Muslims must recognise that people of other religions have the right to their own beliefs. They must also recognise that a person’s belief does not hinder him from associating and or cooperating with – what is now a commonly used term – “kafirs” if the purpose is beneficial to all.
Awang Abdillah
According to the Quran, there is no compulsion in the freedom of faith.
The hudud issue is one of those opportunistic topics that snakes its way into the mainstream every time conniving politicians hit a wall.
As a Muslim, let me share a simple truth enshrined in the Quran.
The Surah AlKafirun affirms that for a Muslim “his religion is his” and for a non-Muslim “his religion is his”, which basically means “to you your religion and to me mine”.
It is crystal clear that there is no compulsion in this freedom of faith. As such, persons with different beliefs can still work together
Beliefs are a set of values about the spiritual or physical things that a person has faith in such as truth, strength, guidance and benefits.
Hence everyone has his own beliefs, be it factual, real or mythical.
Muslims must recognise that people of other religions have the right to their own beliefs.
They must also recognise that a person’s belief does not hinder him from associating and or cooperating with – what is now a commonly used term – “kafirs” if the purpose is beneficial to all.
Which brings me to the politics of the day.
Prophet lived with a Christian
If the DAP does not accept the hudud Islamic law, so be it. The question of prohibiting Muslims from supporting DAP does not arise at all.
As a political party, DAP has its own struggle – in the pursuit of its own principles and objectives.
And being a non-Muslim party, its beliefs will in many ways run contrary to that of a Muslim.
Nevertheless in the political cause, the party can still work together with Muslim parties for the benefit of the nation.
As far as cooperation – for justice, good governance and nation building – is concerned, there is no reason why different political parties cannot work together.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) lived with his uncle Abu Talib who was not a Muslim and assisted the latter in the trade business.
The first Hijrah of the Muslims was to Habsyah (now modern Ethiopia), which was a Christian country at that time, to seek protection from persecutions from the Meccans.
Let me enlighten you with this insight: on the issue of the implementation of hudud law, even many Umno stalwarts are not in favour of it.
What is happening now is that certain PAS hardliners are believed to be using the issue for their own political ends.
Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/08/28/hudud-not-just-a-religious-issue/
