Ahmad Farouk Musa || 5 November 2024
We read the story of the arrest of Ustaz Dr Abdullah Yasin by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) three days ago with much consternation. It brings back to memory the arrest of the Mufti of Perlis Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin on November 1, 2009 by none other than the same notorious entity: JAIS. Dr Yasin’s arrest was attributed to the lack of official tauliah (credentials) and the talk given on the topic of Asha’irah and Maturidiyah—the hot topic which is at the centre of the current debate.
This supposed lack of tauliah has been a convenient excuse by the religious authorities to curtail any religious kuliah (talks) deemed contrary to their understanding of Islam. What more when the topic touches on the very essence of their creed that is soon going to be endorsed officially by the State. Curtailing Muslim scholars like Ustaz Abdullah Yasin simply for expressing their views showcases the authoritarian nature of the state religious apparatus. The desperate resort to high-handed tactics exhibits their inability to counter the arguments intellectually.
Religious authorities like JAIS must understand that their action runs counter to the spirit of intellectual freedom in the history of Islam. This is made worse when the person being apprehended is a Muslim scholar who has all the necessary academic qualifications to teach Islam. In fact, despite numerous attempts to apply for tauliah, the Ustaz was denied the same by the religious authority simply because he is considered a salafi. This ugly move by JAIS also contravenes the spirit of the constitution which awarded freedom of speech and expression to its citizens, as guaranteed by Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.
JAIS’ despotic behaviour resonates with the recent recorded speech of the Federal Territory Mufti to the effect that the real intention behind the RUU Mufti (Federal Territory) 2024 is to curb and castigate any ideas contrary to Asha’irah and Maturidiyah as deviant. Hence, it is clear that the motive behind RUU Mufti was to curtail freedom of conscience among Muslims in Malaysia: Thou shalt adhere only to the doctrine of Asha’irah and Maturidiyah. Else, thou shalt be branded as deviants and, ipso facto, be liable to prosecution.
Undoubtedly, this is contrary to the spirit of the Qur’ān. Indeed, every person has the right, guaranteed by the Qur’ān, to freely follow and express his convictions, irrespective of whether he is right or wrong. By emphasizing people’s right to follow their conviction, the Qur’an reiterates a long-standing position, which it traces back to one of the earliest known Prophets, Noah: “Said [Noah]: O my people! What do you think? If [it be true that] I am taking my stand on a clear evidence from my Sustainer, who has vouched safe unto me grace from himself— [a revelation] to which you have remained blind—[if this be true] can we force it on you even though it be hateful to you? [Sura Hūd; 11: 28]
We hereby urge JAIS and the State religious bodies to respect the rights of Muslims in Malaysia to practice Islam based on their conscience, without being bound by the State interpretation of Islamic credence. It is important to respect the rights of Muslims to dissent. Freedom of conscience is given its theoretical and legal framework in the Federal Constitution. Hence, JAIS should not act as though they are the defenders of the faith. Otherwise, they will be just another item on a long list of official institutions that need to be thoroughly revamped for Islam to reclaim its rightful status as a religion of knowledge, reason, and progress for humanity.
Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa is a Director at the Islamic Renaissance Front. He holds a PhD in Surgery from Monash University Australia and Masters of Medicine in Surgery from Universiti Sains Malaysia. He is also a doctoral candidate in Islamic Studies at Universiti Muhammadiyah Malaysia. This essay also appears at Free Malaysia Today and the Malay version at MalaysiaNow.