY IS EVERY ONE SO DEAFENINGLY SILENT IN ALL SUCH ISSUES
EXCEPT TO BE CALLED UPON (BY WHOM ????) TO SIGHT THE MOON TO ENABLE ONE SUCH KEEPER TO DECLARE THE DAY FOR THE PARTICULAR ISSUE TO BE CELEBRATED ????

SO DOES IT SEEM THAT THERE IS A HIGHER-UP OVER THE RULERS ???

SO WHERE AND WHO IS THAT ILLUSIVE AUTHORITY ????

SO WHEN IS THAT HUMAN WHO SHOULD REPRESENT THE WISHES OF THE ALMIGHTY TO APPEAR , TO BRING CONFUSION INTO ORDER ????

WHEN IS THAT "CHOSEN" ONE COMING TO DECLARE ONESELF AS THE AUTHORITY ABOVE ALL
SO THAT ALL THESE LOWLY WANNABEES WILL BE PUT IN THEIR PROPER PLACES.

WHO, HO, WHO IS THE MISSING PINACLE OF THAT RELIGION IN THE NATION ????

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written by Watchdog, November 20, 2009 19:23:28

Moderate???? We lost the claim to be labeled 'moderate' after Mahathir took over and fcuked up this country. Indonesia moderate, yes. Malaysia - lancau moderate

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written by DontPlayGod, November 20, 2009 16:47:49

What is happening is not something to be puzzled about. UMNO is using Islam to also control the Malays, and it won't do if someone from the islamic cleric tells the Malays to use their brains and not accept directives blindly. UMNO wants the Malays to accept UMNO's version and directives blindly. Don't ask questions. Just submit to UMNO. After all, aren't all sermons have to be approved by UMNO first?

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written by freerpk, November 20, 2009 13:26:17

I find this very confusing. I am sure as a Mufti of Perlis previously he must have been preaching right left & centre. Why was he not arrested for teaching then??? Then suddenly one day, he is no longer fit to teach anymore, why, why, why.....has he gone senile or become a terrorist or something like that????? This is very puzzling!!!

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written by sydput, November 20, 2009 13:25:47

Whether it is a moderate cleric, or an etreme one, we should never listen to them.

"They have taken their priests and rabbis as lords besides the God, as well as Christ the son of Mary. They were commanded not to serve, but the one God; there is no god except He, much too glorious to have partners".
Q9:31-the reading(kuran)

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written by budakindia, November 20, 2009 12:42:50

Maybe Malaysia's Islam only accepted extremists Muslims only, you know the ones that strapped themselves with explosives and blow themselves up! Maybe we should just wait until the Western countries branded us an extremist Islamic country! Nordin Mohd. Top and his mentor were from Malaysia you know! No amount of PR work can do any good when that happens!

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written by eloofk, November 20, 2009 12:03:58

"Do Not Judge and You Shall Not Be Judged!"

Who are we to judge except God, the Supreme Judge?

Do not prophecise false prophecy, for the day you shall stand in front of the Supreme Judge to be judged.

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written by batsman, November 20, 2009 10:33:13

I like this wite-up.

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