Of cow heads and arrogant Muslims - By Prof Mohd Tajuddin

[smahesan]

Of cow heads and arrogant Muslims
(Prof Mohd Tajuddin Haji Mohd Rasdi | Sep 1, 09 2:04pm)

I wish to comment on the 'cow head' incident in Shah Alam. As a Muslim and as a Malaysian citizen I do not support such a wanton display of disrespect for Islam and for Malaysia.

As a Muslim, my readings of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad's traditions or hadiths have taught me to respect animals and other religions.

With respect to animals, the Prophet warned Muslims against overburdening animals in carrying objects. The Prophet explained a story of how a prostitute was forgiven her sins by the simple act of giving a thirsty dog a drink.

The cow is one of the animals which Muslims slaughter not just for food but also as a sacrificial offering of our thankfulness to Allah as well as remembering Abraham's 'sacrifice' of his son Ismail.

The cow is thus 'holy' to Muslims as well as to Hindus. Muslims sacrifice a cow for the aqiqah ceremony or during the Qurban celebrations.

Thus as a Muslim, we must respect animals that become our food as well as our symbolic act of sacrifice.Standing or putting once's foot on a dead cow is a 'biadab' act that speaks of a person steeped in racial bigotry and of a person low in education of Islam.

With respect to other religions, there were occasions where the Prophet taught me about my attitude towards them. Once, the Prophet stood up as a sign of respect when the body of a Jew was carried to the grave.

When dispatching the army to a campaign, the Prophet warned the soldiers from desecrating houses of worships, those who reside in them, the young and the old and even trees should not be cut down if necessary.

Never had the Prophet taught me to desecrate another person's religion. The great Indonesian scholar Hamka wrote in his magnum opus, Tafsir Al-Azhar that there are hundreds of thousands of 'Nabi' and they might even be the founders of other religions.

It is common to find other religious faiths making fun of Islam and Muslims but as a Muslim I will never be allowed by my religion to make fun of other religions much less to desecrate them.

As a Malaysian citizen, I wish to ask why these people who showed such contempt for the religion of the Hindus not be arrested under the Sedition Act?

Were these people given permits by the police? If so why were they granted permits to desecrate another religion? Why were they not stopped and told to disperse? If Hindus can tolerate the Muslim call for prayers five times a day for the rest of their lives, what disruption can a Hindu temple be?

I live next to a Hindu Temple about 150 meters away and I observe a procession thrice or twice a year. It is quiet 362 days of the year.

Lastly, if these residents were proven to be members of any political party or parties, their membership should be revoked in order to ensure that we should not tolerate any political entity that uses racial hatred as their means of achieving political ends.

If not, then the said party or parties should be outlawed and their registration terminated immediately.

After more than 50 years of merdeka, I still cannot raise five children without the threat of racial disharmony and hatred. What does that say about our present leadership and future of our country?

[ferinkx]

I reserve my comments. This issue is too sensitive to talk about.

[noordin]

I'm glad a scholar wrote this article. He has no political nor religious agenda. And he's right of course.

[smahesan]

Originally Posted by noordin I'm glad a scholar wrote this article. He has no political nor religious agenda. And he's right of course.

I too share your thoughts and that is the ONLY reason I shared this here.

[raizil]

i think animal rights can saman those guy

[zzlaloq]

the location of the "kuil" is almost unticeable at the present location at sec19, it has been there for years.. why the fuss to relocate it?

[IRFANCHOO]

obviously these "muslim" is from this side:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6bKpECx52o

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_G4UF_wN334...shahadan-2.jpg

http://perisik-rakyat.com/2009/09/pe...alik-demo.html

[ImAn]

irfan... how about this one http://ruangbicarafaisal.blogspot.co...gaku-ahli.html

[zzlaloq]

watch this cow la better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSVtPAvZ3y0&NR=1

[Spongylens]

agree with the writer..
their action is really an insult..

[nomad78]

Originally Posted by zzlaloq the location of the "kuil" is almost unticeable at the present location at sec19, it has been there for years.. why the fuss to relocate it?

I think this is more a case of the authorities not doing a full study before approving the relocation

[seethoe]

its so refreshing to read Prof statement....

...some updated news: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nnc7Kkdvtc

[IRFANCHOO]

Originally Posted by ImAn irfan... how about this one http://ruangbicarafaisal.blogspot.co...gaku-ahli.html

Brother ImAn,
assalamuilaikum,,,,,no offense
i post the link according to the what Hisham said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6bKpECx52o

if the cow head protester is from opposition, do you think the goment will let go them just like that?
the whole world(from singapore to other country) is watching what malaysia's goment doing, i stay in jb, but have to buy singapore new's paper to read what happen in malaysia...

log in cari forum(chinese) under singapore, johor forum... you can find out a lot of malaysian(more than 150 000 car travel in and out daily) "susah susah" go to work in singapore.. because of what?
i don't blame you or other malay..(my wife is malay!, my brother in law is indian), my mother in law not even know, why chinese and india is not "bumibutra", why my chinese brother study in sekolah menegah all the text book is bahasa, and have to go satuday extra class from chinese class...
and few of my brother in law never understand why i have to go work in other country, while they work in glc, monthly more than rm20 k salary..

