Moving forward to strengthen the position of Islam under the Federal Constitution

Jointly written by Hj. Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla[1], Hj. Abdul Rahim Sinwan[2] and Azril Mohd Amin[3]

This paper intends to discuss the position of Islam within the Federal Constitution with regards to matrimonial disputes involving non-Muslim couples, married under the civil law, wherein one of the spouses converts to Islam. It will be proposed throughout this paper that the approach in resolving the nature of these disputes shall be by applying the necessary Syariah principles through the Syariah Court system, as opposed to the Civil law system. It will also be proposed that this approach is within the literal as well as spiritual intent of our Federal Constitution.

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Fathering Matters: A Time for Reflection

From time to time I try to remind myself of the huge task of being a father. The following reflections I hope will do that and will be useful to all fathers out there. We all hear many stories about dead-beat fathers who are not living up to their responsibilities and fail to become good examples for their children to emulate from, but all fathers are not the same. There are some fathers who take very good care of their children. When the mothers are not around they have to assume that responsibility as well.

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Reflections on Salahuddin Al-Ayubi

What comes to mind when the crusades are mentioned? Some of us will recall Salahudin Al Ayyubi. He was a legend. Also known as Al-Malik An-Nasir Salahuddin Yusuf I (b. 1137/38, Tikrit, Mesopotamia–d. March 4, 1193, Damascus), he was the Muslim ruler of Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and Palestine, founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, and one of the most famous of Muslim heroes.

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Children-of-conversion issue

Malaysia is presently engaged in a delicate balancing act between secular and Islamic law. It is urgent for the future of our society (which includes many non-Muslims) that this effort proceed carefully and successfully. The recent cabinet decision regarding the religion of children after conversion of the father to Islam disrupts the delicacy of this matter. This decision has opened of floodgates of secular prejudice against Muslim males in general, encouraging comments by public figures such as Marina Mahathir and Karpal Singh, both of whom have since cast serious aspersions upon the behavior of Muslim males in general.

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Whither ABIM: Quietly and with Persistence

I wrote the following observations last year. It’ been almost 6 months. It’s been a strange season weather-wise.

It’s over for this generation of Islamic activists. We tried and failed, but time is on our side. We must plant the seeds for an Islamic future in the next generation through social change. We must alter the mindset and mentality of people through an Islamic value system. We do this through example and education. We do it quietly and with persistence.”

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CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS: Da’wah Through Guided Tour of the Mosque

Since its inception on 27th August 1965, Masjid Negara has been a major tourist destination for locals and foreigners who visit Malaysia. Realizing that Masjid Negara is daily visited by more than 300 tourists, the Malaysian Tourism Board has officially declared the mosque a major tourist destination, depicting this National monument as a symbol of Islamic presence in the country in its various tourism promotions. In fact, about 4 million non-Muslim tourists visit various mosques and Islamic centres throughout Malaysia every year.

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The Duty of Helping Others

In Al-Qur’an we find the story of Prophet Musa’s upright character that made him concerned for the rights of the weak. Those who are weak and vulnerable should be cared for and given priority. They should not be sidelined and neglected. His immediate response was to help them. His courageous, noble, and generous nature would allow for nothing else. Allah SWT states in the Al-Quran, Surah Al-Qasas (The Story) verses 23-24 (partial):

“And when he arrived at the watering (place) in Madyan, he found there a group of men watering (their flocks), and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: ‘What is the matter with you?’ They said: ‘We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take back (their flocks): And our father is a very old man.’ So he watered (their flocks) for them.“

We are right to be impressed when we consider Prophet Musa’s circumstances. He was a man on the run, far away from his home where he had the status of a wanted criminal. He was among strange people, none of whom he knew, and he had no provisions even for himself. He had enough problems of his own to worry about. Nevertheless, it went against his nature to stand by and see such helpless people being neglected.

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A Citizen’s advice for the new Government

http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinions/102474

Dear Respected Government Leaders and Elders,

Assalamualaikum wr. Wb & Salam Sejahtera

Malaysia has been amply blessed during the past fifty years with a governmental system and leadership that has raised the country to the first rank of newly developing nations.

It would appear that of late Malaysia has also become an educational “Mecca” for many young Muslims from their own troubled countries. This alone, as a part of the mission of the International Islamic University (IIUM), is a glowing proof of the rising capacity of the Muslim Ummah to protect and help its own people.

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