we are blind, our country is falling a part... sadly but true.
(my wife already warning me no to say true in this forum, so i won't answer again in this thread, sorry if you feel offense.)

irfan choo

[nomad78]

Take a breather, look back. Is our country really such a bad place to stay in? Is the life we are living really that bad? Issues are issues, every country in the world has them, but I think our country is not in such a bad state that some people are making it out to be. If everyone focuses on the negatives, u will get heartache, so try and keep the positives in mind too. Yes, if u are looking for higher income it's better to go overseas. Half of my friends do it, and I came back to malaysia after working oveseas cuz i prefer to live in malaysia. I'm now earning less than a 1/3 of what my friends are earning overseas. If they know what I'm earning now, they would think I'm in poverty. Truth of the matter is, the standard of living here is not like it is over there. And I can get by and support my family and can even afford to take a loan to buy a house and a car. My friends in taiwan can't even dream about buying an apartment because of the prices. As developed as most of the foreign countries are it's just not malaysia.

[RAD]

Thanks Mahesan for sharing the article.

As I've said in another thread earlier, this political fracas involves interested political parties who want to tangle rather than tango. They are playing the racist card here. Both the govt and opposition knew exactly what makes people tick and will use whatever opportunity there is to get political mileage.

But the issue of the cowheadgate is just wrong. Islamically, morally, ethically. No respect for animals which are also Allah's creations, no respect of other people's beliefs and religion. It is just wrong. The matter should be handled much more responsibly by all parties involved.

I am saddened by this incident. My immediate next door neighbours are Indians. Some of my best buddies from school days are Indians. I remembered when I visited their house for Deepavali, they make sure they do not serve alcohol and ensure all food served are halal. When they come to my house or we have makan2, I always make sure we don't serve beef. We can eat chicken, lamb or fish kan? Same with my Chinese friends and colleagues who always make sure we go to a halal place for makan2 and not blinking an eye when I request for some time away for my short Muslim prayers.

This is just so wrong. Dakwah or preaching good is not only about giving lip service. It's about living the life of a good Muslim.

[noordin]

Originally Posted by nomad78 Take a breather, look back. Is our country really such a bad place to stay in? Is the life we are living really that bad? Issues are issues, every country in the world has them, but I think our country is not in such a bad state that some people are making it out to be. If everyone focuses on the negatives, u will get heartache, so try and keep the positives in mind too. Yes, if u are looking for higher income it's better to go overseas. Half of my friends do it, and I came back to malaysia after working oveseas cuz i prefer to live in malaysia. I'm now earning less than a 1/3 of what my friends are earning overseas. If they know what I'm earning now, they would think I'm in poverty. Truth of the matter is, the standard of living here is not like it is over there. And I can get by and support my family and can even afford to take a loan to buy a house and a car. My friends in taiwan can't even dream about buying an apartment because of the prices. As developed as most of the foreign countries are it's just not Malaysia.

Hear! Hear!

[Kingsley244]

Cows or holy books, they are sacred to believers. There are bound to be nuts looking for trouble who will hit you where it hurts most.

The bigger issue is what should we do when someone is disrespectful to our sacred objects ?

When asked what he would do if someone flushes his holy book down the toilet, Ajahn Brahm said he will call the plumber. He is a Buddhist monk.

You can't insult truth, virtue, goodness and compassion by flushing them down the toilet, he explained.

[rexz2pac]

yes it's sensitive. and yes it's happening.

the basic respect to others had gone down to the drain. be it political motivated or plain belief, it's just too rude.

[pointblank]

Originally Posted by IRFANCHOO Brother ImAn, assalamuilaikum,,,,,no offense i post the link according to the what Hisham said: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6bKpECx52o if the cow head protester is from opposition, do you think the goment will let go them just like that? the whole world(from singapore to other country) is watching what malaysia's goment doing, i stay in jb, but have to buy singapore new's paper to read what happen in malaysia... log in cari forum(chinese) under singapore, johor forum... you can find out a lot of malaysian(more than 150 000 car travel in and out daily) "susah susah" go to work in singapore.. because of what? i don't blame you or other malay..(my wife is malay!, my brother in law is indian), my mother in law not even know, why chinese and india is not "bumibutra", why my chinese brother study in sekolah menegah all the text book is bahasa, and have to go satuday extra class from chinese class... and few of my brother in law never understand why i have to go work in other country, while they work in glc, monthly more than rm20 k salary.. we are blind, our country is falling a part... sadly but true. (my wife already warning me no to say true in this forum, so i won't answer again in this thread, sorry if you feel offense.) irfan choo

Live and let die .. I am priviliged to have seen a lot of this small planet, we always believe that the grass in our neighbors garden is greener ..

Every society has its nuts, left ear in, right ear out. Today's newspaper is tomorrows fish and chips wrapping paper ..

[afidie]

well, to put it in simple sentence, desperate people will do a desperate thing... 'they' want Selangor back..no matter what... It's our job to stop them!